15.3H ~1m62

The Nonius breed owes its name to its foundation sire, though since his male descendants share his name, he is called "Nonius Senior." Nonius was born in 1810 in Calvados, Normandy. His sire was the Thoroughbred Arion, and his dam was a Norman mare; an Anglo-Norman horse. He was captured from the French Stud at Rosières-aux-Salines during the Napoleonic Wars and brought to Mezohegyes in 1816. Journal des Haras 10/1837-03/1838 adds Nonius dam was by a Thoroughbred stallion. He was not 3/8 Thoroughbred but a half-bred Thoroughbred. He was sent to Rosières as part of a testing about young horses' growth regarding climate adaptation. The inspectors reports read as follows: tall colt, but not beautiful and badly proportioned, not a stallion prospect, kept for experience...

Founding sire of the Nonius breed, this particular stud was brought to Hungary in 1816 and he was of a Norfolk Roadster stallion and a mixed bred mare. Senior was bred for 26 years (1816-1832) at the Mezőhegyes Stud to a variety of Spanish-Neapolitan mares. Later English Thoroughbred blood was added for further refinement. Aside from the bloodlines developed at the Mezohegyes Stud a heavy local variety developed as well in a Municipal Stud Farm in the town of Debrecen which is called the Hortobagyi Nonius. In 1961 these two strains were united under one studbook. Left 79 stallions and 134 mares, out of which Nonius IX is the most important one. Died in 1838 of old age.