Holsteiner - WikiHQ

The Holsteiner is a horse breed 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 hunters, and eventing.

Breed characteristics

Holsteiners are medium-framed horses averaging between at the withers. Approved stallions must be a minimum of 16 hands and mares a minimum of . The type, or general appearance, exhibited by Holsteiners should be that of an athletic riding horse. The heavy neck was perpetuated even in modern Holsteiners with the help of Ladykiller xx and his son, Landgraf. In centuries past, Holsteiners retained a hallmark Roman nose, but today it has been replaced by a smaller head with large, intelligent eyes. Foals outside of the main registry can receive an alternate brand. However, 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, though, are named by year with I and J being the same year and Q and X not being used. For example, fillies born in 1986 and 2008 had names beginning in the letter "A". The windswept coastal marshes where the breed originated are characterized by rich, wet soil that could dry out and turn concrete-like in a matter of hours. Since the first 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.

As knightly 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. Following the Protestant Reformation, the breeding of horses was no longer the responsibility of the monks, but of local officials and individual farmers.

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, so the Verband-owned stallions reside at the central stud in Elmshorn. 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 Arabian 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".

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  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) bay 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 xx, the sire of Furioso xx. His son Montevideo was a member of the West German gold medal dressage team in the 1984 Olympics. He left 43 States Premium mares among countless broodmares, and 21 approved sons including Dutch sire Kommandeur (formerly Manchester) and Danish model sire Martell.

thumb|right|This statue of the Ladykiller's son, Landgraf, stands in Elmshorn before the riding hall.

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 Bryére (1968–2000) dark bay Selle Français, 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. The 2008 No. 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 No. 8 in international dressage by the World Breeding Federation for Sporthorses in 2008. Cheenook, mentioned above as the No. 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 No. 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 No. 14 Contango, who stands in the United States, and No. 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 1984.

thumb|right|[[Hinrich Romeike on Holsteiner Marius in 2007; the pair went on to win the gold medal in eventing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics]]

Most Holsteiners with the speed to succeed in eventing have a Thoroughbred sire. As a studbook, they are ranked No. 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.

References

External links

Verband der Züchter des Holsteiner Pferdes e. V.
North American Breeding District of the Holsteiner Verband

Breed characteristics

See also

References

External links