What breed in Malta?

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

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We are over on Gozo regularly, and harness racing is a big thing in Malta. Quite a few of the locals run a horse or two, and most evenings they come down to the marina to soak in the sea water. I just wondered if anyone knew what breed they are? I was told they are french trotters, and they don't pace so that fits. But I always thought FTs were generally TB sized? These Maltese horses look too small, most are around 14hh and the biggest I've seen, something of a one off, was no more than 16 at most.
Any ideas?
 
Interesting, I think you do find a lot of not too big French trotters, about 15-16hh but 14 seems quite small. Could it be that they're from French trotter descent but being on an island people have selected for smaller individuals? That would completely contrary to the UK but similar to Iceland.
ETA: or they could be trotters crossed with a local native pony perhaps?
 
Have a little look at the bloodlines on these trotters Hope it helps >>>>> http://www.maltatrotracing.com/hfs.php
(as far as I am aware, Malta never had its own native horse, all were imported even way-back-when, but of course as the island is so small and foodstuff needing to be imported , perhaps the horses were bred smaller over the years - to cope better with their work, ?
. )
 
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Mmm. Looking at that website, some of them look a lot bigger in bone than the Gozo horses. I wonder if, being the more amateur ones that I see in the marina or the roads on Gozo, that they are the locally bred ones and not the top talent. Most look like the third down, Danger Girl. I guess they may have been bred for smaller size over the years. There's no grazing and I've yet to spot a hay field so I think most feed has to be imported. I suppose smaller types cope with the heat better too.
 
I lived in Malta for 3 years and worked next to the racetrack in Marsa so saw them training on a daily basis. I too was told they tend to be French trotters or standard breeds and are often imported from Scandanavian countries, though not sure how true that is. There is a large multi storey stable next to the racetrack and amateur owners often keep on their own tumoli of land or on dust yards in between buildings in urban areas, which being Malta is pretty much everywhere! There are a couple of trainers yards who have their own liveried lorries I would see parked up. Unfortunately some amateur owners are a bit like a certain faction here In the UK with regards to thinking they own the road in their sulkies and a complete disregard for the safety of themselves, their horses and other road users.
 
True, sometimes they are a bit wayward in their road use! And I don't like the annual races in Victoria where they're hammered up the road. However, every one I have seen is in beautiful condition and they seem to be well handled. Sadly the working carriage horses over on Malta don't always look to be so well cared for, though I know there are efforts to improve their lot.
 
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