Language: German
The Polish konik is a primitive horse breed, often wrongly described as tarpan. In the early 20th century the attempt was made to save the last remains of the extinct tarpans (hybridized with domestic horses). Tarpans were Eastern European forest horses - probably true wild horses - which sought shelter in the woods from persecution.
This book not only features the history of the extermination of the tarpans and the arduous rescue of their hereditary endowment even through the chaos of the Second World War. It fills a gap by providing for the first time otherwise inaccessible Eastern European literature on the breeding and keeping of koniks under almost natural conditions in the huge reserves, but also on the extensive scientific studies on these horses. The book summarizes more than 70 years of Polish research on koniks and the experiences made in reserve breeding.
In times of oversupply and subsequent modern diseases of riding horses it is also an impressive demonstration of excellent health, longevity and fertility due to natural horse keeping.