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Burguete
Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk; DAD-IS (2023): at risk/vulnerable;
Other names	Basque: Aurizko zaldia; Spanish: Caballo Burguete; Spanish: Caballo de Raza Burguete;
Country of origin	Spain
Use	horsemeat; conservation grazing; draught work;
Traits
Colour	bay or chestnut
	Equus ferus caballus;

The Burguete (Spanish: Caballo Burguete or Caballo de Raza Burguete, Basque: Aurizko zaldia) is a Spanish breed of horse from the autonomous community of Navarre in north-eastern Spain. It is listed in the Catálogo Oficial de Razas de Ganado de España in the group of autochthonous breeds in danger of extinction.^[3] It is reared principally for horsemeat.^[4]^[5] The name, both in Basque and in Spanish, is derived from that of the municipio of Auritz/Burguete.^[4]

It is one of four Basque breeds of horse, the others being the Jaca Navarra, the Pottoka and the Euskal Herriko Mendiko Zaldia or Basque Mountain Horse.^[6]^: 670

History

The Burguete derives from cross-breeding of indigenous Basque mares of Jaca Navarra type with foreign stallions of the Trait Breton, Postier Breton and Percheron breeds, and later with Ardennes and Comtois stock.^[7]^: 453 It received recognition from the national government of Spain in 1979, when it was included in the Catálogo Oficial de Razas de Ganado de España.^[7]^: 453 The name of the breed, both in Basque and in Spanish, is derived from that of the municipio of Auritz/Burguete in north-eastern Navarre.^[4]

A breeders' association, the Asociación de Criadores de Raza Equina Burguete de Navarra, was established in 1998,^[7]^: 452 and in 1999 was recognised by the Government of Navarre and authorised to keep the stud-book for the breed.^[8]

The Burguete is distributed only in Navarre.^[9] In north-eastern Navarre, its area of origin, it is associated with the municipios of Auritz/Burguete and Isaba, as well as the settlements of Villanueva de Arce/Hiriberri-Artzibar [es] in the municipio of Arce and Arrieta/Artzibar [es] in the municipio of Auñamendi [es]. Its range later expanded into north-western Navarre, where it is associated with the comarca of Barranca, with the municipio of Larráun in the comarca of Norte de Aralar, and with the Améscoas – the municipio of Améscoa Baja in the comarca of Estella Oriental and the former administrative region of Améscoa Alta [es] to the north.^[7]^: 453

In 2019 there were 1532 breeding mares and 307 active stallions;^[10] At the end of 2022 the total population numbered 7317 head, consisting of 6064 mares and 1317 stallions; the registered breeding stock numbered 365 stallions and 4001 mares, for a total of 4366.^[9] In 2023 the conservation status of the breed was reported to DAD-IS as "at risk/vulnerable".^[2]

Characteristics

The Burguete is solidly built and somewhat brachymorphic – the length of the body is rather more than the height at the withers. The coat is either bay or chestnut.^[7]^: 454

Use

It is reared principally for horsemeat; for this purpose, mares are sometimes put to Comtois or Auxois stallions, rather than those of the Burguete breed.^[11]^: 448

It may be used for draught work, and in northern Navarre is used also for conservation grazing.^[11]^: 448