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… a rare breeding farm

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Meet the Gotland

Headshot of Gotland Pony

The Swedish Gotland is a small/medium pony, perfect for the whole family. Their kind eyes say it all: I won't hurt you. I'll take care of your children. We can have fun together. They range in size from 11.3-13 hands. Their disposition is simply amazing. They love people. For centuries in their native Gotland, a tiny island off the coast of Sweden, they have served people: carrying children to school and through riding lessons, as delivery ponies, and as harness racing ponies for kids 13-21. They carry the record for the fastest pony trot time on the track. They're very hardy, growing wooly bear coats in the winter and shedding out sleek as a Thoroughbred in the summer. Their endurance is phenomenal, and so is their mind. They rarely need shoes, and they aren't very picky eaters. They look at thistles and think "treat!" They are mellow without being lumbering bores. In fact they are really peppy when you want them to be.

Once on the brink of extinction, these legendary ancient forest horses are back: strong, ready for riding, driving, racing, work, for children and adults. No small breed matches the rare versatility, intelligence, and unflappable disposition of the warm-blooded Gotland.

The Gotland is a true small horse, averaging from 11.3-13 hands in height and weighing around 650 lbs. They are commonly referred to as ponies due to their size. They are calm, athletic, intelligent, and very un-”pony” like, except in height. They have a genuine love of people, and especially children. While very laid back, they do not lack enthusiasm or energy. 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.

Gotlands have an amazing brain. You can see it in their kind, soft, intelligent eye. They don’t have the flight reflex of other horses, so they’re nearly bombproof. They love a challenge, and will work together with you to accomplish whatever needs doing. No drama, no acrobatics. They aren’t buckers, and as long as they understand what you want, they’re right there with you. A Gotland will trust you, not fight you. Jumping? They love it. Water, bridges, tarps, trailers, clippers? No problem.

For centuries Gotlands lived in the wild in their native Gotland. They are one of the purest breeds in the horse world. They’re very tough, and require little in the way of pampering. A REAL horse. Shoes are optional on most, and unsoundness is so rare as to be almost unheard of in the breed. Most Gotlands live (healthy) into their thirties. Their shelter needs are minimal, as are their maintenance feed requirements. They do best in pasture, unpampered, though they would never object to a comfy warm stall if it were offered them. While they grow HUGE winter fuzz, they shed out sleek in the summertime.

Some of the Gotlands’ greatest recent successes have been in the field of combined driving. They are tremendously fast, agile, and coordinated, and they seem to love the challenge presented. It’s as if they, too, are planning their course and rising to the challenge of the day, be it dressage, cones, obstacles or marathon. Nothing bothers them, allowing you to focus on what you need to do.

Gotland mares are excellent mothers and easy breeders. Stallions are very easily handled and commonly shown side-by-side with other mares and stallions without incident. Generally, stallions can even be handled by children—their disposition is that good. Stallions can be kept with mares year-round.

Breed Standard

Swedish Gotlands are true small horses, standing 11.3-13H, with primitive looks and natural hardiness. Conformation and way of going are of a light horse type. They are larger than a Shetland and a bit stockier than a Hackney, but lighter than a Haflinger, averaging 600-700 lbs. They're resilient, healthy and long-lived. It's not unusual for Gotlands to live, healthy and sound, into their thirties. The Gotland head has a straight or dished profile, with a broad forehead, shapely muzzle, large nostrils, HUGE wide-set eyes, and a deep, round jaw. The breast and chest are deep, providing room for excellent wind capacity. The shoulder is long and sloping, perfectly angled for jumping. The back is well-muscled and strong, with an angled croup. Forearms and gaskins are muscular, and tendons and joints are all clean and strong. The cannon bone is fine but very dense. Pasterns are sloping and flexible, and the hooves round and so exceptionally tough that shoes are optional. Mane and tail are full, and fetlock feather light. They are wooly bears in winter, but shed sleek in summer. Movement is smooth and elastic at all gaits. The trot is their strength. It is very smooth, and they can keep it up for days. In Sweden, they are used as kids' harness racing ponies!

Gotlands at Kokovoko

Kokovoko Breeding Farm has been breeding Gotlands for over 23 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, when I learned that these were the kindest, most intelligent, easiest to train equines I had ever encountered. And they had spunk, too. Even my Percherons didn’t push them around (for long!).

I scoured the horse books for photos and information. There was precious little to find.

My best education came while training the yearlings and new babies. They learned everything SO quickly, and hardly ever objected to anything I did. I found them to be very trusting and nearly unflappable. What it took other horses a week to “get,” these guys got in an hour, and they remembered it. I could long-line and break them to drive in a day, and add another day for an introduction to riding!

Purebred Gotlands average 12.2 hands high and about 650 lbs, but Kokovoko is also breeding Gotland sport ponies to meet the demand for a slightly larger mount capable of carrying larger kids and adults.

Please explore the website and feel free to call or email me to learn more. I’m always happy to talk ponies. Seems they’ve become my passion over the years.

A Documentary about My Gotlands