Holstein Horses – a Breeding Concept Has Established Itself

When the historic State Stud in Traventhal was dissolved in 1960, the Verband der Züchter des Holsteiner Pferdes was suddenly confronted with an entirely new situation.

The Verband took over the 33 State owned stallions and thus became the most important stallion owner in Schleswig-Holstein.
Since competition sport was experiencing an upswing all over the world at that time, Thoroughbreds were used to refine the Holstein breed.
Thoroughbred stallions such as Cottage Son, Ladykiller, Anblick and Marlon played a decisive role in changing the type of the Holstein horse. By using Anglo-Norman bloodlines, particularly through stallions such as Cor de la Bryère and Almé Z, a further decisive step was taken to introduce foreign bloodlines that had a positive effect in breeding.

These measures, which were introduced in the seventies, have achieved excellent results without having a watering effect on the best traits of Holsteiners – their traditional capacity to perform.

Recent Olympic Games impressively attest just how successful this performance-oriented concept is: with horses such as Granat and Corlandus in dressage, Madrigal, Floliant, Freedom and Fine Dame in eventing and Farmer, Landlord, Livius, Orchidee, Classic Touch and Calvaro in show jumping, Holsteiners were always well represented among the medal winners.

Homepage: http://www.holsteiner-verband.de