Haflinger Breed History
Haflingers are a small breed of horse (not pony) that originated in the Tyrolian mountains of Austria. Contrary to some sources, the purebred Haflinger has no draft blood, but descends from a half-Arabian stallion and a refined Tyrolean mountain mare that resembled a small Warmblood. Their calm, gentle temperament, beautiful coloring, athleticism, and “easy-keeper” quality make them a great horse for people of all ages and disciplines.
These horses excel in all sport horse disciplines throughout the United States, Austria, Germany, Holland, and elsewhere in the world, including dressage and jumping, as well as in combined driving. To learn about the history of the Haflinger, click here for more information.
THe World Haflinger Federation (WHF) was reformed in 2013 and is now known as the Haflinger World Breeding and Sport Association (HWBSA). This entity sets the standards for Haflinger horses world-wide.
The epitome of the modern, sport horse Haflinger is liz Abendstern (pictured right), who stands at the Fohlenhoff in Ebbs, Austria, the center for Haflinger breeding in the world. Abendstern is a three-time World Champion Stallion (2010, 2005, 2000), two-time European Champion (2008, 2003), and multiple times Tyrolean dressage champion under saddle. Born in 1995, Abenstern stands 155cm (@15.1H).









Making History
In 2013, our Austrian imported stallion, Stellar TVR, made history as the first Haflinger stallion to attend the North American Stallion Testing and be awarded his lifetime license and approval for breeding with Weser Ems, RPSI and Westfalen! In 2011, Stellar was the first Haflinger stallion in North America to be inspected, licensed and provisionally approved for breeding by the Weser-Ems Verband (sport pony and small horse division of the German Oldenburg Verband), into their main Stud Book I, and Westfalen N.A., another German sport horse registry, into Main Stud Book I, starting their Haflinger Stud Book in the United States! In 2018 Stellar made history yet again as the first stallion of any breed—at one point out of over 250 plus stallions—to achieve all five stars in the American Warmblood Society Sporthorse Registry Five-Star Program based on his accomplishments and the accomplishments of his offspring! As of early 2023 Stellar was still the only stallion to have achieved this accomplishment! The Five-Star program documents outstanding achievements of horses in both athletic and reproductive areas. And, as of the end of 2023, Stellar is still the first and only stallion to achieve this status out of 238 stallions of all breeds! The stars are added to the horse’s registered name.
/*/ / / / / (First Star) = A superior inspection score 75% or better
/ /*/ / / / (Second Star) = Superior performance in the upper levels of sport: FEI dressage, showjumping, eventing (including North American Stallion Testing)
/ / /*/ / / (Third Star) = 3-5 offspring inspection scores of 75% or better
/ / / /*/ / (Fourth Star) = Placing in a National Championship
/ / / / /*/ (Fifth Star) = Offspring placing in a National Championship

Many people have the misconception that breeders of sport horse type Haflingers are changing the breed, but the original Haflinger was a tall, versatile, athletic horse that resembled the sport horse Haflingers of today. The World Haflinger Federation is the governing body of the Haflinger breed, and as such, sets the standard. Today, one can find several breeders throughout the United States who are now breeding the same high quality horses with the type and movement found in Austria and elsewhere in Europe. Some of these horses can be found at our farm, located in Central Michigan.