The bronze statue of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius astride his charger Refulus is one of Romes best known landmarks. What many people dont know is that the horse is modeled on a real animal and that the descendents of Refulus still exist today.Manlio Fani, a horse breeder from Upper Lazio, is on the point of winning his battle to have the race of Lazio Maremma horses officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture.

Marcus Aurelius horse is a powerful creature, with a thick neck, strong legs and a voluminous mane and tail.  Genetic studies, carried out by the Federico II University of Naples, have established that the breed is native to Lazio, and is distinctive from the Tuscany Maremma native horse, which is already officially  recognized by the  Italian Horse Breeders Association.

Fani is convinced that the recognition of the Horses of the Ancient Romans will save the race from extinction and help fellow breeders who are struggling to meet costs. Our horses are strong and robust, he says. They are ideal for trekking in rough country. Instead of using the native horses, riding holiday organizers often use animals from the Argentine for the job. Its ridiculous!