Once on the brink of extinction, these legendary ancient forest horses are back, strong, ready for riding, driving, racing, work, for children and adults. In their native Sweden, they are used (and hold the record for) harness racing for youth 13-21. They are a light horse, but are very well-built, and are stout enough to carry a 150 lb adult with ease. They excel in many disciplines: English (they love eventing), Western (contest is their specialty), endurance, jumping, trail, and of course, driving.
Swedish Gotlands are a rare breed in North America, numbering at only about 150 individuals. Kokovoko Breeding Farm has been breeding Gotlands for over 26 years, ever since we bought the last remaining breeding herd in North America in 1989. We bought them sight unseen: a very handsome buckskin stallion (Tarquin Tristan), a couple weanling fillies, and five very pregnant mares. They looked pretty much like a bunch of plain brown ponies of “Thelwell” origin….until I got to know them. I learned that these were the kindest, most intelligent, easiest to train equines that I had ever encountered. And they had spunk, too.
They are the best-kept secret in the horse world, but we are working on changing that! With an Instagram account focusing on the ponies, more and more people are learning about this amazing breed. But with the addition of a Gotland Breyer, a wider audience can be reached.
