What breed of horses do the butteri use?

The butteri traditionally use the Maremmano horse, a saddle horse breed originating from the Maremma. It is a robust and enduring horse, suited to long days outdoors and sometimes difficult terrain: it accompanies the buttero to drive and monitor free-roaming cattle herds. Its balance and confidence also matter when moving near the animals, which can be imposing and have long horns.

Do not confuse the maremmano, the horse, with the Maremmana, the cattle breed kept by the butteri. And a small nuance: tradition does indeed designate the maremmano, but during a demonstration or an equestrian outing, the ridden horse is not necessarily a purebred representative. As for the ancient origins sometimes attributed to the horses of the region, they do not prove that the current breed already existed in the same form in Etruscan times; the Etruscan heritage of the Maremma is a distinct subject.