The Giara horse is a horse breed native to the island of Sardinia. It is one of the fifteen indigenous horse "breeds of limited distribution" recognised by the AIA, the Italian breeders' association. While of small size due to the hostile environment in which it lives, and sometimes called a "pony," it is considered a true horse.
Etymology
In older literature, the name achetta is also sometimes encountered. It is no longer used because the Sardinian term it is derived from, acheta describes any small to medium sized horse. The Sardinian term acheta itself is a diminutive based on the root ácha and entered the language via Catalan/Algherese aca "small horse", itself from Spanishhaca, jaca. The word jaca again is derived from Old Spanishhaca, itself from Old Frenchhaque, which in turn is ultimately derived from the English place-name Hackney, a place famous for its horses. The term Giara literally means "plateau, tableland", meaning the Giara di Gesturi, so literally "plateau horse".
Characteristics
The Giara was developed in an area of south-central Sardinia noted for a stony basaltic plateau at about above sea level with steep terrain. Due to this harsh environment, the horse is small, averaging between, but hardy and able to acclimate to unfavorable conditions. It has a horse phenotype rather than that of a pony. Most are bay, chestnut or black. They have an abundant forelock and mane. Their head is relatively large with a wide jaw, the neck is not very long, but described as "strong." The breed tends to be a bit straight in the shoulder with relatively low withers, a somewhat long back and loin, and the croup is sloped with a low-set tail. They have good bone, characterized by an average cannon circumference of, large joints and hooves that are small but strong. The Giara has sure-footedgaits and a temperament that is spirited.
History
The origins of the Giara horse are uncertain; it may have been brought into the island of Sardinia by the Phoenicians or by the Greeks in the 5th or 4th century BC. It has characteristics of "Asian" or oriental horse type, particularly that of the Barb. In the past, some theorized that it was a unique subspecies, Equus ferus giarae because of a Neolithic horse fossil dated 6000 B.C., but similar speculations in other breeds have been largely disproven.
Habitat and population
The total population is estimated at around 700 individuals. Present throughout Sardinia until Medieval times, the wild population now lives only in a restricted area of Southern Sardinia, on the large basalt plateau La Giara di Gesturi, at 500–600 meters above sea level. The Giara Plateau has sides that are steep cliffs, and the difficulty of access and the isolated location have protected the wild stock in recent centuries. Used in agriculture until the 1950s, the Giara horse was largely supplanted by machinery in the 1960s and many were slaughtered. In 1971, considering the breed to be at risk of extinction, the Istituto di Incremento Ippico della Sardegna of Ozieri established a breeding centre at Foresta Burgos, in central northern Sardinia. A small number of individuals were reintroduced elsewhere. Today, some are used for farming and riding. Recently the Istituto di Incremento Ippico has crossed Giara horses with Arabian horses to create the Giarab, a new breed suited to equestrian sports.
