Hessen

Origin
Germany

History
The tradition of breeding fine horses has existed for many centuries in all parts of Hesse. Hessen, between the Weser and Neckar forms a link between northern and southern Germany. For more than two hundred years the Hessian provincial studs have exercised strong influence on developments in local horse breeding and breeders have received advice concerning the keeping and breeding of horses. In the area of Nassau, the court stud of the Dillenburg dukes became especially well known. The Dillensburger Ramsnasen (now extinct) , bred here by crossing Holstein and Danish mares with Spanish, Neapolitan, and Oriental stallions, were strong, attractive, medium-sized horses and were much sought after at horse markets in the sixteenth century. Later, noblemen with an eye to the future set up provincial studs. As early as 1737 Landgraf Wilhelm VIII established the Kassel Stud. In 1811 Grossherzog Ludwig I established the state stud of Darmstadt. Also in 1811, Herzog Friedrich August from Nassau established the state stud of Weilburg, and in the same year, Prince Friedrich of Waldeck set up the state stud of Arolsen. In these studs stallions for the area stood at servce, at first free of charge and later for a small serving fee, with the obligation that breeders give the state first option on foals or young horses the breeder did not need. In 1870 the Prussian administration brought together the 103 stallions from Kassel as well as the newly established Hessen-Nassau provincial stud at Dillenburg. In 1956 the provincial stud in Darmstadt was closed and these stallions also came to Dillenburg.
In the first half of the 20^th century, breeding of the coldblooded horse was of prime importance. It was used for work purposes in Hesse. A parallel development was the working warmblooded horse, based on the Holstein and Oldenburg breeds. After World War II, as motor vehicles replaced the horse and needs and uses changed, these draft horses formed the basis for versatile riding horse.
Stallions used in breeding the Hessen horse are mainly from the Hanoverian, Holstein, Thoroughbred, and Trakehner breeds. Annual shows for young stallions as well as the evaluation of show and competition results enable a constant check on the performance levels of the stallions and give breeders decisive information to help in choosing partners for their mares.
In Hessen only "elite auctions" are organized. This means that from a large number of riding horses, only the best are chosen by a highly qualified commission, and all horses entered in the auction must bear the Hessian brand and be owned by members of the association.

Description

• Conformation:
  the Hessen horse is a big, strong, well-made animal with good conformation and elastic, free-moving gaits, closely resembling the Hanoverian breed
• Average height:
  16.2 h.h.
• Colours:
  the most common colours are bay, dark bay and chestnut
• Temperament:
  willing, friendly
• Today:
  this is an excellent dressage or show jumping horse