The Bardigiano horse goes back in time to the Roman Era when they were used by Belgian Gauls to invade Italy. It is thought to be related to Abellinum, also of Roman times.

ORIGINS
The origin of Bardigiano horses is Bardi, Emilia-Romagna, a region in Northern Italy which is where their name derived. Over the years, they have adapted to living in rough mountainous areas.

PHYSICAL FEATURES / PHYSIQUE
The average height of the Bardigiano is 13.2 to 14.1 hands. Their weight varies from 550 to 660 pounds. They are fairly small horses. They have a small head with either a straight or slightly concave profile with a wide mouth and protruding upper lip; an arched neck with a wide base and thick crest; low withers; straight medium length back; deep heart girth. They are very strong, muscular horses, especially for their size. Their eyes are often covered by a thick tuft of hair. Common colors vary from a blood bay to black dun with the dark end being more common.. The Bardigiano horse resembles the Dales pony of England and the Mérens horse of France.

TEMPERAMENT
The Bardigiano horse is very docile and easy to work with. They have a nice, quiet temperament.

USES / ASSETS
Because Bardigiano borses are so docile, they can be taught to do about anything. They are excellent for agricultural work, packing, trekking, and riding. Bardigiano mares were bred with donkeys during World War I and World War II to produce robust mules.

STATUS
In 1972, a committee was organized to reestablish the Bardigiano breed after years of being mixed with other breeds. The Bardigiano was officially recognized in 1977 to help preserve the breed. There are over 3000 of these horses on record with the Associazione Provinciale Allevatori, though they are considered to be vulnerable.