Estonian Native Horse

The Estonian Native Horse, earlier also called klepper, is one of the last survivors of the Northern Forest Horses that used to live in the wild forests of Northern Russia and were used by the Finno-Ugri people. 

Other breeds of such origin (Vjatka, Petchora, Mezeni, Obvinka, Obi, Tavda) have disappeared as are the nations that once used those horses in their daily lives. The closest thriving relative to the Estonian Native is the Finnish horse or Finnhorse which has also been developed into a more-or-less cultural breed.

The pureblood Estonian Native is a pony-sized pacer-type horse. Over the centuries, Arabians, Orlov trotters and Shetland ponies have been used to "enhance" the original properties of the Estonian horses to meet the demands of the times. 

However, analysis has shown that the Estonian Native is one of the few breeds to have retained the characteristic features of the wild horses as if they had not been significantly influenced by crossing with other breeds. As if the aboriginal genes are steadily pushing out the added blood.

Only the strongest survive the trials of the harsh and unpredictable Northern climate. Thus the Estonian horse has naturally developed to a resilient, capable and low-maintenance breed, able to adapt to various weather conditions with little human assistance.


More information on the history of the breed



Exterior

Average measurement (in cm):

  • Stallions - height at withers 142, oblique body length 147, chest girth 178, cannon bone girth 19.5
  • Mares: 141, 149, 182 and 19 respectively



Typical characteristics:
  • Well-proportioned head with a wide forehead, a lively eye and a wide, muscular jaw.
  • Relatively short muscular neck with a thick mane.
  • The medium-length withers are low-set.
  • The back is mostly short, wide and straight. Loin is short, wide and strong. Rarely soft.
  • The croup is plump and well-rounded, with an average length and width. The tail is low-set and thick.
  • The chest is wide and deep, followed by curved ribs and a capacious stomach.
  • The legs are short, properly set and distinguished by firmness and cleanness with strong tendons and joints. The hoofs are regular with hard ash-coloured coronet.


Colours

The Estonian Native horse comes in a variety of colours: bay, black, chestnut, mouse dun and bay dun, buckskin and cremello/perlino. Common aboriginal tokens are the dorsal stripe and transversed shoulder stripe. The number of gray horses is increasing and chestnut colour is decreasing (from 34.0% to 17.9%).





Character

Similar to wild horses, the Estonian Native has survived the natural selection by staying small, alert, agile and robust. There are many reasons to love this versatile breed.

  • The horses are attentive and curious of their surroundings.
  • They present a charmingly active and cheerful character while also being calm and pragmatic.
  • With an easy, yet energetic temperament, the breed is very pleasant in contrast to pretentious warmbloods and the indifference of large draft horses.
  • The gait of the Estonian Native is usually wide and active, but there have been some cases of dishing and paddling.



Why choose an Estonian Native?

The Estonian Native horses are noteworthy for being dynamic, resourceful, healthy and strong. 

Some key benefits include:

  • Low-maintenance. The horses are well-adjusted to thrive on pastures by forage alone, except during wintertimes.
  • Good fodder utilisation and does not require special feeds.
  • Strong legs and incredible pulling strength. The horses can perform well in many disciplines from carriage driving to eventing.
  • Remarkable for their longevity. The horses present a strong condition and the breed carries no hereditary diseases. Usual life span is between 20-30 years.
  • Size and versatility of use. Estonian Native range from mid-size ponies to small horses which can be ridden by both children and adults.



Modern utilisation

 Due to inexpensive price, low maintenance and easy-going character – the small all-rounder Estonian Native is a great companion in riding schools, on tourist rides, in front of carriages; as a children’s pony or a family favourite.

In Estonia, you can easily find ways to explore the sights of the Estonian wilderness on horseback or in a horse-drawn cart. Young mares and stallions participate in yearly shows nation-wide to allow breeders to make the best pairing decisions. Each year, championships are held for Estonian Native horses to compete in show jumping and dressage to promote active and competitive use of the breed.

The preservation of the Estonian Native horses is also conducted in co-operation with environment protection programs. For example, owners are paid subsidies by environment funds for pasturing horses on coastal areas, restoring habitats for migratory birds to use as nesting sites along the coastline.