Horses

The Holsteiner Horse was developed in the Elmshorn district of Holstein, Germany and is one of the oldest warmblood horses bred in Germany. ?They are founded on the horses that lived in and around the marshlands that? surround the Elbe and other neighboring rivers. ?The breed was likely started as far back as the 13th century, where at the monastery of Uetersen in the Haseldorf marshes, they were being bred as war-horses and horses for tournaments (tourney horses). The Kings of Denmark and the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein encouraged the breeding of these large, all purpose horses throughout the middle ages.

Holsteiner Origin
As with most German Warmbloods, the indigenous stock was improved by Spanish Eastern and Nepolitan horse blood infusions.? Between the 16th to 18th century, Holstein horses were sought after in Denmark, Spain, Htaly, France, and across Europe. ?They were used to improve other German warmblood breeds, including the Westphalian and Mecklenburg, as well as being introduced at Celle and Dillenburg where Hanoverians were bred.

In 1680 the Holsteiner stallion Mignon at the Dukes of Holstein stud at Esserom began the breeding of the cream horses that became the pride of the Electors of Hanover, becoming part of the stable of horses kept at London's Royal Mews until 1920.

By this time, ?the Holsteiner was considered a tough, reliable carriage and coach horse with a high, showy, Spanish action, that could also be used for farm work or as a heavy riding horse.

Breeding
initially known for its calm temperament, at the start of serious breeding of the Holsteiner in 1680 it was a plain, unimpressive horse a little on the slow side.?

Conformational failures were corrected in the 19th century by the introduction of English thoroughbreds.? The nose became straighter, the action lowered and they became more graceful gallopers. They were also improved by the introduction of Yorkshire Coach Horse Stallions to the breeding pool. The end result of this introduction was a hard, handsome carriage horse that could also be used as a light draft horse or heavy riding horse.

The Holsteiner was developed along these lines primarily a the now defunct ?at the Traventhal Stud founded by the Prussians in 1867 at Schleswig-Holstein. The breed is now continue by the Society of Breeders of the Holstein Horse in Elmshorn. As with most European warmbloods the breeding stock is subjected to conformation and performance testing, as well as testing of their offspring.

The Modern Holsteiner Horse
Holsteiner breeders were quick to see the decline in medium-heavy horses as a permanent thing, and closely following the end of WWII they started adding more throughbred blood to the Holsteiner with the aim of producing a better all purpose competition horse. In short time, the Holsteiner had became a multi-purpose riding horse of between 1.63 m and 1.73 m(16-17 hh).They were bred to be suitable for all the ridden disciplines. The modern Holsteiner now a much lighter horse than in 1960, and resembles a quality hunter with bone and substance. They are bold and can gallop and jump. They are an excellent all-round competition horse, and of all the German warmbloods are perhaps the best eventing prospect.

Holsteiner Horse Champions
Perhaps as ?a reminder of its past their action retains a slightly raised knee action but? as the movement is free and long and notably rhythmical and elastic it appears to have no impact on the Holsteiner's ability to perform.

One of the world's greatest show jumping horses was the Holsteiner Horse "Meteor"? who belonged to ?Fritz Thiedemann. Thiedemann believed Holsteiners were the best horses in existence for horse competition . Other famous Holsteiners include Granat who was a world champion dressage horse, and the highly competitive international eventers Albrant, Madrigal, and Ladalco.