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Holstein (horse)
Encyclopedia
The Holsteiner is a breed of horse originating in the Schleswig-Holstein
region of northern Germany
. It is thought to be the oldest of warmblood
breeds, tracing back to the 13th century. Though the population is not large, Holsteiners are a dominant force of international show jumping
, and are found at the top levels of dressage
, combined driving
, show hunter
s, and eventing
.
. Approved stallion
s must be a minimum of 16hh and mares a minimum of 15.2hh (62 inches (157 cm)). The type, or general appearance, exhibited by Holsteiners should be that of an athletic riding horse. As a breed, Holsteiners are known for their arched, rather high-set necks and powerful hindquarters
. The heavy neck was perpetuated even in modern Holsteiners with the help of Ladykiller xx and his son, Landgraf. In centuries past, Holsteiners retained the hallmark Roman nose of the Baroque horse
, but today it has been replaced by a smaller head with a large, intelligent eye. These conformational characteristics give most Holsteiners good balance and elegant movement.
Before the onset of mechanization, these horses were used in agriculture, as coach horses
and occasionally for riding. The closed stud book and careful preservation of female family lines has ensured that in an era of globalization, the horses of Holstein have a unique character. While the active gaits
, arched neck, and attractive manner in harness
of the early foundation bloodstock
has been retained, the breed survived because of the willingness of its breeders to conform to changing market demands. The high-headed jump and leg faults were corrected with supple, basculing jumping technique and structurally correct improvement sires. The past 15 or 20 years have seen even more pronounced refinement and aesthetic appeal.
The easiest way to identify a Holsteiner is by the hot brand
on the left hip, which is given to foal
s when they are inspected for their papers and their passport. Foals outside of the main registry can receive an alternate brand. In most cases, the last two digits of the life number are part of the brand.
Many male Holsteiners have names beginning in the letters "C" or "L" due to the dominance of male lines perpetuated by Cor de la Bryére, Cottage Son xx, and Ladykiller xx. However, it should be noted that since Holsteiners from those families are used to add jumping ability to other warmblood
breeding programs, non-Holstein warmbloods also often have those initials. Fillies, on the other hand, are named by year with I and J being the same year and Q and X not being used. For example, fillies born in 2008 and 1986 had names beginning in the letter "A". The use of the sire's name as part of the name of his offspring is discouraged.
, which is typically light, soft, balanced and dynamic, is the best gait of the Holsteiner.
capacity. Even the average Holsteiner will usually exhibit great power and scope, and correct technique. The scope and power were inherited from the heavier old Holsteiners, but they lacked carefulness, speed, tact, adjustability, bascule and technique. Improvement sires like Ramzes AA, Cor de la Bryére
and Ladykiller xx successively eliminated these flaws, making the Holsteiner breed internationally known for Olympic-caliber jumping. Werner Schockemöhle, a leading breeder of warmblood sport horses in neighboring Oldenburg said that no breeding community in the world has a better knowledge of the show jumping horse than the breeders of Holstein.
and minimally-marked
. This tendency has evolved into a preference for black
, dark bay, and brown
, though lighter shades such as chestnuts
and grays
are also permitted. Horses with large white spots suggestive of pinto
patterning or any of the traits associated with leopard
-spotting are excluded from the registry. Despite the fact that palomino and buckskin
are not acceptable colors for the Holsteiner, the Thoroughbred
improvement sire, Marlon xx was himself a dark buckskin who left the registry with a number of palomino and buckskin offspring.
The Holsteiner breed has been bred in the northernmost region of Germany
, Schleswig-Holstein
, for over 700 years. The windswept coastal marshes where the breed originated are characterized by rich, wet soil that could dry out and turn cement-like in a matter of hours. Since the 1st century, these fertile marshes were said to be home to an autochthonous
horse that was small and suited to the climate.
Organized horse breeding in Holstein was first conducted in the monasteries
of Uetersen
. Monk
s were frequently the most literate members of Middle Ages
societies, and so accurate record-keeping depended on them. From the small native horses of the Haseldorf
marshes, the Uetersen monks began to develop larger horses suitable for riding in times of war
, and for agriculture in the demanding environment.
By the 16th century, the horses of Holstein
had a distinct reputation, and the breed remained in high demand until the 18th century. As knight
ly combat gave way to the cavalry
, horses used in warfare required more endurance and agility. Similar to other quality European horses of the time, the popularity of Neapolitan
and Spanish horses
were reflected in the Holsteiner. While not exceptionally tall, they had thick, high-set necks, animated gaits and Roman noses. King Philip II
of Spain
routinely purchased Holsteiners to populate his stud at Cordoba
. Following the Protestant Reformation
, the breeding of horses was no longer the responsibility of the monks, but of local officials and individual farmers. As early as 1719, the state offered awards to the finest stallions bred by Holstein farmers. To qualify, the stallion had to be between 4 and 15 years old, stand at least 15.2hh and have sired at least fifteen foals in the previous season. Twelve black Holsteiner stallions were purchased in for the foundation of Celle State Stud
in 1735. These horses became the foundation of the Hanoverian
breed.
s were replaced by the fleet English
Thoroughbred
as the primary animals used to improving local horse breeds. Improvements in roads and the development of the locomotive
meant that long coach rides were less often required. As a result, the emphasis fell on producing elegant, attractive carriage horses. Cleveland Bay
s and their Thoroughbred-infused cousins, Yorkshire Coach Horse
s, were imported from Britain
to refine the Holsteiner, but the breed still maintained an even temperament. The same organizational efforts that enabled the construction of railways and better roads also affected horse breeding. In the 1860s, the state-owned stud farm
(Landgestüt) at Traventhal
was established under the Prussian Stud Administration. Traventhal, like other state studs, provided local private horse breeders with affordable access to high-quality stallions. The Duke of Augustenburg
was particularly influential, importing fine Thoroughbred stallions and encouraging locals to use them. In 1885, Claus Hell Senior authored a breeding goal for the Holsteiner horse:
The Holsteiner stud book
was founded by economic advisor Georg Ahsbahs in 1891, and within five years he helped to found the Elmshorn
Riding and Driving School. This establishment, which is today home to the Verband sires, was the first such school in the world. Assignment of each mare family a stem number (stamm) was practiced even in the very beginning, and has allowed breeders to track the performance of female families. So well-organized and well-protected were the 19th century Holsteiners that one of the Thoroughbred sires imported by the Duke of Augustenburg is represented by several modern descendants.
and World War II
resulted in increased demand for powerful horses to pull the artillery wagons. In 1926 the Federation of Horse Breeders of the Holsteiner Marshes were made to turn over their stallions to the state stud, which redistributed the sires. These stallions were soon supplemented by those belonging to another regional breeders' association, as two local societies merged in 1935 to create today's Holsteiner verband.
After World War II, the mare
population in 1950 was near 10,000; eleven years later, this number fell by over a third. In that decade, farmers had abandoned the breeding of horses, and the State Stud of Traventhal was dissolved. Instead of allowing the agricultural horses to die out as a breed, the Board of Directors of the breeders' federation purchased 30 Holsteiner stallions and 3 Thoroughbreds and completely reshaped the breeding direction. Former state stallions were now owned by the breeders' association, a completely unique arrangement among German warmblood breeding societies. To accomplish the updating of the Holsteiner, several Thoroughbred and French stallions were imported. By 1976, most of the top Holsteiner stallions were Thoroughbred or half-Thoroughbred. The new style Holsteiners were more agile, quicker, taller, and had better jumping technique. These changes have been especially important over the 15 to 20 years, as riding sport has left the realm of male professionals and soldiers and become dominated by women and girls who ride as a leisure activity. To meet the needs of this new market, today's Holsteiners have been made more rideable, more beautiful, and more refined.
Methods of arriving at this goal have changed, too. In the past, sires were assigned to stallion depots to bring them closer to the mares that would benefit from them. Today, most breeders use artificial insemination
, and so the Verband-owned stallions reside at the central stud in Elmshorn. The mares, though, have often remained with small farmers who do not derive their income solely from horse breeding.
, the farm horse gave way to the leisure riding horse and sport horse. Holstein breeders have achieved their aims in the past century with the use of Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arab
, and Anglo-Norman sires. The mare base with which breeders were working was of heavy warmblood type. They were calm and sensible, with great depth and breadth but also with elegance, quality and active gaits suitable for coaching. Holsteiners of this era lacked elasticity and athleticism for dressage, and were heavy and slow off the ground over fences. Therefore, the influences due to selection for pulling power had to be systematically eliminated.
Holsteiner breeders today rarely add in foreign blood, and allow upgrading stallions based on their proven ability to contribute to the genepool. Other important sires for the Holsteiner breed include Almé Z
, especially through his son Quidam de Revel, and Bachus Z, son of the Shagya Arabian Bajar.
The Holsteiner studbook was ranked #3 in international show jumping by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses
in 2008. Furthermore, the 2008 WBFSH rankings of top 30 sires of show jumpers were dominated by Holsteiners: #6 Caretino, #8 Libero H, #11 Cassini, #13 Calido, #17 Carthago, #18 Contender, #19 Corrado I, #20 Calvados, #28 Corland, #29 Acord II. Olympic medalists in show jumping, bearing the Holsteiner brand include Cedric and Carlsson vom Dach (team gold, Beijing), In Style
(team silver, Beijing), Nobless M and Cantus (team bronze, Beijing), Fein Cera (team gold, Athens), Cardento and Magic Bengtsson (team silver, Athens), Cöster (team bronze, Athens), Cento
(team bronze, Athens and team gold, Sydney), Calvaro V (team silver, Sydney), Classic Touch (individual gold, Barcelona), Orchidee (team gold, Seoul), Robin (team gold, Munich), and Trophy (team gold, Munich and team silver, Montreal).
In North America, Holsteiners are often employed as top-quality show hunters. Of the top 20 sires of hunters listed by the USEF in 2008, Holsteiners were again dominant: #1 Cheenook, #3 Cassini I, #6 Acorado I, #9 Come Back II, #11 Acord II, #13 Coriano, #15 Carano, #16 Hemmingway, #19 Burggraaf. The 2008 #1 Regular Working Hunter was Cunningham, a Holsteiner.
Holsteiners that reach the upper echelons of dressage are less common, but do exist. Successive generations of selection for jumping power have given most Holsteiners a powerful "engine." The studbook was ranked #8 in international dressage by the World Breeding Federation for Sporthorses in 2008. Cheenook, mentioned above as the #1 sire of USEF Hunters in 2008, competed up to Intermediare I dressage and participated twice in the German Federal Dressage Horse Championships. Holsteiners currently competing in international dressage include Liebling II (Lorentin I), Amicelli (Amigo), The Lion King B (Landos), Lanzaro (Lavall I), Samsung Cinque Cento (Cambridge), and Jamiro Rosso (Caletto). Holstein's impact on dressage is not limited to these horses. The #6 sire of international dressage horses, Flemmingh, had two Holsteiner parents: Lacapo, a Landgraf son, and Texas, a Carneval daughter. True to his ancestry, Flemmingh is known for producing knee action. Also on the list of top sires of FEI dressage horses are #14 Contango, who stands in the United States, and #25 Carpaccio. Like Cheenook, Carpaccio was also sired by Caretino. Holsteiners to prove themselves at the Olympic level include both the gold medal in the individual competition at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, won by Granat. The Marlon xx son, Montevideo
, was a member of the gold medal-winning dressage team in Los Angeles.
Most Holsteiners with the speed to succeed in eventing have a Thoroughbred sire. As a studbook, they are ranked #6 based on performances in international eventing. This point was highlighted in 2008 when Marius, a Holsteiner by Condrieu xx, won the individual gold medal in Beijing. Holsteiners Madrigal and Albrant have won individual bronze and team silver, and team silver, respectively. Holsteiners currently competing in FEI eventing include Sundancer (Sunset Boulevard xx), ADM. V. Schneider (Sir Shostakov xx), So Lonely (Salient xx), Master Boy (Martel xx), and Coolroy Piter (Caretino).
A small but significant number of Holsteiners continue their historical roles in harness by competing in the sport of combined driving
. The 1976 World Championship in Combined Driving was won by Emil Jung and 4 Holsteiners.
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
region of northern Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It is thought to be the oldest of warmblood
Warmblood
Warmbloods are a group of middle-weight horse types and breeds, primarily originating in Europe, registered with organizations that are characterized by open studbook policy, studbook selection, and the aim of breeding for equestrian sport...
breeds, tracing back to the 13th century. Though the population is not large, Holsteiners are a dominant force of international show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
, and are found at the top levels of dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
, combined driving
Combined driving
Combined driving also known as Horse Driving Trials is an equestrian sport involving carriage driving. In this discipline the driver sits on a vehicle drawn by a single horse, a pair or a team of four. The sport has three phases: Dressage, Cross-country Marathon and Obstacle Cone Driving and is...
, show hunter
Show hunter
The show hunter is a type of show horse that is judged on its movement, manners, and way of going, particularly while jumping fences. The horses are shown in hunt seat style tack, and are often of Warmblood or Thoroughbred type, though a hunter-style pony is also seen in youth classes...
s, and eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
.
Breed characteristics
Holsteiners are medium-framed horses averaging between 16 and 17 hands high (64 to 68 in (162.6 to 172.7 cm)) at the withersWithers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
. Approved stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
s must be a minimum of 16hh and mares a minimum of 15.2hh (62 inches (157 cm)). The type, or general appearance, exhibited by Holsteiners should be that of an athletic riding horse. As a breed, Holsteiners are known for their arched, rather high-set necks and powerful hindquarters
Rump (animal)
The rump or croup, in the external morphology of an animal, is the portion of the posterior dorsum that is posterior to the loins and anterior to the tail. Anatomically, the rump corresponds to the sacrum....
. The heavy neck was perpetuated even in modern Holsteiners with the help of Ladykiller xx and his son, Landgraf. In centuries past, Holsteiners retained the hallmark Roman nose of the Baroque horse
Baroque horse
The Baroque horse is a term used to generally describe the type of agile but strong-bodied descendants of horses in the Middle Ages such as the destrier. Specific ancestors of this type include the Neapolitan horse, and the Iberian horse of Barb ancestry known in the Middle Ages as the Spanish...
, but today it has been replaced by a smaller head with a large, intelligent eye. These conformational characteristics give most Holsteiners good balance and elegant movement.
Driving (horse)
Driving, when applied to horses, ponies, mules, or donkeys, is a broad term for hitching equines to a wagon, carriage, cart, sleigh, or other horse-drawn vehicle by means of a harness and working them in this way...
and occasionally for riding. The closed stud book and careful preservation of female family lines has ensured that in an era of globalization, the horses of Holstein have a unique character. While the active gaits
Horse gait
Horse gaits are the various ways in which a horse can move, either naturally or as a result of specialized training by humans.-Classification:...
, arched neck, and attractive manner in harness
Horse harness
A horse harness is a type of horse tack that allows a horse or other equine to pull various horse-drawn vehicles such as a carriage, wagon or sleigh. Harnesses may also be used to hitch animals to other loads such as a plow or canal boat....
of the early foundation bloodstock
Foundation bloodstock
Foundation bloodstock or foundation stock are horses that are the progenitor, or foundation, of a new horse breed or a given bloodline within a breed. The term is also used in a similar manner when discussing purebred dogs...
has been retained, the breed survived because of the willingness of its breeders to conform to changing market demands. The high-headed jump and leg faults were corrected with supple, basculing jumping technique and structurally correct improvement sires. The past 15 or 20 years have seen even more pronounced refinement and aesthetic appeal.
The easiest way to identify a Holsteiner is by the hot brand
Livestock branding
Livestock branding is a technique for marking livestock so as to identify the owner. Originally, livestock branding only referred to a hot brand for large stock, though the term is now also used to refer to other alternative techniques such as freeze branding...
on the left hip, which is given to foal
Foal
A foal is an equine, particularly a horse, that is one year old or younger. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, but these terms are used until the horse is age three or four. When the foal is nursing from its dam , it may also be called a suckling...
s when they are inspected for their papers and their passport. Foals outside of the main registry can receive an alternate brand. In most cases, the last two digits of the life number are part of the brand.
Many male Holsteiners have names beginning in the letters "C" or "L" due to the dominance of male lines perpetuated by Cor de la Bryére, Cottage Son xx, and Ladykiller xx. However, it should be noted that since Holsteiners from those families are used to add jumping ability to other warmblood
Warmblood
Warmbloods are a group of middle-weight horse types and breeds, primarily originating in Europe, registered with organizations that are characterized by open studbook policy, studbook selection, and the aim of breeding for equestrian sport...
breeding programs, non-Holstein warmbloods also often have those initials. Fillies, on the other hand, are named by year with I and J being the same year and Q and X not being used. For example, fillies born in 2008 and 1986 had names beginning in the letter "A". The use of the sire's name as part of the name of his offspring is discouraged.
Gaits
Holsteiners in general have round, generous, elastic strides with impulsion from the haunches and natural balance. In motion, Holsteiners retain the character of their coach driving forebears, often exhibiting more articulation of the joints than is common among other warmbloods. The acknowledged specialization for jumping capacity in the breed sometimes means that the quality of the walk and trot suffer, though this is not the rule. The canterCanter
The canter is a controlled, three-beat gait performed by a horse. It is a natural gait possessed by all horses, faster than most horses' trot but slower than the gallop, and is used by all riders. The speed of the canter varies between 16-27 km/h , depending on the length of the stride of the horse...
, which is typically light, soft, balanced and dynamic, is the best gait of the Holsteiner.
Jumping
The strongest asset of the Holsteiner breed is their jumpingJumping (horse)
Jumping plays a major role in many equestrian sports, such as show jumping, fox hunting, steeplechasing, and eventing. The biomechanics of jumping, the influence of the rider, and the heritability of jumping prowess have all been the focus of research....
capacity. Even the average Holsteiner will usually exhibit great power and scope, and correct technique. The scope and power were inherited from the heavier old Holsteiners, but they lacked carefulness, speed, tact, adjustability, bascule and technique. Improvement sires like Ramzes AA, Cor de la Bryére
Cor de la Bryere
Cor de la Bryère is one of the most influential sires in modern warmblood breeding. He is known as the "Reserve Stallion of the Century", second only to Landgraf I.*Lived: 1968-2000*Nickname: "Corde"*Color: dark bay/brown...
and Ladykiller xx successively eliminated these flaws, making the Holsteiner breed internationally known for Olympic-caliber jumping. Werner Schockemöhle, a leading breeder of warmblood sport horses in neighboring Oldenburg said that no breeding community in the world has a better knowledge of the show jumping horse than the breeders of Holstein.
Coat colors
Similar to horse breeds in the nearby areas of Oldenburg, Groningen and Friesland, traditional Holsteiners were dark-coloredEquine coat color
Horses exhibit a diverse array of coat colors and distinctive markings. A specialized vocabulary has evolved to describe them.While most horses remain the same color throughout life, a few, over the course of several years, will develop a different coat color from that with which they were born...
and minimally-marked
Horse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
. This tendency has evolved into a preference for black
Black (horse)
Black is a hair coat color of horses in which the entire hair coat is black. Black is a relatively uncommon coat color, and novices frequently mistake dark chestnuts or bays for black. However, some breeds of horses, such as the Friesian horse, Murgese and Ariegeois are almost exclusively black...
, dark bay, and brown
Seal brown (horse)
Seal brown is a hair coat color of horses characterized by a near-black body color; with black points, the mane, tail and legs; but also reddish or tan areas around the eyes, muzzle, behind the elbow and in front of the stifle...
, though lighter shades such as chestnuts
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
and grays
Gray (horse)
Gray or grey is a coat color of horses characterized by progressive silvering of the colored hairs of the coat. Most gray horses have black skin and dark eyes; unlike many depigmentation genes, gray does not affect skin or eye color Their adult hair coat is white, dappled, or white intermingled...
are also permitted. Horses with large white spots suggestive of pinto
Pinto horse
A pinto horse has a coat color that consists of large patches of white and any other color. The distinction between "pinto" and "solid" can be tenuous, as so-called "solid" horses frequently have areas of white hair. Various cultures throughout history appear to have selectively bred for pinto...
patterning or any of the traits associated with leopard
Leopard complex
The leopard complex is a group of genetically-related coat patterns in horses. These patterns range from progressive increases in interspersed white hair similar to graying or roan to distinctive, Dalmatian-like leopard spots on a white coat. Secondary characteristics associated with the leopard...
-spotting are excluded from the registry. Despite the fact that palomino and buckskin
Cream gene
The cream gene is responsible for a number of horse coat colors. Horses that have the cream gene in addition to a base coat color that is chestnut will become palomino if they are heterozygous, having one copy of the cream gene, or cremello, if they are homozygous. Similarly, horses with a bay...
are not acceptable colors for the Holsteiner, the Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
improvement sire, Marlon xx was himself a dark buckskin who left the registry with a number of palomino and buckskin offspring.
Temperament
There are unflappable, lazy Holsteiners and sensitive, spooky Holsteiners. Some families, like that of Capitol I, are known for an uncomplicated temperament. Amateurs can find uncomplicated, cooperative, steady mounts and professionals can find bold, sensitive rides; there is no one perfect temperament. Many Holsteiners are well-balanced, strong-nerved, reliable and bold. Some critics of the breed, or particular lineages within it, find that strong selection for jumping performance results in capable high-level jumpers, but at the cost of rideability.Breed history
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, for over 700 years. The windswept coastal marshes where the breed originated are characterized by rich, wet soil that could dry out and turn cement-like in a matter of hours. Since the 1st century, these fertile marshes were said to be home to an autochthonous
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
horse that was small and suited to the climate.
Organized horse breeding in Holstein was first conducted in the monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Uetersen
Uetersen
Uetersen ) is a city in the district of Pinneberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated approx. south of Elmshorn, and northwest of Hamburg at the small river Pinnau, close to the Elbe river...
. Monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s were frequently the most literate members of Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
societies, and so accurate record-keeping depended on them. From the small native horses of the Haseldorf
Haseldorf
Haseldorf is a municipality in the district of Pinneberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Elbe, approx. 13 km west of Pinneberg, and 27 km west of Hamburg....
marshes, the Uetersen monks began to develop larger horses suitable for riding in times of war
Horses in warfare
The first use of horses in warfare occurred over 5,000 years ago. The earliest evidence of horses ridden in warfare dates from Eurasia between 4000 and 3000 BC. A Sumerian illustration of warfare from 2500 BC depicts some type of equine pulling wagons...
, and for agriculture in the demanding environment.
By the 16th century, the horses of Holstein
Holstein
Holstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
had a distinct reputation, and the breed remained in high demand until the 18th century. As knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ly combat gave way to the cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, horses used in warfare required more endurance and agility. Similar to other quality European horses of the time, the popularity of Neapolitan
Neapolitan horse
The Neapolitan Horse, , Neapolitano or Napolitano, is a horse breed that originated in the plains between Naples and Caserta, in the Campania region of Italy, but which may have been bred throughout the Kingdom of Naples. The Neapolitan horse was frequently mentioned in literature from the 16th to...
and Spanish horses
Andalusian horse
The Andalusian, also known as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE , is a horse breed developed in the Iberian Peninsula. Its ancestors have been present on the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years. The Andalusian has been recognized as an individual breed since the 15th century, and its conformation...
were reflected in the Holsteiner. While not exceptionally tall, they had thick, high-set necks, animated gaits and Roman noses. King Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
routinely purchased Holsteiners to populate his stud at Cordoba
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
. Following the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the breeding of horses was no longer the responsibility of the monks, but of local officials and individual farmers. As early as 1719, the state offered awards to the finest stallions bred by Holstein farmers. To qualify, the stallion had to be between 4 and 15 years old, stand at least 15.2hh and have sired at least fifteen foals in the previous season. Twelve black Holsteiner stallions were purchased in for the foundation of Celle State Stud
Celle State Stud
Celle State Stud is a state-owned facility for horse breeding in Celle, Germany. The State Stud of Celle, located in what is now known as Lower Saxony, was founded in 1735 by order of George II, King of Great Britain, Elector of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Its purpose was to make...
in 1735. These horses became the foundation of the Hanoverian
Hanoverian (horse)
A Hanoverian is a warmblood horse originating in Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding styles, and have won gold medals in all three equestrian Olympic competitions. It is one of the oldest, most numerous, and most successful of the warmbloods...
breed.
Nineteenth century
The 19th century brought a change to European horse breeding: compact and powerful Baroque horseBaroque horse
The Baroque horse is a term used to generally describe the type of agile but strong-bodied descendants of horses in the Middle Ages such as the destrier. Specific ancestors of this type include the Neapolitan horse, and the Iberian horse of Barb ancestry known in the Middle Ages as the Spanish...
s were replaced by the fleet English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
as the primary animals used to improving local horse breeds. Improvements in roads and the development of the locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
meant that long coach rides were less often required. As a result, the emphasis fell on producing elegant, attractive carriage horses. Cleveland Bay
Cleveland Bay
The Cleveland Bay is a breed of horse that originated in England during the 17th century, named after its colouring and the Cleveland district of Yorkshire. It is a well-muscled horse, with legs that are strong but short in relation to the body. The horses are always bay in colour, although a...
s and their Thoroughbred-infused cousins, Yorkshire Coach Horse
Yorkshire Coach Horse
The Yorkshire Coach Horse is an extinct horse breed once native to England. It was a large, strong, bay or brown horse with dark legs, mane and tail...
s, were imported from Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
to refine the Holsteiner, but the breed still maintained an even temperament. The same organizational efforts that enabled the construction of railways and better roads also affected horse breeding. In the 1860s, the state-owned stud farm
Stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
(Landgestüt) at Traventhal
Traventhal
Traventhal is a municipality in the district of Segeberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It gave name to the Peace of Travendal treaty signed there in 1700....
was established under the Prussian Stud Administration. Traventhal, like other state studs, provided local private horse breeders with affordable access to high-quality stallions. The Duke of Augustenburg
Christian, Duke of Augustenborg
Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg , usually simply known by just his first name, Christian, Duke of Augustenborg, was a claimant of the rulership of the provinces of Slesvig and Holstein, and a fiefholder of Augustenborg and Sønderborg...
was particularly influential, importing fine Thoroughbred stallions and encouraging locals to use them. In 1885, Claus Hell Senior authored a breeding goal for the Holsteiner horse:
A refined, powerful carriage horse with strong bone structure and high, ground covering strides, which at the same time should possess all the qualities of a heavy riding horse.
The Holsteiner stud book
Breed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
was founded by economic advisor Georg Ahsbahs in 1891, and within five years he helped to found the Elmshorn
Elmshorn
Elmshorn is a town in the district of Pinneberg in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. It is located 32 km north of Hamburg at the small river Krückau, close to the Elbe river, is the sixth-largest city in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...
Riding and Driving School. This establishment, which is today home to the Verband sires, was the first such school in the world. Assignment of each mare family a stem number (stamm) was practiced even in the very beginning, and has allowed breeders to track the performance of female families. So well-organized and well-protected were the 19th century Holsteiners that one of the Thoroughbred sires imported by the Duke of Augustenburg is represented by several modern descendants.
Twentieth century
The early 20th century brought about significant changes for the Holstein horses and their breeders. World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
resulted in increased demand for powerful horses to pull the artillery wagons. In 1926 the Federation of Horse Breeders of the Holsteiner Marshes were made to turn over their stallions to the state stud, which redistributed the sires. These stallions were soon supplemented by those belonging to another regional breeders' association, as two local societies merged in 1935 to create today's Holsteiner verband.
After World War II, the mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
population in 1950 was near 10,000; eleven years later, this number fell by over a third. In that decade, farmers had abandoned the breeding of horses, and the State Stud of Traventhal was dissolved. Instead of allowing the agricultural horses to die out as a breed, the Board of Directors of the breeders' federation purchased 30 Holsteiner stallions and 3 Thoroughbreds and completely reshaped the breeding direction. Former state stallions were now owned by the breeders' association, a completely unique arrangement among German warmblood breeding societies. To accomplish the updating of the Holsteiner, several Thoroughbred and French stallions were imported. By 1976, most of the top Holsteiner stallions were Thoroughbred or half-Thoroughbred. The new style Holsteiners were more agile, quicker, taller, and had better jumping technique. These changes have been especially important over the 15 to 20 years, as riding sport has left the realm of male professionals and soldiers and become dominated by women and girls who ride as a leisure activity. To meet the needs of this new market, today's Holsteiners have been made more rideable, more beautiful, and more refined.
Methods of arriving at this goal have changed, too. In the past, sires were assigned to stallion depots to bring them closer to the mares that would benefit from them. Today, most breeders use artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
, and so the Verband-owned stallions reside at the central stud in Elmshorn. The mares, though, have often remained with small farmers who do not derive their income solely from horse breeding.
Influential sires
Warmblood breeds, including the Holsteiner, are modeled to meet the demands of the market, and are never stagnant. When agile cavalry horses were required, Baroque horses from Spain and Naples were used; when flashier coach horses were in demand, the Yorkshire Coach horse contributed its genes. Following World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the farm horse gave way to the leisure riding horse and sport horse. Holstein breeders have achieved their aims in the past century with the use of Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arab
Anglo-Arabian
The Anglo-Arabian or Anglo-Arab is a crossbred horse that now also has its own status as a horse breed. It is a Thoroughbred crossed with an Arabian. The cross can be made between a Thoroughbred stallion and an Arabian mare, or vice-versa...
, and Anglo-Norman sires. The mare base with which breeders were working was of heavy warmblood type. They were calm and sensible, with great depth and breadth but also with elegance, quality and active gaits suitable for coaching. Holsteiners of this era lacked elasticity and athleticism for dressage, and were heavy and slow off the ground over fences. Therefore, the influences due to selection for pulling power had to be systematically eliminated.
- Ramzes AA (1937–1965) gray Anglo-Arabian, 166 cm (Rittersporn xx - Shagya X-3 - Bakszysz ox)
-
- Bred in Poland. This homozygous gray stallion, with a Thoroughbred sire and Shagya ArabianShagya ArabianThe Shagya Arabian was developed in the Austro-Hungarian Empire during the 19th century at the Bábolna, Mezőhegyes, Radautz, Piber, and Topolcianky studs. Today it is most often seen in the Czech Republic, Austria, Romania, the former Yugoslavian countries, Poland, Germany, and Hungary, but has...
dam, was among the three most important German sires in the early years. He was leased to the state stud of Neuendorf for the 1951, 1952, 1959 and 1960 breeding seasons. Intermittently, he was sent to Westphalia, where he founded the male line that lead to the influential dressage sire, Rubinstein. In Holstein, though, Ramzes AA produced international caliber jumpers Retina, Ramona and Romanus. A full sister to Romanus, Vase produced fourteen foals for Holstein including the top stallions Maurus and Montreal. Most importantly for Holstein, Ramzes AA sired Raimond, the sire of Ramiro, the "Stallion of the Century".
- Bred in Poland. This homozygous gray stallion, with a Thoroughbred sire and Shagya Arabian
- Anblick xx (1938–1964) dark bay or brown Thoroughbred, 161 cm (Ferro xx - Herold xx - Nuage xx)
-
- Bred at Graditz State Stud. Anblick xx was the first post-World War II refining sire. In comparison to their dams, his offspring were lighter-boned, exceptionally good movers, game and bold over fences. Anblick xx left 14 approved sons and 49 broodmares. His best son was Aldato, maternal grandsire of Landgraf. He also sired the horses Antoinette and Venetia, who competed at the OlympicsEquestrian at the Summer OlympicsEquestrianism made its Summer Olympics debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It disappeared until 1912, but has appeared at every Summer Olympic Games since. The current Olympic equestrian disciplines are Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping...
.
- Bred at Graditz State Stud. Anblick xx was the first post-World War II refining sire. In comparison to their dams, his offspring were lighter-boned, exceptionally good movers, game and bold over fences. Anblick xx left 14 approved sons and 49 broodmares. His best son was Aldato, maternal grandsire of Landgraf. He also sired the horses Antoinette and Venetia, who competed at the Olympics
- Cottage Son xx (1944–1964) black or brown Thoroughbred, 164 cm (Young Lover xx - Cottage xx - Speed xx)
-
- Bred in England. Cottage Romance represented both Great Britain and his sire, Cottage Son xx, in eventing at the 1960 Rome Olympics. The year before, Cottage Son xx had been sent to Elmshorn to cross on heavier Holsteiner mares. The State Stud of Traventhal was being dissolved, as horse breeding had stagnated. As an upgrader, Cottage Son xx produced good riding horses with willing, honest temperaments. His daughters were exceptional, producing the likes of Lord and Ramiro. He left 53 broodmares and 14 approved sons, and the best among them was Consul. However, this Thoroughbred's lasting influence is felt primarily through his great-grandson Capitol I and through female families today.
- Marlon xx (1958–1981) dark buckskin Thoroughbred, 164 cm (Tamerlane xx - Fairford xx - Knight of the Garter xx)
-
- Bred in Ireland. Marlon xx sired horses that were structurally correct with great gaits, with tough, competitive characters and mental endurance. He was an especially good sire of Eventing horses, including Madrigal, who at the Montreal Olympics garnered an individual bronze medal and team silver medal. His grandsire Persian Gulf xx is half-brother to Precipitation xxPrecipitation (horse)Precipitation was an influential British bred Thoroughbred stallion who is found in the pedigrees of many racehorses and sport horses today. He alone is responsible for maintaining the Matchem sireline, through Sheshoon, except for the American Fair Play branch.-Pedigree:He was by Hurry On and out...
, the sire of Furioso xxFuriosoFurioso was an influential sire of jumping horses, and is found in the pedigrees of many top show jumpers today.-Life:Furioso was a terrible racehorse, with zero wins out of 21 starts. However, he was a fantastic sire of jumping horses, standing in France...
. His son MontevideoMontevideo (horse)Montevideo was a Holsteiner horse ridden by Uwe Sauer for West Germany in international level dressage competitions between 1983 and 1992.*Colour: black*Markings: Two socks on the hindlegs*Breed: Holsteiner...
was a member of the gold medal dressage team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Marlon xx was a very, very dark buckskin, and was known for producing palomino and buckskin offspring. He left 43 States Premium mares among countless broodmares, and 21 approved sons including Dutch sire Kommandeur (formerly Manchester) and Danish model sire Martell.
- Bred in Ireland. Marlon xx sired horses that were structurally correct with great gaits, with tough, competitive characters and mental endurance. He was an especially good sire of Eventing horses, including Madrigal, who at the Montreal Olympics garnered an individual bronze medal and team silver medal. His grandsire Persian Gulf xx is half-brother to Precipitation xx
- Ladykiller xx (1961–1979) bay Thoroughbred, 164 cm (Sailing Light xx - Loaningdale xx - Apron xx)
-
- Bred in England. Ladykiller xx was powerful and masculine, striking, correct and considered very attractive, with a quality head. His type, rather open loins and high-set, crested neck, are all common features of the Holsteiner breed. As a sire, he reproduced not only his handsome looks, but gaits, strong character, kind temperament, and above all, great jumping technique. His best sons, among the many, were Lord and Landgraf I. Ladykiller xx is responsible for the frequency with which warmblood names begin with the letter "L".
- Cor de la BryéreCor de la BryereCor de la Bryère is one of the most influential sires in modern warmblood breeding. He is known as the "Reserve Stallion of the Century", second only to Landgraf I.*Lived: 1968-2000*Nickname: "Corde"*Color: dark bay/brown...
(1968–2000) dark bay Selle Francais, 166 cm (Rantzau xx - Lurioso - Landau)
-
- Bred in France. The importation of Cor de la Bryére, commonly "Corde", was sparked by the success of his two cousins in Oldenburg, Furioso II and Futuro. They shared their sire, Furioso xx, with Lurioso, Corde's maternal grandsire. It is difficult to overstate Corde's influence on the breeding of jumping horses. With sophistication of technique, elasticity and bascule, and an endless spring, Corde brought to Holstein breeders exactly what they needed. His list of descendants in jumping sport is extensive. Additionally, Corde's offspring were easy to ride and kind with well-balanced canters. His sons include Caletto I, Caletto II, Caletto III, Calypso I, Calypso II, Calypso III, Calypso IV, Corrado I,Corde-Star and Cordalmé Z.
Holsteiner breeders today rarely add in foreign blood, and allow upgrading stallions based on their proven ability to contribute to the genepool. Other important sires for the Holsteiner breed include Almé Z
Almé Z
Almé Z was a sport horse stallion who was a prolific sire of show jumping horses.*Lived: 1966-1991*Color: Bay*Markings: blaze, sock right and left fore, half cannon right and left hind*Height: 16.1 hh *Sex: Stallion...
, especially through his son Quidam de Revel, and Bachus Z, son of the Shagya Arabian Bajar.
Uses
Although Holsteiners make up only 6% of the total European horse population, they represent a large proportion of successful show jumpers in particular. Holsteiners are also excellent show hunters and hunt seat equitation horses in North America, and there are numbers of Holsteiners on the international scene in dressage, eventing, and combined driving.The Holsteiner studbook was ranked #3 in international show jumping by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses
World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses
The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses connects sport horse breeding organizations with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports . The FEI is the International Olympic Committee-recognized federation for Olympic equestrian sports. The WBFSH publishes official rankings of horses...
in 2008. Furthermore, the 2008 WBFSH rankings of top 30 sires of show jumpers were dominated by Holsteiners: #6 Caretino, #8 Libero H, #11 Cassini, #13 Calido, #17 Carthago, #18 Contender, #19 Corrado I, #20 Calvados, #28 Corland, #29 Acord II. Olympic medalists in show jumping, bearing the Holsteiner brand include Cedric and Carlsson vom Dach (team gold, Beijing), In Style
In Style (horse)
In Style is a Holsteiner gelding ridden by Canadian Equestrian Team member Ian Millar in the sport of show jumping. He was imported to Canada from the Netherlands in 2003. His full brother, VDL Atlantic, is also an international show jumper. Furthermore, VDL Atlantic is a Zangersheide-approved...
(team silver, Beijing), Nobless M and Cantus (team bronze, Beijing), Fein Cera (team gold, Athens), Cardento and Magic Bengtsson (team silver, Athens), Cöster (team bronze, Athens), Cento
Dobels Cento
Dobels Cento was a horse who competed in International Grand Prix show jumping competitions.* Color: Grey* Height: 16.3½ hh * Sex: Stallion* Breed: Holsteiner...
(team bronze, Athens and team gold, Sydney), Calvaro V (team silver, Sydney), Classic Touch (individual gold, Barcelona), Orchidee (team gold, Seoul), Robin (team gold, Munich), and Trophy (team gold, Munich and team silver, Montreal).
In North America, Holsteiners are often employed as top-quality show hunters. Of the top 20 sires of hunters listed by the USEF in 2008, Holsteiners were again dominant: #1 Cheenook, #3 Cassini I, #6 Acorado I, #9 Come Back II, #11 Acord II, #13 Coriano, #15 Carano, #16 Hemmingway, #19 Burggraaf. The 2008 #1 Regular Working Hunter was Cunningham, a Holsteiner.
Holsteiners that reach the upper echelons of dressage are less common, but do exist. Successive generations of selection for jumping power have given most Holsteiners a powerful "engine." The studbook was ranked #8 in international dressage by the World Breeding Federation for Sporthorses in 2008. Cheenook, mentioned above as the #1 sire of USEF Hunters in 2008, competed up to Intermediare I dressage and participated twice in the German Federal Dressage Horse Championships. Holsteiners currently competing in international dressage include Liebling II (Lorentin I), Amicelli (Amigo), The Lion King B (Landos), Lanzaro (Lavall I), Samsung Cinque Cento (Cambridge), and Jamiro Rosso (Caletto). Holstein's impact on dressage is not limited to these horses. The #6 sire of international dressage horses, Flemmingh, had two Holsteiner parents: Lacapo, a Landgraf son, and Texas, a Carneval daughter. True to his ancestry, Flemmingh is known for producing knee action. Also on the list of top sires of FEI dressage horses are #14 Contango, who stands in the United States, and #25 Carpaccio. Like Cheenook, Carpaccio was also sired by Caretino. Holsteiners to prove themselves at the Olympic level include both the gold medal in the individual competition at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, won by Granat. The Marlon xx son, Montevideo
Montevideo (horse)
Montevideo was a Holsteiner horse ridden by Uwe Sauer for West Germany in international level dressage competitions between 1983 and 1992.*Colour: black*Markings: Two socks on the hindlegs*Breed: Holsteiner...
, was a member of the gold medal-winning dressage team in Los Angeles.
A small but significant number of Holsteiners continue their historical roles in harness by competing in the sport of combined driving
Combined driving
Combined driving also known as Horse Driving Trials is an equestrian sport involving carriage driving. In this discipline the driver sits on a vehicle drawn by a single horse, a pair or a team of four. The sport has three phases: Dressage, Cross-country Marathon and Obstacle Cone Driving and is...
. The 1976 World Championship in Combined Driving was won by Emil Jung and 4 Holsteiners.