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Konik Horse - Wiki
Subject: Konik Horse - Wiki
Koniks3-Konik Horses.jpg
Resolution: 2048x1536 File Size: 1995001 Bytes Date: 2004:09:16 09:52:50 Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS (Canon) F number: f/4.5 Exposure: 1/640 sec Focal Length: 14767/1000 Upload Date: 2007:03:03 10:21:30

Konik Horse - Wiki


Konik
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Photo] A konik horse in the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve in the Netherlands. Date: 16 September 2004

The konik is a small Polish horse, a kind of semi-wild pony. In Poland these horses are called koniks, this word comes from the Polish diminutive for a horse, but refers to several breeds. These koniks show many primitive features, for example some breeds have the dun coat and dorsal stripe.

In 1936, professor Tadeusz Vetulani of Poznan University began attempts to breed the extinct tarpan back to its original state. The Polish government commandeered all the koniks, which displayed tarpan-like features. The result of this selective breeding programme is that semi-wild herds of koniks can be seen today in many nature reserves and parks.

Nature reserves
As it is genetically very close to the extinct tarpan, the original European wild horse, it has been introduced into many nature reserves in the Netherlands such as the Oostvaardersplassen.

Along with deer, the wisent and the Heck Cattle, the konik are big grazers. They keep the landscape open, and when kept without supplemental winter feeding, they alter the landscape to produce more parklike forest.

In Maastricht, the Netherlands, a herd was released in 1995, in 'de Kleine Weerd', a 12 hectare strip of land (roughly 100 m by 1 km) along the river Meuse. The area is open to the public, but people are advised not to go near the horses because their reaction is unpredictable. Koniks have also been introduced in Latvia and the United Kingdom because of the success of such programs. Koniks have been introduced into Wicken Fen near Cambridge by the National Trust.

Physical Characteristics
height at the shoulder: 134cm
chest circumference: 168cm
Short height, strong and stocky build, light head with a straight profile, growing low out of the chest. Has a deep chest, a thick mane, the hide is mouse-grey.

Prevalence in Poland
private breeders: 310 females, 90 males
state studs: 120 females, 50 males

Breeding Centres
nature reserves: Popielno, Roztoczanski National Park, Stobnica Research Station of the Farm Academy of Poznan
stud conditions: Popielno, Sierakow

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konik
The text in this page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article shown in above URL. It is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Comments
Guest
The Konik Pony

The Konik, which means 'little horse' in Polish, is a breed of ancient descent found mainly in the lowland farm areas of Poland, East of the San river, and also in other parts of Eastern Europe, to where it has been exported. The Konik pony is mainly bred at the state stud of Jezewice and at Popielno, where it is selectively bred to maintain the breed characteristics.
Origin: Poland
Colour: mainly mouse dun with dorsal stripe.
Height: up to 13hh.
Conformation: upright shoulders on a broad body, low withers, deep girth and a large head.
Character: n/a.
Uses: harness.
i love cowboys!!! Cowboy luver
ohh, i am a sucker for buckskins, theses horses are so perdy.

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