After spending winter in stables and enclosed pastures, the herds roam freely on floodplain meadows, continuing a centuries-old tradition of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
During spring and summer, herds of Croatian indigenous horse breeds -- the Croatian Coldblood and Posavac -- and cattle move across waterways and rich grasslands, maintaining the landscape and ecosystem. Miško Šklempe, horse breeder and president of the Central Association of Croatian Coldblood Horse Breeders, emphasises that the animals help keep the park clean, preserve biodiversity, and prevent overgrowth by invasive plant species.
The park's natural pastures cover 4,593 hectares, about 10% of its total area, hosting roughly 7,000 horses on free-range grazing.
Traditional grazing also inspires young farmers to continue raising horses and cattle sustainably. Croatia currently has 1,503 family farms breeding horses, with 700 raising Coldbloods and Posavacs, totalling around 14,000 Coldbloods and 13,000 Posavacs. Populations of other native breeds, such as Lipizzan and Međimurje horses, are also increasing.
Traditional grazing supports the ecological health of Lonjsko Polje, preventing overgrowth, promoting plant regeneration, and sustaining habitats for insects, birds, and other wildlife. The area also serves as a fish spawning ground and attracts birds and bees, creating a rich ecological chain in which livestock plays a central role.
Šklempe warns that a project to build poultry megafarms in Sisak-Moslavina County could disrupt this balance, threatening traditional farming, livestock, and protected native horse breeds, which account for over 50% of Croatia's population. Traditional grazing, he stresses, is not only an economic activity but also a vital part of Posavina's cultural heritage.
"Croatia is a paradise of nature, and you can see it best here, in our Lonjsko Polje. We protect our fields, and our children will continue to do so," Šklempe said.