The Persano Horse
The Persano Horse is a breed of horse that originated in Italy, during the Kingdom of Naples. Located near the town of Serre in the province of Salerno, Italy, the Persano horse is a relative of the Anglo Arabian. It was developed by crossing the Arabian, Andalusian and Turkoman breeds with Mecklenburgers. Today, the Persano breed is recognized all over the world.
Origins
The Persano horse originated in Italy in 1762. It was the result of a cross between Andalusian Arab stallions and eastern mares. By the time of the unification of Italy, the Persano was a disregarded breed. However, in World War II, the Persano was used in the final successful cavalry charge of modern combat. The Bourbon king Charles III introduced the breed into Italy and began breeding it. The cross between Andalusian Arab stallions and oriental mares resulted in a hybrid that is unique.
The Persano Horse originated in southern Italy, but had no fixed breeding system until the 1780s, when the Persano Stud began selective breeding. These horses had Spanish, Oriental, and Neopolitan blood. In the nineteenth century, the Persano Horse was bred for military purposes, including war. In addition to being the best horse for military work, the Persano horse has a rich history and a proud track record of winning important fights.
While very little is known about the Persano breed, historians do know that the Persano evolved from Spanish, Neopolitan, and Oriental blood. The Salernitanos were first bred in the plain midway between Sele and Calore, and then later branched off into their own breed. This horse eventually became known as the “ruling breed of Persano.”
Characteristics
The Persano was developed in the late 1700s for use as a cavalry horse, and was a primary mount for the last successful cavalry charge in history. Despite its history of being used in war, the Persano is still widely used today. They are highly durable and can adapt to different climates. Their coat is usually red with a blonde mane.
The body of the Persano is large and elongated. Their shoulder height is between 160 and 165 cm. They have a deep chest and long legs. Their mane is thick and long. Their legs are long and sturdy. This breed has excellent riding and dressage aptitudes. They are also very docile, making them an excellent choice for beginners. This breed is also known for being one of the oldest horse breeds in the world.
The Persano horse was officially reintroduced to Italy in the early 1900s. In that time, the breed consisted of 356 specimens, including 187 breeding mares. Many of these were sold to Salerno breeders. In 1900, Ricotti reestablished the Government breed of the Persano by passing Act No. 221. The Act created 78 mares that reminded the Persano of ancient times. The mares were divided into two groups – the first group was bred with blood from English horses, while the other group received it from eastern breeds.
History
Developed during the 18th century, the Persano is a spirited horse with a proud heritage. Its bloodlines are based on the Neapolitan horse and the Lipizzaner. The Salerno horse has a mixture of Arabian, Turkoman, and Andalusian bloodlines. It was originally a working horse, but became more favored as a war horse during World War II. Eventually, the breed became largely ignored, until a famous horse riding team led by General Giuseppe Salerno led a cavalry charge against the Russian infantry near Isbushensky.
The history of the Persano Horse is not entirely clear. This horse was first bred at the Royal Stud of Persano. They share ancestry with the Salerno horse. During the nineteenth century, they were bred for military purposes. Their illustrious history reflects their ability to fight and win. They are also known for winning many historic battles. Despite their limited information, the Persano has a proud history that spans centuries.
After World War II, Persano horses were once again used for breeding. They were bred by Italian equestrians. The Persano breed was then reduced to fifty mares for brooding. The remaining equines were transferred to a quadruped center in Grosseto, under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense. However, the reintroduction program of Persano horses was halted in 1954, when it was discovered that only fifty mares were suitable for breeding.
Re-establishment in Italy
The Persano Horse was first established by Charles III of Bourbon in 1762 and was the result of a cross between Arabian and Andalusian Arab mares. The Persano was a highly prized breed for several decades until 1874 when it was officially suppressed and sold off in public auction. After this period, the breed was once again revived in the early 1900s using mares from various cavalry regiments. Some mares were also crossed with Jubilee, an English thoroughbred sired by Siriano. A cross-bred Arab mare called Giacobello was also imported and was sired by Siriano.
The Savoy dynasty wanted to erase the traces of the Bourbon Kingdom in the Kingdom of two Sicilies. The Persano horse became the symbol of the Bourbon Kingdom, but is now still used as a cavalry horse in Italy. The Persano is also still present on the coat of arms of the province of Naples, where it is shown in a rampant position dominated by a crown.
The history of the Persano breed in Italy is somewhat obscure. They have a mixture of Spanish, Oriental, and Neapolitan bloodlines, but there was no fixed breeding system until the 1780s. Nevertheless, the Persano stud was the first stable in Italy to create a standardized bloodline of the Persano breed. King Charles III of Naples and the Spanish dynasty promoted breeders of the Persano in the country and around the world.
Famous breeders
The Persano horse was bred in the 19th century for use in military pursuits. It proved to be tough enough to survive the harsh environment of the Russian steppe. The horse had exceptional anatomical traits, including a square head, a round rump, sturdy limbs, and a graceful gait. However, it was not immune from genetic defects, and its size reduced its fertility.
The Persano horse is a large breed, averaging 17 hands. The coat color varies between individual Persans, but popular colors include bay, black, and brown. The Persano horse has a long history of military service, and the Italians are very proud of their history. Famous breeders of the Persano Horse include the renowned Persanos from Salerno.
The Salerno horse is a native of Salerno, Italy. There was no stable breeding system until the 1780s, when the Persano Stud began selective breeding. Salerno horse blood came from Spanish, Oriental, and Neopolitan horses. The breed was later popularized by King Charles III, King of Spain and Naples. It has a long, thick mane and sloping shoulders.
Featured in movies
The Persano horse was first developed for use in the Italian army’s mounted Carabinieri Regiments. The breed was also used in the last successful classical cavalry charge in history. On the Eastern Front, the Italian Expeditionary Corps fought the Soviet Union in the Battle of Isbushensky. The Persano horse, Esso, was used in this charge and aided the Italians in outflanking 2,000 Soviet infantry. The remainder of the regiment was dismounted and took the battle to the Soviet Army’s stronghold, Isbushensky.
The Persano Horse is a beautiful and graceful breed that was developed during the reign of King Naples in the 18th century at the Royal Stud of the same name near Serre, Italy. They are similar to the Anglo Arabian, and were created through a mix of the Arabian, Andalusians, Turkoman, and Mecklenburger breeds. The Persano was used as a war horse in numerous historical battles, and their reputation has been cemented through their use in many films.
Though the Persano horse has a storied history, very little information is available on its origin. Several different breeds of horses were mixed together to develop a governing breed, and the Salernitanos were an important part of this effort. By breeding the Arabian and Spanish breeds with the Neapolitan, the Persano became a well-respected Italian breed.
