Estonian horse
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| Other names | (Estonian) Klepper, Estonian Native |
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| Country of origin |
 Estonia
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Estonian horse (Estonian: eesti hobune), also known as the Estonian native, the Estonian Klepper, or natively the Eesti hobune, is a relatively small horse breed originating in Estonia. It originated over than 2800 years ago. The Estonian horse has influenced several Baltic horse breeds, including the Tori horse. The breed is strong and is resistant against sickness. The breed is nowadays most common in Estonia.
The Estonian horse is rather small, measuring 14.3 hands (59 inches, 150 cm) at the withers. It is strong, yet not heavily built. The most common colourations are black, bay, chestnut, and grey.The breed is a tireless and powerful puller, and is well suited to agricultural work with its easy temperament. This has contributed for the breed's use as a children's riding horse, a major reason for why the breed was able to survive.
Most breeders let their herds live under natural pasture conditions except during wintertime, and the breed lives well on forage alone. This has made the breed healthy and durable with hard feet. Their appearance is not exceptional. The head is small with straight profile and primitive facial features. The breed is willing and easy to handle, inexpensive to keep, and often long-lived. The breed is nowadays used for tourist rides. Finland has a breed association for the Estonian Horse.
The Estonian Horse is descended from the primitive forest horse that lived in the Northern Europe more than 5,000 years ago, and is considered the progenitor of other breeds such as the North Swedish Horse and the Dole Gudbrandsdal. The Estonian Horse has retained its qualities and looks due to little influence by other horse breeds. However, it is believed that the breed became mixed with the now extinct Öland Horse, as large numbers of Öland Horses were exported to Estonia at one point. Tests authorised by associations dedicated to the Öland Horse have revealed that these two breeds have a genetically similar background. During the 11th century, a traveler known as Adam of Bremen considered the Estonians to be rich with gold and good horses.
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