Breeding of the Shagya included desert bred Arabian stallions with southeastern European mares that were largely descended from Arabian stock. Thoroughbreds and Lippizaners were added to the stock to improve size and movement. These outstanding horses gained their name from the magnificent Arabian stallion Shagya, who influenced the bloodlines. Shagya was tall and remarkably strong, and he passed these traits to his offspring. Most Shagyas’ can be traced back to Shagya.
The Shagya has been carefully bred for their size, athletic ability, and strength, which in return has made them fantastic sport horses. They are typically taller than the average Arabian, standing at 15-16 hands tall. Their sturdy yet elegant builds have led them to grow in popularity. Since the years have introduced wider gene pools, Arabians have been breed interchangeably so that most bloodlines are mixed.
