Latvian Horse

Origin: USSR - Latvia.

Height: 15.2-16hh.

Color: Usually bay, dark brown, or chestnut.

Character: Calm, sensible, good-natured, hard-working.

Physique: Powerful, muscular horse of good conformation. Head large,with a straight face, kind eyes, and short ears. Strong, crested neck, setrather high on massive, sloping shoulders with well-defined withers, deepchest, and girth. Back straight and strong, barrel round and hard, hind-quarters muscular and ample. Strong legs with much bone. Abundant maneand tail, and light feather on heels.

There are three types of Latvian: the basic type to which 85% of them belong, a taller harness type and a lighter type whichhas less bone and which looks more like a trotter.

The Latvian Harness Horse is an all-purpose breed popular throughout theSoviet Union. In the south it is thought of mainly as a draught horse whilein the north its main uses are under the saddle and in harness. It is alsowidely used to work on farms, and takes part in pulling contests and en-durance tests in accordance with the common European and Sovietpractice of proving a horse before he is put to stud.

The original Latvian horse has existed on its home ground since beforerecorded history began. It seems to have been a typical example of thebasic Forest cold-blood type of Northern Europe. From the 17th century onit has been crossed extensively with warm-bloods of all kinds - many ofthe German saddle breeds, Arabs, and even Thoroughbreds contributed toit, and during the early part of the breed's improvement heavy horses werealso used. The breed was finally fixed in 1952.