Ljutomer Trotter
Origin and Development of the Breed
The Ljutomer Trotter breed has a long tradition. The first horse races in Ljutomer took place in 1874, held on the road between Križevci and Ljutomer. In this area, the Ljutomer Racing Society was established, which is the second oldest in Europe. The founder of trotting horse breeding in the region was Count Rudolf Warren–Lippitt. Farmers also used these horses for agricultural work. As early as 1884, the first Norfolk Trotter Radautz and the Orlov Trotter Krolik were imported. Later, despite some attempts with other trotters (such as the Orlov trotter Hipoli and some French trotters), breeders mostly used American trotters.
Today, the breed is mainly distributed in the northeastern part of Slovenia.
Breed Description
Breed Characteristics
The original purpose of breeding the Ljutomer Trotter was to produce a working horse, but later it developed into a sport and recreational horse. A trotter moves by advancing the left hind leg and the right foreleg together, followed by the other pair of legs. In other gaits, horses move both forelegs together and then both hind legs together. Some of these abilities are partly determined genetically, while others are learned in early youth, as training begins when the horse is about one year old. During the first two months of training, the horse is driven slowly so that it gradually develops speed; afterwards, a faster training session is introduced once a week. The Ljutomer Trotter is an early maturing breed.
Breeding Purpose
Breeding is predominantly stable-based, combined with pasture grazing and paddock turnout for broodmares and foals. Later, young horses and competition horses are kept in individual stalls and are regularly trained and prepared for competitions. The main purpose of breeding is the production of racing horses. Their early maturity allows them to compete already as two-year-olds. Horses that do not achieve the required racing times are used for recreational riding, tourist riding, and carriage driving. Most breeders keep Ljutomer Trotters because of tradition and their love for horses and trotting sport, while the use of these horses for farm work is becoming increasingly rare.
For more information
you can visit the breed data sheet https://www.genska-banka.si/register-pasem/pasma/ljutomerski_kasac/
or visit official website of the Trotting Breeding Association of Slovenia: https://krzs.si/
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