The Polish Coldblood (Polish: Polski koń zimnokrwisty) is a modern Polish breed of draught horse of medium to heavy weight. It was formed in 1964 when the various regional draught breeds or types were merged into a single stud-book. Those local types derived from cross-breeding of local mares with imported stallions of heavy draught breeds, principally of Ardennais, Belgian Draught and Swedish Ardennes stock.
In the twenty-first century the horses are used for tractive power and are reared for horsemeat, particularly for the Italian market.[4]
History
In 1964 the various regional draught breeds of Poland were merged into a single stud-book, the Księga Stadna Koni Zimnokrwistych I Pogrubionych.[5]: 258 Among these were the Garwolin, the Kopczyk Podlaski, the Koszalin, the Lidzbark, the Łowicz-Sochaczewski, the Sokółka and the Sztumski.[6]: 3 [7]: 496–497
In 2024 the total number of the horses was some 121000–126000 head, substantially lower than in 2002, when it was almost 330000. The registered breeding stock consisted of approximately 8000 brood-mares and 2000 stallions.[2] In 2024 the conservation status of the breed was "not at risk".[2]
The Polish Coldblood is a heavy horse, with weights usually in the range 600–800 kg, though some can weigh more than 900 kg. The height at the withers usually falls between 148 and 160 cm.[3]: 120
Use
The regional draught breeds of Poland were used principally for tractive power in agriculture. In the twenty-first century the horses are commonly reared for horsemeat, particularly for the Italian market.[2][4]
^[Komisja Księgi Stadnej polskich koni zimnokrwistych; Biuro Polskiego Związku Hodowców Koni] (2018). Program Hodowli Koni Rasy Polski Koń Zimnokrwisty (in Polish). Warsaw: Polski Związek Hodowców Koni. Archived 19 March 2022.
^Breed data sheet: Arden / Poland (Horse). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed August 2024.
These are the horse breeds considered to be wholly or partly of Polish origin. Many have complex or obscure histories, so inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively Polish.
