This breed originates
from, and is spread throughout Puglia: in particular, the Murge region. It can trace
its origins to the time of Spanish domination, when Arab, Berber and Andalusian
stallions were brought in. But the real development of the Murgese horse was thanks
to the Counts of Conversano. They were a family of farsighted nobles who were very
adept in choosing horses for importation and careful in selecting those which fitted
the needs of the time and the character of the area. The breed was first officially
registered in 1926 at the “Deposito Stalloni” (Stallion Registry), which later became
the “Istituto di Incremento Ippico di Foggia” (Foggia Institute of Horse Breeding).
The Murgese is a country
breed, often reared in grazing herds. Because of its strength and its lively but
gentle character, it makes a good saddle-horse. Nowadays, it is most often used
for vacational riding and to draw light carriages.
Source: Agraria.org
About Murghese Horses
