| Bred at the famous stud farm at Mezohegyes, | | | | is permissible. It stands at about 16 h.h. with fairly good |
| founded in 1784 by the Emperor Josef 11, the Furioso | | | | conformation; the head is fine like a thoroughbred; the |
| was one of the most significant breeds developed | | | | neck is elegant; it has a good sloping shoulder and a |
| there. The foundation sires were; firstly an English | | | | fairly well pronounced wither; a short strong back; a |
| Thoroughbred stallion 'Furioso', from whom the breed | | | | fairly deep girth and chest; strong sound limbs and |
| takes its name, was foaled in 1836 and acquired by | | | | good hard feet. The Furioso's calm nature and free, |
| the stud as a five year old in 1841; secondly a horse | | | | slightly exaggerated movement make it ideally suited |
| known as 'North Star' who was foaled in 1844 and | | | | for riding or driving and a popular choice for equestrian |
| imported there as a six year old in 1850, his blood lines | | | | tournaments. The Csikos horse herders of Hungary, |
| traced back to the Norfolk Roadster and he was | | | | World famous for there displays of trick riding, often |
| descended from a 1793 Derby winner called 'Waxy' | | | | use the Furioso horse. |
| grandson of 'Eclipse'. | | | | This handsome horse can be seen roaming free on |
| These two stallions were crossed with mostly local | | | | the grasslands of Hungary where it has been raised |
| mares of Nonius type. In the beginning both bloodlines | | | | for centuries, a small number of pure-breds are also |
| were kept separate, the 'North Star' progeny being | | | | found in Romania and Slovakia. The most significant |
| particularly suitable as harness racehorses. At the end | | | | grounds are the Hod-Mezogazda Rt. Aranyagi farm |
| of the nineteenth century in about 1885 the two lines | | | | and the Taltos Panzio farm in Bugac. A few years |
| were merged and the Furioso strain became dominant. | | | | ago in an endeavour to save the breed The |
| Since then more thoroughbred blood has been added | | | | Furioso-North Star Horse Breeders Association was |
| to the breed making it a quality all-purpose riding horse. | | | | formed by a group of professional people that included |
| It is usually black, bay or brown, though any solid colour | | | | veterinarians, teachers, horse breeders and farmers. |