Murgese Horse

People usually end up searching for the Murgese because they’ve spotted a black, powerfully built Italian horse and want to know what it is, what it’s like to live with, and whether it suits their riding goals. That decision matters: the Murgese can be a steady, durable partner, but it’s also a rare breed with a defined type and a limited global population.

Below is a clear, breed-standard grounded overview—where the Murgese comes from, what it typically looks like, how it tends to behave under saddle, and the real-world considerations around keeping and breeding one.

Quick facts (Murgese horse)

• Origin: Murge plateau, Puglia (Apulia), Southern Italy¹
• Type: Italian riding horse; historically farm and military use, now selected primarily for riding¹
• Typical height: mares about 150–162 cm; stallions about 155–168 cm (roughly 14.3–16.2 hh)^{1, 3}
• Common coat: black; a small proportion may be dark roan/“iron grey” depending on registry definitions^{3, 4}
• Build: compact, muscular, strong limbs; notably hard, dark hooves are often mentioned as a hallmark¹
• Typical uses: trekking/trail riding, general riding, some sport disciplines; historically light draught and farm work¹
• Breed registry: maintained in Italy by ANAMF (Associazione Nazionale Allevatori del Cavallo delle Murge e dell’Asino di Martina Franca)²
• Conservation status: listed as “at risk/vulnerable” in FAO’s DAD-IS in recent reporting^{1, 5}

History and origin

The Murgese takes its name from Le Murge, a limestone plateau in Southern Italy, largely within today’s Puglia (Apulia). It is especially associated with the countryside around Martina Franca and neighbouring towns where horses were traditionally kept in working conditions—on rough pasture, in heat and wind, over hard ground.¹

Its development is usually linked to the period of Spanish rule in Southern Italy, with breeding influenced by imported horses of Barb and Arabian type crossed with local stock. Formal registration and systematic selection for the modern breed began in the early 20th century, including work at the state stud/registry at Foggia (then under royal administration).^{1, 3}

Physical characteristics and appearance

A well-made Murgese looks like strength organised into a clean outline: a solid, muscular body, sturdy neck, sloping shoulder, and limbs built to last. The head is typically straight or slightly convex in profile, with an alert, plain expression rather than an exaggerated “show” look.^{1, 4}

Coat colour is one of the breed’s easiest tells. The typical Murgese is black, often described as raven-black; some registries and breeders also describe a small percentage of dark roan/iron-grey coats. Claims of a “distinctive white coat” for the Murgese are incorrect—white is not the breed’s defining colour.^{1, 4}

Height and weight (what to expect)

Most adults fall into a mid-to-upper riding-horse height range, with mares commonly smaller than stallions. Heights reported by breed overviews cluster around 150–162 cm for mares and 155–168 cm for stallions (about 14.3–16.2 hh).^{1, 3}

Weight varies with sex, age, work, and condition. Many descriptions place the breed in the “solid riding horse” bracket rather than a true heavy draught type.^{3, 4}

Temperament: what they’re usually like

Across reputable breed descriptions, the Murgese is generally portrayed as manageable and willing: a horse with enough sensitivity to be rideable and trainable, but not typically hot-headed. Individual temperament still depends on handling, breeding choices, and early education—especially in a breed that has historically been kept in extensive, herd-based systems.^{1, 3}

It’s worth avoiding two common overstatements:

• “Perfect for all riders.” Any horse can be the wrong match if its schooling or energy level doesn’t suit the rider.
• “Stubborn by nature.” Some Murgesi can be very steady and self-contained; that can read as resistance if the training is unclear, rushed, or inconsistent.

Training and riding: what tends to work best

Murgesi were shaped by practical work, and they often respond well to calm, consistent handling that rewards the right answer and doesn’t nag. Clear cues, steady repetition, and fair boundaries usually get further than constant pressure.

Because the breed is valued for toughness and soundness, it’s easy to assume it needs little management. In reality, good training still depends on basics: progressive loading, good farriery, and a diet that supports work without pushing the horse into excess condition.

Uses and disciplines

Today, the Murgese is primarily kept as a riding horse. Many owners use them for trekking and general riding, and they can also be seen in a range of disciplines depending on individual movement and training. Historically, they were also used for farm work and military purposes, and that old utility still shows in their compact power and durability.¹

Breeding and genetics

The modern breed is managed through an Italian studbook system, with ANAMF serving as the breed association and registry body. For anyone buying a Murgese, studbook documentation matters—especially in a rare breed where type, eligibility, and breeding decisions can have outsized effects on the future population.²

Historical accounts often mention influence from imported Barb/Arabian-type horses during Spanish rule, blended with local Southern Italian stock. That story explains the Murgese’s blend of substance and rideability without turning it into a fragile “hot-blood”.^{1, 3}

Health and care considerations

No breed comes with a guarantee of “no health issues”. What you can reasonably say about the Murgese is that it has a long-standing reputation for hardiness in extensive conditions—good feet and practical toughness are frequently noted. But any individual horse can still develop lameness, metabolic issues, dental problems, skin disease, or injury, depending on management and workload.¹

Day-to-day care is the same foundation you’d use for any riding horse:

• forage-first feeding (pasture and/or hay), with concentrates only as needed for work and condition
• regular dental care and vaccination/worm control appropriate to your region
• farriery matched to hoof quality, terrain, and workload
• progressive conditioning for fitness, joints, and tendons

Challenges and threats facing the breed

The main pressure on the Murgese is the simple arithmetic of rarity. Smaller populations make it harder to maintain genetic diversity and can concentrate particular lines if breeding choices narrow over time. FAO’s Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) has listed the breed as “at risk/vulnerable” in recent reporting, which reflects that conservation concern even when the horses themselves are not inherently fragile.^{1, 5}

If you’re considering breeding, it’s worth thinking beyond a single foal: pedigree depth, coefficients/inbreeding management, and how the horse fits the registry’s direction all matter in a small breed.

Final thoughts

The Murgese is not a “white Italian show horse”. It’s a black, practical, historically working breed—compact power, hard feet, and a calm presence that often makes sense in the real world of trail kilometres, uneven ground, and long seasons. For riders who value durability and a straightforward horse, it can be a quietly impressive choice, provided you buy from good stock and keep the training and management sensible.^{1, 2}

References

1. Murgese (breed overview, history, characteristics, height ranges, conservation notes)
2. A.N.A.M.F. (Associazione Nazionale Allevatori del Cavallo delle Murge e dell’Asino di Martina Franca) – official association site
3. Agraria.org: “The Murgese” (origins, registration history, morphology and height ranges)
4. Masseria Capoiazzo: Murgese horse breed standard (coat description and typical morphology)
5. FAO Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS)
6. ANAMF database (studbook/genealogy search portal)
7. Horses of the World: Murgese (general characteristics, height and use summary)
8. The Equinest: Murgese (overview of traditional colours and general type)