Post by Michelle on Aug 2, 2008 17:56:16 GMT -5
By Julianne
"A noble, generously lined, high performing sport horse with active impulsion and space gaining, elastic movements which, because of its predisposition, is permanently suitable for any type of sport (dressage, show jumping, eventing, driving)" (WBFSH Interstallion)
There are no formal restrictions on the coloration of the Oldenburg horse. Traditionally the most common colors were black, brown, and bay. Now chestnut and grey are not uncommon, and there are more than a handful of tobiano pintos and creme dilutes.
The names of fillies begin with the same letter as their dam's name. The names of colts begin with the same letter as their sire's name.
Many texts and encyclopedias describe the Oldenburg as "the tallest and heaviest of the German warm-bloods" (Kidd). Today, because of the constant ebb and flow of genetic material, this impression is obsolete.
The Oldenburg horse is, like the other Warmbloods, less a breed and more a registry. The head registry is the Verband der Zuechter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V. (Society for Breeders of Oldenburg Horses, governmentally accredited). This registry was formed in 1923 from the merger of two similar parent societies, which were themselves formed in 1897 as a result of the Horse Breeding Act of April 9, that year. An official register of the pedigrees of the horses of Oldenburg had been kept since 1861, and the first stallion approvals were held according to state legislature in 1820.
Oldenburg was an influential city-state in the north-western state of Niedersachsen. This location is a crossroads of cultural influence, being just east of Belgium and just south of Denmark. At it's height, the word "Oldenburg" refers to the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, which was a much larger region than today's Independent City. Like the region of Schleswig-Holstein, Oldenburg was alternately or partly possessed by the Saxons, and the Frisins, and so on. In the mid 1400's, Denmark claimed Oldenburg as an exclave. Not long after, Count Anton I and his family rose to power, and it was his grandson, Anton Guenther, who was known for promoting the horses of Oldenburg and taking a personal stake in their breeding. During the Thirty Years' War, he gave many Oldenburg horses to Count of Tilly, which made Oldenburg itself immune to the destruction that Tilly caused most of Germany. Between 1667 and 1773, the Danes again ruled the region, but the fires that devestated the area convinced them to give it up. It was subsequently dubbed a Duchy (meaning an independent region ruled by a Duke or Duchess), and then a Grand Duchy, until in 1918 it became an Urban District within Lower Saxony.
This volatile political history was the primary factor in horse breeding in the area. Prior to mechanization, the horses of Oldenburg were isolated from horses in neighboring Hannover, and from the Trakehners in the east. The horses that gave rise to the Oldenburg also gave rise to the Freisian, Groningen, Gelderlander (and through them the Dutch Harness Horse and Dutch Warmblood), Holsteiner, Norman horses, and the Danish Oldenburg. These horses remained remarkably similar in type - especially in that black, brown, and bay were the dominant colors, except among Gelderlanders which were mostly chestnut - up until the turn of the century. This unity is often reflected in the use of the white leather halter without a noseband.
The Oldenburg horse was sacrificed in great numbers during World War I. By the time the wars were over, the breeders of Oldenburg had decided to switch directions from middle-weight all-purpose horse to sport horse. However, the original type is still preserved in the form of the Alt-Oldenburger, which shares the same ancestry as it's modern, riding-type cousin, even up to the past 20 years. At the same time, all the horse breeding societies of Germany were undergoing the same switch, however Oldenburg was unique. It took the broad-chested, middle-weight, plain-faced utility horse with the high knee action, and, like the others, used Thoroughbred stallions like Lupus xx and Adonis xx to alter the type. However, unlike Hanover, they did not use Trakehner stock. Instead, they used half-bred French stallions. First came Condor, by Fluodryouant xx; then Furioso II, by Furioso xx, then Inschallah AA, the French Anglo-Arab. This resulted in a horse of a slightly different type than the Hanoverian.
The Oldenburg breeders are unique in several respects. With nearly 350 breeding stallions and 7,300 breeding mares, it is one of the largest registries. The official breeding area encompasses Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, as well as the Independent Cities of Bremen and Hamburg. The society has long been known for it's liberal policies, perhaps best reflected in how readily the North American branch has dealt with the huge Thoroughbred mare base in America. But it is also reflected in their acceptance of all colors, which now include a few tobiano pintos and creme dilutes, such as palominos. These open policies have permitted the Oldenburg horse to evolve more rapidly than its more restrictive peers, even though the selection criteria are, in terms of quality, equally as stringent. The German Verband states quite boldly on their website that "quality is the only standard that counts." This atmosphere has led to great achievements in sport, less limited by bloodline or color. Most notably, the German Oldenburgs are, as a group, ranked internationally 4th in both Jumping and Dressage, and 11th in Eventing (WBFSH statistic, as of April 2006). Furthermore, unlike most of the other German Warmbloods, the Oldenburg stallions have never belonged to a single government stud, which is advantageous to the independent breeder. The breeders are supported by a superb stallion selection process that culminates in the Oldenburg Stallion Day. On this day, all the representatives of the Oldenburg horse are paraded in front of spectators in the Old Stallion Parade. Additionally, sophomore stallions have their foal crops inspected in order to earn their Main Premium - the permanent approval. Add to these events the sponsored Elite and Special auctions in Vechta, and you have a recipe for a fabulous breeder's society that is highly progressive and competitive, but retains it's tradition, character, and sense of fun.
Lately, the German Oldenburg Verband has developed a subdivision devoted to Jumping horses. This will allow them to focus their efforts on producing high-quality jumpers. Their sires are horses like Argentinus, Contender, Galoubet A, and so on.
Today, the top line in the pedigrees of most Oldenburgs are usually from Hanover or Holstein, and they now utilize Trakehners to improve type and gaits. None of the stallions today whose names begin with "C" come from Condor and his sons, for example. Many of the mares, though, and therefore their sons, have the traditional lines of stallions like Ruthard, Volturno, Chronist, and Adonis xx. Unique mare families are a thing of great pride among the breeders of Oldenburg; something reflected in their naming practices. While colts take the first letter of the sire's name for their own, fillies take that of their mothers.
"Without a doubt, the basis for such great success lies in the specific selection scale of the Oldenburg breeding system." OHBS
by: Julianne
Works Cited
Kidd, Jane. The International Encyclopedia of Horses and Ponies. Published 1995 by Howell Book House, New York.
History: Verband der Zuechter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V. Accessed May 27th, 2006. www.oldenburger-pferde.com/pferde/
More Information
Verband der Zuechter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V.
www.oldenburger-pferde.com/pferde/
The Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society: North American Division of Verband der Zuechter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V.
www.oldenburghorse.com/
East Friesian and Alt-Oldenburger
www.ostfriesen-alt-oldenburger.de/
World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses
www.wbfsh.org
Sire Lines of Germany
www.pferde-lexikon.de/index.php?tem...id=artikel&id=7
"A noble, generously lined, high performing sport horse with active impulsion and space gaining, elastic movements which, because of its predisposition, is permanently suitable for any type of sport (dressage, show jumping, eventing, driving)" (WBFSH Interstallion)
There are no formal restrictions on the coloration of the Oldenburg horse. Traditionally the most common colors were black, brown, and bay. Now chestnut and grey are not uncommon, and there are more than a handful of tobiano pintos and creme dilutes.
The names of fillies begin with the same letter as their dam's name. The names of colts begin with the same letter as their sire's name.
Many texts and encyclopedias describe the Oldenburg as "the tallest and heaviest of the German warm-bloods" (Kidd). Today, because of the constant ebb and flow of genetic material, this impression is obsolete.
The Oldenburg horse is, like the other Warmbloods, less a breed and more a registry. The head registry is the Verband der Zuechter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V. (Society for Breeders of Oldenburg Horses, governmentally accredited). This registry was formed in 1923 from the merger of two similar parent societies, which were themselves formed in 1897 as a result of the Horse Breeding Act of April 9, that year. An official register of the pedigrees of the horses of Oldenburg had been kept since 1861, and the first stallion approvals were held according to state legislature in 1820.
Oldenburg was an influential city-state in the north-western state of Niedersachsen. This location is a crossroads of cultural influence, being just east of Belgium and just south of Denmark. At it's height, the word "Oldenburg" refers to the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, which was a much larger region than today's Independent City. Like the region of Schleswig-Holstein, Oldenburg was alternately or partly possessed by the Saxons, and the Frisins, and so on. In the mid 1400's, Denmark claimed Oldenburg as an exclave. Not long after, Count Anton I and his family rose to power, and it was his grandson, Anton Guenther, who was known for promoting the horses of Oldenburg and taking a personal stake in their breeding. During the Thirty Years' War, he gave many Oldenburg horses to Count of Tilly, which made Oldenburg itself immune to the destruction that Tilly caused most of Germany. Between 1667 and 1773, the Danes again ruled the region, but the fires that devestated the area convinced them to give it up. It was subsequently dubbed a Duchy (meaning an independent region ruled by a Duke or Duchess), and then a Grand Duchy, until in 1918 it became an Urban District within Lower Saxony.
This volatile political history was the primary factor in horse breeding in the area. Prior to mechanization, the horses of Oldenburg were isolated from horses in neighboring Hannover, and from the Trakehners in the east. The horses that gave rise to the Oldenburg also gave rise to the Freisian, Groningen, Gelderlander (and through them the Dutch Harness Horse and Dutch Warmblood), Holsteiner, Norman horses, and the Danish Oldenburg. These horses remained remarkably similar in type - especially in that black, brown, and bay were the dominant colors, except among Gelderlanders which were mostly chestnut - up until the turn of the century. This unity is often reflected in the use of the white leather halter without a noseband.
The Oldenburg horse was sacrificed in great numbers during World War I. By the time the wars were over, the breeders of Oldenburg had decided to switch directions from middle-weight all-purpose horse to sport horse. However, the original type is still preserved in the form of the Alt-Oldenburger, which shares the same ancestry as it's modern, riding-type cousin, even up to the past 20 years. At the same time, all the horse breeding societies of Germany were undergoing the same switch, however Oldenburg was unique. It took the broad-chested, middle-weight, plain-faced utility horse with the high knee action, and, like the others, used Thoroughbred stallions like Lupus xx and Adonis xx to alter the type. However, unlike Hanover, they did not use Trakehner stock. Instead, they used half-bred French stallions. First came Condor, by Fluodryouant xx; then Furioso II, by Furioso xx, then Inschallah AA, the French Anglo-Arab. This resulted in a horse of a slightly different type than the Hanoverian.
The Oldenburg breeders are unique in several respects. With nearly 350 breeding stallions and 7,300 breeding mares, it is one of the largest registries. The official breeding area encompasses Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, as well as the Independent Cities of Bremen and Hamburg. The society has long been known for it's liberal policies, perhaps best reflected in how readily the North American branch has dealt with the huge Thoroughbred mare base in America. But it is also reflected in their acceptance of all colors, which now include a few tobiano pintos and creme dilutes, such as palominos. These open policies have permitted the Oldenburg horse to evolve more rapidly than its more restrictive peers, even though the selection criteria are, in terms of quality, equally as stringent. The German Verband states quite boldly on their website that "quality is the only standard that counts." This atmosphere has led to great achievements in sport, less limited by bloodline or color. Most notably, the German Oldenburgs are, as a group, ranked internationally 4th in both Jumping and Dressage, and 11th in Eventing (WBFSH statistic, as of April 2006). Furthermore, unlike most of the other German Warmbloods, the Oldenburg stallions have never belonged to a single government stud, which is advantageous to the independent breeder. The breeders are supported by a superb stallion selection process that culminates in the Oldenburg Stallion Day. On this day, all the representatives of the Oldenburg horse are paraded in front of spectators in the Old Stallion Parade. Additionally, sophomore stallions have their foal crops inspected in order to earn their Main Premium - the permanent approval. Add to these events the sponsored Elite and Special auctions in Vechta, and you have a recipe for a fabulous breeder's society that is highly progressive and competitive, but retains it's tradition, character, and sense of fun.
Lately, the German Oldenburg Verband has developed a subdivision devoted to Jumping horses. This will allow them to focus their efforts on producing high-quality jumpers. Their sires are horses like Argentinus, Contender, Galoubet A, and so on.
Today, the top line in the pedigrees of most Oldenburgs are usually from Hanover or Holstein, and they now utilize Trakehners to improve type and gaits. None of the stallions today whose names begin with "C" come from Condor and his sons, for example. Many of the mares, though, and therefore their sons, have the traditional lines of stallions like Ruthard, Volturno, Chronist, and Adonis xx. Unique mare families are a thing of great pride among the breeders of Oldenburg; something reflected in their naming practices. While colts take the first letter of the sire's name for their own, fillies take that of their mothers.
"Without a doubt, the basis for such great success lies in the specific selection scale of the Oldenburg breeding system." OHBS
by: Julianne
Works Cited
Kidd, Jane. The International Encyclopedia of Horses and Ponies. Published 1995 by Howell Book House, New York.
History: Verband der Zuechter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V. Accessed May 27th, 2006. www.oldenburger-pferde.com/pferde/
More Information
Verband der Zuechter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V.
www.oldenburger-pferde.com/pferde/
The Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society: North American Division of Verband der Zuechter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V.
www.oldenburghorse.com/
East Friesian and Alt-Oldenburger
www.ostfriesen-alt-oldenburger.de/
World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses
www.wbfsh.org
Sire Lines of Germany
www.pferde-lexikon.de/index.php?tem...id=artikel&id=7
