reproduced in part with permission from HappyHaflingers.com and author Haley Madden

Haflinger Temperament
Apart from their beautiful looks, many people are drawn to the Haflinger breed because of their kind temperaments. Haflingers are traditionally known to be quiet, gentle horses that are tolerant of many kinds of riders. While Haflingers are indeed an outgoing, friendly breed of horse, there are some misconceptions about their temperaments that are useful to know when looking to purchase or ride a Haflinger. While these guidelines do not apply to all horses, they have proven to be true for many of the Haflingers we have known.
Intelligence:
Haflingers are generally very smart. This has many advantages; they are quick to catch onto things while training, they’re easy to work with, and they’re very fun. However, this also presents special challenges. (More...)
Gentleness:
Haflingers, by and large, are tolerant horses. However, there are a few things to keep in mind about the Haflinger’s sweet temperament. First and foremost, they are still horses. (More...)
"Space Invaders":
At times there is a downside to the friendly, outgoing nature of the Haflinger: they can become too friendly. They’re in your pockets, nuzzling your hair, and walking all over you (often looking for treats!) unless you’re careful. (More...)
Summary:
To us, the best thing about Haflingers is their temperament. By respecting who they are by nature, we can develop positive, understanding relationships founded on mutual respect. Of course, each horse is different and needs to be treated as an individual, but we've found that many Haflingers share the same wonderful personalities!
Apart from their beautiful looks, many people are drawn to the Haflinger breed because of their kind temperaments. Haflingers are traditionally known to be quiet, gentle horses that are tolerant of many kinds of riders. While Haflingers are indeed an outgoing, friendly breed of horse, there are some misconceptions about their temperaments that are useful to know when looking to purchase or ride a Haflinger. While these guidelines do not apply to all horses, they have proven to be true for many of the Haflingers we have known.
Intelligence:
Haflingers are generally very smart. This has many advantages; they are quick to catch onto things while training, they’re easy to work with, and they’re very fun. However, this also presents special challenges. (More...)
Gentleness:
Haflingers, by and large, are tolerant horses. However, there are a few things to keep in mind about the Haflinger’s sweet temperament. First and foremost, they are still horses. (More...)
"Space Invaders":
At times there is a downside to the friendly, outgoing nature of the Haflinger: they can become too friendly. They’re in your pockets, nuzzling your hair, and walking all over you (often looking for treats!) unless you’re careful. (More...)
Summary:
To us, the best thing about Haflingers is their temperament. By respecting who they are by nature, we can develop positive, understanding relationships founded on mutual respect. Of course, each horse is different and needs to be treated as an individual, but we've found that many Haflingers share the same wonderful personalities!