Hanoverian - The Horse Of Olympic Caliber

For centuries, Hanoverians have been known as oneuniform breeding and evaluation of all recorded
of the most successful breeds in riding. Yet for all itsbreeding operations.
prominence and success, including being touted as theDuring the time between the two World Wars special
best known of the German Warmbloods, there is veryemphasis was on use in agriculture.Since the end of
little useful information to be found about thisWorld War II, the breeding goal has been a
400-year-old variety, either on breeders' websites orredevelopment of Hanoverian breeding to exclusively
on any of the six international registry sites. Piecingproduce a more versatile performance horse.
together machine translations from German is woefullyThe Hanoverian is a rideable, noble, big framed and
imprecise, but there is very little info in English.correct warmblood horse, which, on the basis of its
Known in Germany as the Hannoveraner, ornatural abilities, its temperament and character is
Hannöverschen Horse, the origins of selectivesuitable as a performance horse as well as a pleasure
breeding can be traced back to 16th Century to thehorse. Breeding stock is very carefully inspected and
Kingdom of Hanover in northern Germany, which isselected for correct conformation, athletic ability and
now the state of Lower Saxony. Breeding in Hanoverinner qualities such as disposition and trainability.
at that time was a major livelihood of farmers, and theHanoverians are large but refined, with long necks,
Hanoverian was bred for agriculture, carriage, and forsloping shoulders and pronounced withers. The
the cavalry. Originally developed as a draft horse, theHanoverian is characterized by a strong build, muscular
breed has been enhanced by the Trakehner, withhidquarters, and hard hooves. The head should be
imported Thoroughbred stallions. regularly crossed withmedium sized, and the eyes should be large and
domestic "war horse" German mares forexpressive. The horses can be 15.3-17.2 hands high, but
improvements. The result is the modern Hanoverianmost are in the range of 15.3-16.2 hands. The colors of
horse.Chestnut, bay, brown, black, and gray are the most
The State Stud in Celle, Germany, was founded incommon. Regulations prohibit buckskin, palomino and
1735 at a time when the individual reining Germancremello horses, as well as horses with too much
sovereigns wanted to be independent of importingwhite, from being registered. The Hanoverian is a well
horses. Since horses were of prime militaryproportioned warmblood horse with natural balance,
importance, the goal of the State Stud was to offerimpulsion and three elegant, light, elastic gaits described
good stallions at low fees to individual breeders. Thisonly as a ground-covering walk; a floating trot; and a
goal remains, although the horses are no longer usedsoft, round, rhythmic canter. No further information is
for war.available.
Those unfamiliar with the Hanoverian tend to think thatThe Hanoverian is calm and level headed, even in
the State Stud at Celle and the Hanoverian Societydifficult situations. The horse has an honest and trusting
are one entity, but they are not. Both are separatedisposition, and gives in willingly to the rider's
organizations that co-operate to the benefit of thecommands. They have been bred to be willing and
Hanoverian breed. The Hanoverian Society e.V. is atrainable.
private co-operation financed by members' dues,A large number of top competition horses have been
whereas the State Stud Celle is a wholly state-ownedbranded with a special "H" brand of the Hanoverian
institution. Currently, 130 stallions are stationed there andtrade mark on their back left side. Its inspiration came
during the breeding season, between February andfrom the crossed horse heads that still decorate the
July, from two to ten stallions are stabled at each ofgables of the breeding farm house in Lower Saxony
the 42 breeding stations that are spread out over theand is a relic from prehistoric times.
region. Out of 12,060 services registered with theIn the United States, the American Hanoverian Society
Verband in 1997, about 7,444 were carried out by(AHS) was incorporated in 1978 in Kentucky with only
state-owned stallions. Currently the Hanoverian stud40 members, for the purpose of gathering the
book has approximately 19,000 mares and 540Hanoverians in North America into a registry to
stallions registered.preserve and promote the breed. While the AHS is an
Sometime after 1870, breeders consolidated, taking intoindependent organization, it maintains a close
account the indigenous tribes, in which the coach andrelationship with the German VhW, regarding
military suitability of the Hanoverian stood in theinspection, registration and licensing procedures and
foreground; and the Hanover Chen Stutbucheseducational activities.
(Hanoverian Studbook) was officially begun in 1888 andBut not only top riders who engage in Olympic caliber
in 1899 the Chamber of Agriculture took over thedressage, eventing, hunting, jumping and driving benefit
stud-book as keeper. Verband hannoverscherfrom Hanoverian Horses. The Horses with the
Warmblutzuchter, e.V. (VhW), (The Society of"H"-Brand also deligth pleasure riders in many countries
Hanoverian Warmblood Breeders) was later foundedthroughout the world. Hanoverians, elegant, strong, and
in 1922 in Germany through a merger of breeders androbust, excel in dressage, show jumping and cross
abolished the requirement for a centrally controlled,country.