HORSES

March 15, 2021 nikola Comments 0 Comment

Lucija in the village of Potkonje near Knin, at Hrvoje Pozar stud.
Photo by her mother Julija Vojkovic (on this web with kind permission)

Sinjska alka (The Sinj Alka) is a competition to the memory of the legendary 1715 victory over the Turks, where the town of Sinj near Split has been saved. According to the legend, the victory was attained due to the help of the Lady of Sinj (Gospa Sinjska). The aim of the competition, organized August 15th each year since 1715, is to pierce the ALKA with a spear, riding a horse at full speed (45 km/h). The alka is hanged on the rope at the hight of 3,22 m.

source: www.chorvatsko.cz/tema/alka.html

Photo by Julija Vojkovic (on this web with her kind permission)

Horses are very popular in various parts of Croatia, especially in the north (in Slavonia). The Djakovo stud existed already in 1506, and is among the oldest in Europe. It was visited by Queen Elisabeth II, Prince Philip, and Princess Margaret in 1972.

Queen Elisabeth II, Prince Philip, and Princess Margaret in Djakovo, Croatia, in 1972.
Photos from CROWN

The town of Djakovo was occupied by the Turks in the period of 1536-1667, and the stud was renewed in 1706. In 1806 it was moved to the nearby Ivandvor, where it is also today.

Also very famous were the Lipik Lipizzaners, which was the largest stud in Croatia until the Greater Serbian 1991-1995 aggression on Croatia.

More about horses… Mr Tony Santic (tuna farmer), Australian Croat born on the beautiful Croatian island of Lastovo, is the owner of a famous mare Makybe Diva. This strange name is an acronym, derived from the names of five ladies employed at Mr Santic: Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Diane and Vanessa. In 2005 Makybe Diva became the first horse in Australasian racing history to claim three Melbourne Cups and a Cox Plate.