Tolfetano
Encyclopedia
The Tolfetano or Cavallo Tolfetano is a breed of horse from the northern part of the Lazio region of Italy. It is indigenous to the Monti della Tolfa
range of hills which lie within the Maremma Laziale
, and which give the breed its name. The harsh terrain and limited resources of the area are thought to have contributed to the resistant and frugal nature of the breed.
The Tolfetano is one of the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association. At the end of 2008 it was present in 15 Italian provinces, with a total registered population of 1085.
", before the introduction of Thoroughbred
blood in the Maremmano breed.
According to some the Tolfetano derives from Mongolia
n horses that found their way into Italy
following the hordes of Bulgaria
n Invaders who accompanied the Lombards
in their conquest of the northern half of Italy. According to others it originated as a mixture of indigenous horses
, barb horses
and Spanish horses.
Whatever the origin the Tolfetano of today is a working horse, the favorite mounts of the local cowboy
s (called "Butteri
" in Italian) in the "Maremma Laziale".
Monti della Tolfa
The Monti della Tolfa or "Tolfa Mountains" are a volcanic group in the Anti-Apennines of the northern part of the Lazio region of central Italy. They are bounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea coast to the west, by the Monti Sabatini to the east, and by the Monti Cimini and the Mignone river to the north...
range of hills which lie within the Maremma Laziale
Maremma
The Maremma is a vast area in Italy bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea, consisting of part of south-western Tuscany - Maremma Livornese and Maremma Grossetana , and part of northern Lazio - Maremma Laziale .The poet Dante Alighieri in his Divina Commedia places the...
, and which give the breed its name. The harsh terrain and limited resources of the area are thought to have contributed to the resistant and frugal nature of the breed.
The Tolfetano is one of the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association. At the end of 2008 it was present in 15 Italian provinces, with a total registered population of 1085.
History
The horse is thought to represent the original version of the better known "MaremmanoMaremmano
The Maremmano is a breed of horse originating in the Maremma area of Tuscany and Lazio in Italy. Traditionally a hardy working horse used by the Butteri for livestock management, it is today principally a saddle horse...
", before the introduction of Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
blood in the Maremmano breed.
According to some the Tolfetano derives from Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
n horses that found their way into Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
following the hordes of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Invaders who accompanied the Lombards
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
in their conquest of the northern half of Italy. According to others it originated as a mixture of indigenous horses
Indigenous (horse)
Indigenous was an Irish thoroughbred racehorse who also raced in Hong Kong.He was bred by Major John de Burgh at his Oldtown Stud in Naas, County Kildare, Ireland and sold as a yearling for 10,500 guineas at the Goffs Orby Sale in 1994.Purchased by trainer Kevin Prendergast, he was named...
, barb horses
Barb (horse)
Developed on the Barbary Coast of North Africa, the Barb horse is a desert breed with great hardiness and stamina. The Barb generally possesses a fiery temperament and an atypical sport-horse conformation, but nevertheless has influenced modern breeds....
and Spanish horses.
Whatever the origin the Tolfetano of today is a working horse, the favorite mounts of the local cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
s (called "Butteri
Buttero
A buttero is a shepherd or cowboy in the region of Maremma, in Tuscany in the Northern Latium and in the Pontine Marshes. The buttero habitually rides the horse typical of the Maremma, a Maremmano, and tends livestock, especially cattle and sheep. The characteristic saddle is called a bardella...
" in Italian) in the "Maremma Laziale".