The Hanoverian horse
Hanoverian Horse Breeding
The Hanoverian horse :
The Hanoverian Horse
Country of Origin Hanover, Germany
Morphology Saddle Horse
Height From 15,1 hands to 17,1 hands
Coat bay, chestnut, black, grey, white, barely light-tan or mouse colored
Head Fine with a broad forehead
Purpose Dressage, Jumping, Horse Evening, Driving
The Hanoverian horse is a warm blooded German saddle horse whose name comes from the city of Hanover. An excellent sport horse, it is always found in high level competitions for dressage, jumping and horse evening, as well as in driving.
it consistently appears at the top places in each Olympic event (dressage, jumping, horse evening and driving) in the results published by the WBFSH (World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses) for both individual and Studbook rankings
It must also be mentioned that the Hanoverian Horse contributed to improving the Oldenburg breed.
Temperament
The Hanoverian horse is courageous, always does his utmost perform well for his rider. He has a kind character, is balanced and untroubled but also joyful and fully alert.
Height and coat
Whither height : from 1,55 m to 1,73 m ; 1,63 m average. Eligible coat : bay, chestnut, grey, white, barely light-tan or mouse-colored.
Type
The Hanoverian horse is a big horse with an imposing stature. His head is fine and beautiful, average in size but with a broad forehead and a calm sweet gaze.
The neck is long, the chest wide and low. The back is straight and long. The hindquarters have well developed and strong muscles, the tail is set high. The legs are solid and vigorous with well-developed muscles and strong wiry joints ; the stout tendons are well separated. The foot is hard with a good conformation.
Breed history and origin of the Hanoverian horse
The Hanoverian horse has its roots in the XVII th century Hanover (Germany) , capital of Lower Saxony. At the time there was a demand for good saddle horses for the army, selection then was initiated. These horses also had to be elegant and beautiful to become high-class coach horses.
In 1714, Georges Louis, Elector of Hanover, became king of England under the name of Georges I. He imported Hanoverian Horses to draw the Royal coaches.
In 1735, George II, King of England, son of George I, founded the State Stud at Celle, a place located approximately 40 kilometers from Hanover in the Lower Sax lander. The selective breeding of the Hanoverian horse was initiated at that time : the Hanoverian mares were crossbred with Holsteiner stallions. The results were heavy general purpose horses that were needed at that time. Later the breed was refined with pure-breed Arab and other thoroughbreds, producing very good light saddle and driving horses robust and strong enough for agricultural work.
Before the Napoleonic wars there were more than a hundred stallions at the Stud at Celle but many of them were slaughtered, leaving only thirty alive by the end of the wars. The breeding had to be resumed by crossbreeding the Hanoverian mares with Mecklenburg and pure-breed stallions. By the middle of the XIXth century, the Hanoverian horse had become a very pleasant saddle horse : much lighter and very alert but less suitable for agricultural work. The breeding was adapted to again produce a strong powerful horse suitable for farm work.
As a consequence of World War II, most old type saddle and driving breeds such as the Hanoverian horse declined in numbers. The mechanization of agriculture contributed even further to this decline. In order to preserve the breed, once again the Hanoverian mares were crossbred with several other pure-breed Arab and Trakehner stallions.
Thus the Hanoverian horse also became a very good saddle horse for equestrian sport derbies, becoming refined, athletic and harmonious. His basic qualities of agricultural horse were preserved, giving the Hanoverian horse steadiness, fortitude and sturdiness.
Today, the Hanoverian horse is an excellent international equestrian competition horse, regularly ranking at the top primarily in dressage tests, jumping or horse trial events.
Some famous Hanoverian Horses
Deister, three times European champion in jumping.
Gigolo, won many titles between 1990 and 2000 in both German and international dressage competitions with his rider Isabell Werth (Ger.) including in World Cup and Olympic Games. Today retired Gigolo lives in the meadows.
For Pleasure, a stallion, won many trophies for jumping with his riders Marcus Ehning and formerly Lars Nieberg. Now retired, he procreates.
Satchmo, currently ridden by Isabell Werth in dressage competitions, Satchmo is both individual and team Olympic Champion.
Salinero, dressage Olympic Champion in 2004 with Anky van Grunsven as a rider.
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