Giorgalidiko: Domestic Horse, North-western European Horse

Minoans utilised horses resembling contemporary equines.

Recently, significant efforts have been made to conserve and propagate it.

The domestic horse, known as 'Giorgalidiko' in Crete, is considered the oldest in Europe, with the Minoans using a horse similar to today's.

These horses possess a unique and natural characteristic known as a lateral gait. This term refers to the horse's swift movement in a two-beat rhythm, where the two right and two left legs are lifted alternately. This rare ability is innate, inherited through genetics, and not something the horse acquires through learning.

In recent years, a significant initiative has emerged to rescue and breed the Cretan horse. Various associations have been formed, bringing together numerous individuals, primarily young enthusiasts, dedicated to the care and preservation of the Giorgalidiko horse.

Information from the magazine NATURE

https://www.eepf.gr/images/virtuemart/product/Fysi110web.pdf

Text by Kleonikos Stavridakis, then Head of Environmental Education of the Prefecture of Rethymno

Text editing: DiscoverCrete Editorial Team

Photos: Spyridakis,G. / Natural History Museum of Crete – University of Crete