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Extinction by NAIS

THE OLDENBURG HORSE

The Oldenburg Horse is named for Graf (Count) Anton Gunther von Oldenburg, a noble member of the House of Hannover, who lived from 1603 until 1667. Like his father Count Johann XVI von Oldenburg, Count Anton based his "dream" horse on the Friesian horse, but in addition he brought back stallions from Naples (Italy), Spain, Poland, Tartary, and Barbary. Because of the dominance of the Friesian horse in the Oldenburg pedigree, most of the Oldenburg horses were big, black, and powerful and made magnificent coach horses for German royalty. One of Count Oldenburg's famous relatives in the House of Hannover was King George I of England, who spoke only German; he loved German horses so much that he sent several English Thoroughbreds, which had just been developed in England, to help improve the Oldenburg horse. Today's Oldenburg is still a large horse, often in excess of 17 hands, with relatively short legs and cannons, powerful hindquarters and strong neck, a deep chest, and large sound feet. The Oldenburg, which can be gray, brown, or the familiar black, is most often used for dressage and eventing and occasionally for driving.

The Oldenburg stallions must pass a rigorous licensing examination held by the Oldenburg society; only 75-85 two-year old stallions are licensed as acceptable breeding stallions. Following their selection by the Oldenburg licensing commission, the chosen stallions are branded with the Oldenburg brand, which is a kind of crown over an O, and get to spend 100 days in additional training at Adelheidsdorf or Medingen in Germany. These honorees are certainly considered the "crème de la crème!"

Diane Jones
Windt im Wald Farm