Losino horse: the breed of the Merindades of Burgos
The Losino horse is an indigenous breed from northern Burgos that takes its name from the Losa Valley. It is also known as the Merindades horse. It is a black-coated horse, small in stature and lively in temperament, which is used today primarily for mountain equestrian tourism and in children's and youth horse riding. This profile contains official data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Catalog of Breeds.
Basic data
| Name | Losina; also, Merindades horse |
|---|---|
| Classification | Indigenous breed |
| Origin | Losa Valley and the Merindades region (Burgos) |
| Height at the withers | 140 cm for males and 130 cm for females |
| Weight | 350 kg for males and 300 kg for females |
| Coat | Black, with the "morcillo" (dark bay/blackish) variant |
| Primary use | Work; also sport and leisure |
Origin
According to the Ministry, there are two theories regarding its origin. The monophyletic theory links it to the primitive Przewalski's horse. The polyphyletic theory, which is the most widely accepted, traces its descent from crosses between Celtic horses and populations of wild horses that inhabited the peninsula. Cave paintings in Ojo Guareña, in the Merindad de Sotoscueva, suggest that the Losino has been a distinct type of horse since ancient times.
Today there are two main breeding hubs: the Losa and Mena valleys, in Las Merindades, and the Obarenes Mountains, in Pancorbo.
Description: morphology
- Overall: Eumetric and mesolinear, meaning it has average weight and proportions.
- Head: Proportioned with fine features, a straight profile with a slight "S" curve, and small ears. The neck is robust.
- Body: Broad chest, wide and somewhat swaybacked loin, and a rounded, sloping croup, with a low-set tail.
- Limbs: Fine, with sparse feathering.
- Coat: Black, allowing for the "morcillo" variant, with reddish tones in summer and darker in winter. The mane is abundant and black. A star is permitted on males, and a star or narrow stripe ("lucero") on females. Until the age of two, foals have coarse hair, similar to that of donkeys.
What it is used for
Its primary official use is work. Today, it is mainly dedicated to mountain equestrian tourism and children's and youth horse riding. The Ministry highlights its steady pace and efficiency on rugged terrain. Once broken in, it is docile and noble, and learns any discipline quickly.
It also holds cultural significance: it is present in pilgrimages, local festivals, and traditional events in its regions, and its breeding helps maintain pastures and control scrubland.
How it is raised
It is raised in an extensive system on mountain terrain rich in scrub, and only receives supplements during very harsh weather conditions. It is adapted to temperatures of ten degrees below zero in winter and thirty in summer. Breeding is carried out through controlled natural mating, with males separated from females to schedule births.
Breeding program
The breeding program for the Losina horse breed was approved by the resolution of February 4, 2022, from the Directorate General of Agricultural and Livestock Production of the Regional Government of Castile and León.
More breeds with their own profiles can be found on our page of indigenous horse breeds of Spain.
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Official Catalog of Livestock Breeds of Spain, Losina: general data, morphological data, uses and farming system, productive data, breeding program.
