The exhibition of horses and Croatian tradition as part of the Autumn in Lika gathered more than 30,000 visitors

This year, the traditional event Autumn in Lika once again attracted numerous visitors, but the exhibition of horses particularly sparked interest, representing the crown event of the festival's final day. This exhibition, held at the Livestock Market in Gospić, showcased some of the most important Croatian indigenous breeds, including Croatian cold-blooded horses and Croatian Posavac, and breeders demonstrated a high level of commitment to preserving these noble breeds.

One of the key moments of this year's exhibition was the presentation of 170 head of horses, which is a record number of participants in this category. The horses of the Croatian Posavac breed, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Livestock, were shown for the first time in such a large number, particularly won a special place in the hearts of visitors. This exhibition was not only an opportunity for evaluation but also for promoting the importance of preserving traditional agricultural values and horse breeding, especially in the hilly and mountainous areas of Croatia.

The organizers made a special effort this year to include various aspects of rural development and heritage preservation. As part of the 4th exhibition of Croatian cold-blooded horses and 3rd exhibition of Croatian Posavac horses, not only these two breeds were presented, but also the wealth of agricultural machinery and other indigenous breeds, such as the Lika pramenka and buša. "Every year, we increase the number of exhibitors and monitor the progress of family farms and their products," said the prefect Ernest Petry, adding that this year's event is "record-breaking in every way." Petry also emphasized the importance of continuous support for local producers and breeders and thanked the Government of the Republic of Croatia for its support of rural development.

Awards and recognitions

At the exhibition, numerous awards were given to breeders who presented the best livestock. The champion horse this year was horse 1323 Zekan L84, owned by Damir Dragosavac. In individual categories, the first places were won by:

• Marko L7 - 1st place in the category of older stallions (owner Miloš Brakuš)
• Jordan-L28 - 1st place in the category of young stallions (owner Vesna Dundović)
• Espralda-HH2539 - 1st place in the category of mares (owner Valentino Kuprešanin)
• Viky HH300 - 1st place in the category of female foals (owner Zdeno Ramljak)
• Brnjo L84 - 1st place in the category of male foals (owner Ivan Orešković)

In addition to individual competitions, collections were also highly rated. Thus, the collection of foals of the Croatian Posavac, owned by Tomislav Ilić from Sinca, won first place, while the collections of mares and stallions were also highly appreciated.

Events that revive cultural heritage

The event Autumn in Lika was not limited only to agricultural and livestock exhibitions. This year, visitors could enjoy various cultural and ethno performances. A horse-drawn carriage parade was held, and traditional cultural associations from across Croatia presented songs and dances that reflect the rich heritage of the mountainous region of Lika. Additionally, visitors could taste numerous indigenous products, including škripavac cheese, Lika brandy, jams, and preserves from local family farms.

This year's event gathered more than 350 exhibitors from Croatia and neighboring countries, with expectations of over 30,000 visitors during the three-day event. This number confirms that Autumn in Lika remains one of the most important events for promoting rural development and preserving tradition at the national level.