Horse
Pronunciation:
Noe'-nee-ush
Breed Description:
The Nonius breed of horse is a Hungarian carriage horse breed, descended from draft breeds crossed with lighter riding horse breeds. It is almost always black, or dark bay or brown, with few, if any, white markings. Nonius horses are known for being ideally suited to carriage driving, with calm, intelligent temperaments, elegant paces, and good endurance. Today, there are two types, or strains, of Nonius. They are so well suited to carriage driving that all but one of the last six world championship combined driving teams were Hungarian.
Temperament:
The Nonius breed of horse has a spirited but trainable temperament.
Height:
The Nonius breed of horse stands 15 to 16.2 hands.
Weight:
The Nonius breed of horse weighs 1100 to 1500 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Nonius breed of horse has no breed related health problems.
Living Conditions:
The Nonius breed of horse is hardy and resilient, like many draft type breeds, but recent breeding has produced a lighter horse for competitions that prefers stabling in harsh weather.
Exercise:
The Nonius breed of horse needs regular work and exercise.
Life Expectancy:
The Nonius breed of horse lives into its mid twenties.
Grooming:
The Nonius breed of horse benefits from regular grooming, especially as it has a fairly thick main and tail.
Origin:
The Nonius breed of horse traces its heritage back to royal Hungarian horses, which were developed from Arab, Turkish, and Iberian horses. During the 18th century these horses were crossed with heavier, more durable breeds to produce sturdy but intelligent horses for cavalry service. The Nonius breed can trace its history back to a single horse, Nonius, from which it gets its name, which was an Anglo-Norman stallion captured in France and brought to Hungary in 1810. He was believed to be a rather plain horse, but one which showed extraordinary intelligence and endurance, and Nonius was used extensively to cross with more elegant Arabian and Andalusiann mares, giving the breed the type that is preserved today.
After World War II the Nonius, like many other heavier breeds, nearly died out, but its exceptional capacity as a competitive driving horse has brought about its revival in the last three decades. Today there are several hundred Nonius horses, mainly in Eastern Europe, although they are exported with increasing frequency.. 