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The Latvian breed, despite having been established only since 1952, has ancient ancestry. Descended from the original stock that produced the European heavy horses—the prehistoric Forest Horse of Northern Europe—the Latvian is closely related to the Dole Gudbrandsdal, the North Swedish Horse, and other draft horses. During the 17th century, the Latvian had German riding horse, Thoroughbred, and Arabian blood added to it, but the most influential breeds on the Latvian have been the Hanoverian, the Oldenburg, and the Holstein. From the 1920s until the 1940s, there was an especially large amount of Oldenburg blood infused, and 42 mares and 65 stallions were imported from the Groningen stud in the Netherlands. Hanoverian, Norfolk Roadster, Oldenburg part-breds, East Friesian, and Ardennes blood was then added. There are three types of Latvian horse: the Heavy Latvian Harness Horse, the Standard Latvian and the lightweight Latvian Horse. The Heavy Latvian is a heavy draft most close to the original type established. It possesses great strength and pulling power. The riding type is much more popular than the heavy type, which is now rarely seen. |
