Samolaco horse
Encyclopedia
The Samolaco is a rare breed of horse
originating from the Valchiavenna
and Valtellina
, in Lombardy
, northern Italy. It takes its name from the town of Samolaco
, near Chiavenna in the province of Sondrio
. Gravely endangered, it is not among the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association. The population is listed in DAD-IS
as over 12 in 1994, and under 100 in 1998; one further example of the breed may have been identified during a television broadcast.
abandoned in about the 17th century by the garrisons of Spanish fortifications
in the areas known as Trivio di Fuentes and Pian di Spagna, which were surrendered to Prince Eugène of Savoy
in 1706. The FAO
describes the breed as a composite of Andalusian
and local populations. The horses were usually stabled during the winter and transhumed
to higher alpine pasture in summer. Powerful Bruna Alpina
oxen were preferred for agricultural and forestry work in the area, and the Samolaco horse was never widely distributed. Production of horsemeat was not economically attractive, and raising of the breed was largely abandoned. The few horses seen in the 1980s were gravely degenerated, with poorly conformed legs and heavy heads; their pale chestnut
colouring may be attributed to the systematic introduction of Avelignese
blood, which was at first a programme of improvement but effectively became one of outright substitution. The Samolaco is discussed in detail by Fogliata (1910):
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
originating from the Valchiavenna
Valchiavenna
The Valchiavenna is an alpine region located to the north of Lake Como in the northern Italian province of Sondrio . It is traversed by the rivers Mera and Liro, and can be divided into three parts which branch from the confluence of these rivers near Chiavenna, the principal town of the region.The...
and Valtellina
Valtellina
Valtellina or the Valtelline valley ; is a valley in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, bordering Switzerland. Today it is known for its skiing, its hot spring spas, its cheeses and its wines...
, in Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, northern Italy. It takes its name from the town of Samolaco
Samolaco
Samolaco is a comune in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 90 km north of the regional capital Milan and about 40 km northwest of Sondrio...
, near Chiavenna in the province of Sondrio
Sondrio
Sondrio is an Italian town and comune located in the heart of the Valtellina. Sondrio counts approximately 22,000 inhabitants and it is the administrative centre for the Lombard Province of Sondrio.- History :...
. Gravely endangered, it is not among the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association. The population is listed in DAD-IS
DAD-IS
DAD-IS is the acronym of the worldwide Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. It is defined as "a communication and information tool" for the FAO's Management of Animal Genetic Resources programme...
as over 12 in 1994, and under 100 in 1998; one further example of the breed may have been identified during a television broadcast.
History
The Samolaco horse is thought to originate from crossing between indigenous animals and Spanish horsesIberian horse
The Iberian horse is a title given to a number of horse breeds native to the Iberian peninsula. At present, 17 horse breeds are recognized by FAO as characteristic of the Iberian Peninsula....
abandoned in about the 17th century by the garrisons of Spanish fortifications
Fort Fuentes
Fort Fuentes was a military fort built on the hill of Montecchio or Monteggiolo near Colico in the province of Lecco, in Lombardy, Italy. It was built by the Spanish governor of Milan, Don Pedro Enríquez de Acevedo, Count of Fuentes, to command the Pian di Spagna and the strategic Trivio di...
in the areas known as Trivio di Fuentes and Pian di Spagna, which were surrendered to Prince Eugène of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
in 1706. The FAO
Fão
Fão is a town in Esposende Municipality in Portugal....
describes the breed as a composite of Andalusian
Andalusian horse
The Andalusian, also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE , is a horse breed developed in the Iberian Peninsula. Its ancestors have been present on the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years. The Andalusian has been recognized as an individual breed since the 15th century, and its conformation...
and local populations. The horses were usually stabled during the winter and transhumed
Transhumance
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and to lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Only the herds travel, with...
to higher alpine pasture in summer. Powerful Bruna Alpina
Braunvieh
Braunvieh is a breed of cattle originating from Switzerland. Braunvieh cattle imported to the United States in the 19th century were the origin of the modern, Brown Swiss cattle breed. Since the 1960s, Brown Swiss cattle have been crossed back into the Braunvieh stock of Europe...
oxen were preferred for agricultural and forestry work in the area, and the Samolaco horse was never widely distributed. Production of horsemeat was not economically attractive, and raising of the breed was largely abandoned. The few horses seen in the 1980s were gravely degenerated, with poorly conformed legs and heavy heads; their pale chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
colouring may be attributed to the systematic introduction of Avelignese
Haflinger (horse)
The Haflinger, also known as the Avelignese, is a breed of horse developed in Austria and northern Italy during the late 19th century. Haflinger horses are relatively small, are always chestnut in color, have distinctive gaits described as energetic but smooth, and are well-muscled yet elegant...
blood, which was at first a programme of improvement but effectively became one of outright substitution. The Samolaco is discussed in detail by Fogliata (1910):