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The Holsteiner or
Holstein horse is the product of systematic breeding that has been
ongoing in the northernmost province of Germany, Schleswig-Holstein,
since the thirteenth century. This area is one of the
most successful horse breeding regions in Germany and the Holsteiner
is one of Germany's oldest breeds of warmblood. The Holsteiner horse
traces its ancestry to Neapolitan, Spanish and Oriental foundation
stock that was carefully crossed with the native stock of the
region. Originally the horse was valued by German farmers for its
strength, steadiness and reliability, and by the military for its
courage and ability.
The first written records of
Holsteiner horse breeding date back to the thirteenth century when
the Count of Holstein and Storman, Gerhard I, granted grazing rights
to the monastery at Uetersen to the privately-owned land around the
cloister. The monks continued to breed fine horses until the time of
the Reformation when the properties of the monasteries were
transferred to private landowners. Realizing the importance of these
horses both on the farm and as dependable warhorses, these
landowners continued the work begun by the monks.
As early as 1686 laws were passed in
Schleswig-Holstein to insure the quality of the breed and incentives
were often offered to encourage good breeding. Throughout the
seventeenth and eighteenth century the reputation of the Holsteiner
breed grew throughout Europe with over 10,000 horses exported in the
year 1797.
As the need for warhorses declined,
British Yorkshire Coach horses and Cleveland Bay stallions were used
in the nineteenth century to produce a fine, high-stepping carriage
horse. After World War II, Thoroughbred blood was introduced to the
breed which added refinement and jumping ability to the unique
character of the Holsteiner. The breed has emerged as one of the
great German sporting horses, particularly suited for jumping,
dressage, driving and eventing and has been very influential the
development of other warmblood breeds.
Today, the Holsteiner can be found finishing at the top of the
standings in most international equestrian event |
