Horse breed Hanover nickname first-born. Exterior, character and use of the Hanoverian horse breed

The decision to get a horse is not a whim, as many "horseless" citizens believe. A person who is going to breed horses, or have his own horse for riding, or engage in business, for example, rental, goes for it consciously, having carefully weighed everything and thought it over. After all, a horse is not a hamster, and not even agricultural cattle. Breeding horses is a noble, exciting and very difficult occupation. Before solving an incredible number of questions and tasks that will inevitably arise with the advent of a horse in the economy, you will have to think about the breed. The temperament of the horse depends on it by 80%.

There is a gradation for varieties of horse breeds, it can be designated as a gradation "by blood temperature". In fact, everyone understands that the body temperature, and therefore the blood temperature, is the same for all horses - 37-38 degrees in calm state and up to forty - after intense exercise. But it was convenient for breeders to use such terminology, and it took root.

Hanoverian breed - history

The first horses of this breed were obtained in the middle of the 18th century. Then the exterior changed repeatedly, as well as the degree, bloodlines, and working qualities. The modern type is identical in many respects to the thoroughbred English horse, and can show almost the same high driving qualities and athletic achievements.

Initially, only white horses were crossed in the breed, but over time, genetic mutations occurred, and today Hanover is a black or dark bay horse (mare).

In 1714, Duke George of Saxony was fortunate enough to take the English throne. The new king was originally from Hanover, and was very fond of horses. Stallions from all over the world began to be delivered to this city, a stud farm and many stables were opened there. 1724 can be considered the time of the birth of the snow-white Hanoverian horse, which instantly became the most fashionable among the courtiers of the English king. They were not used to harness carriages, they were not suitable for military purposes - these beautiful creatures were bred solely for beauty and racing.

Artificial albinism, instilled in the breed by force, weakened genetics and gave rise to many pathologies. This led to the fact that a century later the Hanoverian breed left the “podium” and was almost completely lost among other breeds. It had to be restored again, but in new changed standards. To do this, the breeders decided to cross with the English horse. Just the "English" pushed the Arab horses and massively flooded Germany. The selection took place - a riding thoroughbred type and a large "peasant" type were crossed.

1888 - the beginning of a new era of the Hanoverians, marked by the appearance of the first stud book.
Thirty years later - obligatory hallmarking.
In 1921 - the first breeding station.
A year later - the opening of the Union of Hanoverians.
In 1928, selection for hippodromes began, and the breed received the first gold Olympic medal.

Needless to say, the 20th century was the era of the decline of sports horse breeding in Germany, the Reich began to use horses purely for military purposes. But after all the wars, the Hanoverians survived and became popular again - by the 60s of the last century, there were 20,000 horses of this breed in the stud books.

At the same time, horses were brought to Russia. There were only 70 "pioneers" - 66 mares and 4 stallions. From them came the domestic tribe of Hanoverian horses.

Description of the breed

Today, the Hanoverian horse has a classic sporty type and characteristic features of the exterior.

Dry head.
Straight and strict profile (hunchback is absent).
Strongly developed neck muscles.
Elongated oblique shoulder blades.
High withers.
Straight line croup.
Elongated strong limbs.
Bay, dark bay and black.

Parameters of the Hanoverian horse.

By the way! Modern representatives of the breed are characterized by an absolutely calm character, “buoys” and “aggressors” are not included in breeding.

Although the English breed is clearly visible in the breed, the Hanovers are superior to the progenitors in many respects, such as the power of the hips, better development muscles. In addition, breeding work continues to be carried out, Arab, Trakehner, Holstein and others are mixed with English blood.

Purchase

So you've decided to breed horses Hanoverian breed. This is a great decision and a good choice. But before you buy a horse, you need to think about the following points.

age- buy a foal and raise it “for yourself” (raising a horse from infancy is not the easiest thing to do, for this it is desirable to be a professional breeder) or purchase adult horse with established character and skills;
floor- it is believed that stallions are more aggressive and can have a difficult character, mares are traditionally calmer, but in sports many prefer exclusively stallions;
place of detention– own stable or rented.

Having answered all these questions clearly for yourself, you can proceed with the purchase. But, given that it is not so easy to buy a horse of the Hanoverian breed, and it is not cheap at all, it is necessary to subject it to a veterinary examination before finalizing the deal and becoming the owner of the stallion or mare you like.

Buying a horse - step by step instructions

Step 1

Inspection at rest. This is a preliminary examination, which is carried out by the owner, the potential owner and the veterinarian. Observations are mainly made at this stage about the visual signs of the health of the horse.

Step 2

Leading the owner at a trot in his hands, and watching the horse at a trot. Here, an experienced veterinarian can already notice behavioral features, lameness and other signs.

Step 3

Work under the saddle and observation. If you are a good rider, you can check how the horse goes under the saddle yourself, but experts advise entrusting this matter to the owner, and the buyer and veterinarian to take the role of observers.

Step 4

After a half-hour rest - the second wiring in the hands and examination of the legs (hooves) by the veterinarian. Also during the wiring are examined internal organs- heart and lungs.

Step 5

Immediately after exercise, listen to the heart and lungs again, paying attention to any suspicious murmurs. Then, in the stable (and not in the light), the eyes are examined, and visual acuity.

Step 6

The condition of the teeth and tongue, examination of the entire skin surface and re-examination of the hooves complete the procedures. Then the doctor talks with the owner, finding out what operations were carried out by the animal, what diseases it had, how many times the mare gave birth and other important information.

Important! There are diseases of horses that cannot be cured. These include rheumatic inflammation of the legs (hooves), emphysema (lung failure), heart failure, and others. If you decide at all costs to buy a horse with a serious illness, be prepared for the fact that caring for an animal will be three times as difficult and troublesome.

In Russia, the law that a horse must have a mandatory document has not yet been adopted. But if you are transporting an animal, reselling it, or going to compete, you will need a passport. If the horse you like does not have documents, they can be issued after purchase at the All-Russian Research Institute of Horse Breeding on the basis of an act of sale.

stable construction

If you decide to have your own stable, the matter is not as impossible as it seems at first glance. Many breed sports or riding horses in summer cottages.

Advice! It is better to build a stable for two horses at once. These are herd animals, and alone they can be sad, develop bad habits, their character deteriorates, and caring for two horses is not much more difficult than caring for one.

Renting a place in a stable is expensive. In addition, there you still have to spend a significant part of the time caring for your horse and working with it. Even if you are not going to constantly care for someone else's stables, all the same, the total cost for several years will exceed the budget spent on building your own stable. If you don’t have enough time, you can invite a caretaker there, or, having one horse and a stable for several places, you can rent them out.

Stages of building a stable

In our latitudes, a winter stable is a capital structure that provides for the full maintenance of an animal or several at any time of the year.

Step one - determine the amount of land

There are zootechnical standards, according to which a mare with a foal, in addition to a stable, needs a pasture (grass paddock) the size of a hectare. But, of course, if you do not have a hectare of land, no one will forbid you to build a stable, combining a corral with a dressage ground (paddock). The minimum amount of land is 30 m² for a two-story stable and the same for the paddock. It is advisable to provide for the construction of a hayloft separately, since a horse eats about three tons of hay per year. You will also need a place to store bags of sawdust, a parade ground for forging and washing, but they can be 3 m² each. That is, it is good when there is a lot of land, but it is quite possible to fit a stable on six acres.

Step two - choose building materials

The question of what to build today is especially relevant, since there are a lot of various materials on the market. Traditionally, for our climate, it is better to use wood or brick with wood paneling.

Brick requires pouring the foundation, but in such a stable, especially if you build walls two bricks thick and sheathe with wood with insulation, you can do without heating in winter.

But a wooden building “breathes” and does not dampen like a brick one; horses are more comfortable and healthier in it. In order to maintain the temperature necessary for horses both in winter and summer (+ 15 ° С ... 20 ° С), it is possible to build a building from logs, insulate and sheathe with a board. It must be taken into account that the Hanoverian horse, which weighs 500-600 kg, is very strong and can shake and even destroy a fragile structure.

Step three - plan the room

In a double stable must be present:

two stalls fenced off from each other with a passage between them of about 1.2 m;
a room for storing ammunition;
bathroom;
ventilation system;
boiler or other heating device, or apparatus for heating water;
stock;
living quarters
passage to the paddock 2.2 m wide.

The stall is planned in such a way that the horse can lie down freely, and at least 2.5 m high. It is desirable to have a window with a lattice in it - for an overview of the animal and natural light. The stall should be locked with strong gates.

It is also necessary to provide feeders and drinkers that will be convenient to serve.

If you are planning a hay storage on the second floor, take care of strong ceilings that will support its weight.

All rooms must comply with technical standards.

The paddock is surrounded by a solid fence. The site provides a place to store the manure cleaned from the stables until it is disposed of.

After the approval of the project in the relevant authorities and the purchase of building materials, you can begin to build a stable.

Conditions of detention

The premises are ready, the horses are bought and delivered home, work begins on their maintenance. First you need to take care of bedding and feed.

Litter

Sawdust bedding is traditional, environmentally friendly and the most optimal. It must be of a large fraction - small ones give too much dust and clog the animal in the nostrils. Wood shavings will do. But it is necessary to carefully monitor the quality of wood waste. It is best to buy sawdust at large sawmills.

Important! Never purchase or use furniture waste as bedding. They contain chemical dyes and other substances hazardous to the health of the horse.

How many sawdust will you need? The litter layer should be no thinner than 10 and no thicker than 20 cm. Then a fresh portion is added every two days - about one large bag per stall.

Periodically, once every 1.5-2 months, the entire bedding must be completely changed, and the room must be disinfected.

A few words about straw bedding popular in the USSR. Today it is not relevant, since it is impossible to store straw in bags, and it must be crushed before use. In addition, the straw can be rotten, which will cause various diseases in horses. Alternative, occasionally used options are peat bedding and a layer of shredded paper.

Feeders and drinkers

This necessary equipment should be convenient and facilitate human labor. It is ideal to arrange an autodrinker, since the horse must have access to water at all times.

The advantage of automatic drinkers is that you do not need to carry buckets of water in your hands, the container is filled with a tap, the horse presses on the lever and drinks when and how much he wants. True, they must be washed every day so that the water does not stagnate and rot there.

As for the feeder, it can be a tray, any container, including one under the hatch, into which you can send fodder directly, with two compartments.

It is also advisable to purchase a plastic holder for feeding salt in briquettes so as not to put it in the feeder.

Like drinkers, feeders need to be cleaned every day and disinfected periodically.

Inventory

In addition to harness and accessories for riding, brushes and scrapers for grooming a horse, you will need the following inventory:

shovels for manure;
scoops for garbage;
buckets or bags for sawdust;
manure bags;
wheelbarrow;
pitchfork;
brooms;
gloves;
old rags.

Horse ammunition

first aid kit

In advance, you should take care of the health of the animal. Therefore, a horse first aid kit should include the following minimum set:

cotton wool, bandages;
brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide;
syringe;
external antibiotic;
remedy for helminths;
syringes;
anti-inflammatory;
antihistamines;
tar soap;
hoof ointment;
horse shampoo;
hair conditioner;
spray from gadflies and horseflies.

Prices for WAHL horse cleaning brushes

Horse Dirt Brushes WAHL

Cleaning

A very important question is where to put the manure and sawdust that are cleaned out of the stall. At least six “heaps” of manure and the same amount of dirty sawdust are removed per day. It all needs to be disposed of in some way. You can use a public container for household waste, but, firstly, it will fill up in a few days, and secondly, the neighbors in the country are unlikely to be satisfied if you throw manure into a garbage container.

It is best to arrange the sale of manure to the same summer residents, since it is a valuable fertilizer. Sawdust can also be used as mulch in the garden, but it can quickly start to smell bad. Therefore, they are usually packed in bags and disposed of as household waste, and they try to sell the manure in the nearest gardening partnership.

Horse manure is a valuable fertilizer

Horse shampoo prices

Horse shampoo

Features of the horse diet

In nature, horses feed on grass, which makes up 80% of their diet. When kept in a stall, the grass is replaced with hay.

It is considered roughage essential for good peristalsis and can be:

meadow;
steppe;
cereals;
legumes.

Cereal is considered the best. The norm of giving is up to 2 kg per 100 kg of the weight of an adult animal. Legumes in their pure form are not given, they must be mixed with straw or cereals. Meadow and steppe is also desirable to mix with cereals.

Advice! If for some reason feeding with hay is not possible, you can replace it with straw completely (barley, oat, wheat and millet), but only for a few days. Before giving, the straw is crushed.

How to choose hay

When buying hay, you should pay attention to the following parameters:

drying time (no more than 4 days);
harvesting time (cereals - during the earing period, legumes - during flowering);
packaging (bales, not rolls);
the absence of wild poisonous herbs in the composition;
fresh scent.

If there is a need to temporarily give the horse straw, you should not use winter straw, only spring straw will do. Straw should not have a moldy or putrid smell, burning.

Important! It is generally forbidden to feed stud horses with straw, there is a danger of sperm quality deterioration. Also, do not feed it to pregnant horses and foals under the age of six months.

Grains and legumes

The following solid foods are suitable for giving horses.

Oats and barley - share the first place, can be given independently, making up a complete diet, barley is given in crushed or flattened form.
Corn - given during training before runs for a full diet, crushed. In a normal diet, it can be ¼ part.
Rye and wheat - no more than 4 kg per day in a processed (flattened or crushed) state and mixed with straw (chopped).
Millet - crushed (with a destroyed hard shell).
Legumes - up to 2 kg, in the diet of the day must be present only in hard-working horses.

As with hay, the quality of the grain must be checked before purchase. It must be clean, without organic impurities (leaves, stems, weeds or poisonous herbs) and without inorganic (pebbles, pebbles, coarse sand).

Also in the selection criteria - a pleasant "bread" smell, the absence of stains, mold.

Bran, premixes, salt

Bran is often used, mainly wheat, given in a mixture with steamed grain or separately, in an amount of up to 2.5 kg per day.

Important! Bran cannot be steamed; when exposed to boiling water, they lose their nutritional value. If they are given with steamed grain, then they are added to the finished “porridge” after it has cooled.

How to cook "porridge"

Two parts of oats, or a part and a second part of other cereals, are poured with boiling water, covered and left for steaming for an hour. From above, the mixture is poured three cm with bran, left for another half hour. Premixes, salt are added (if you do not use a salt brick).

Vegetables and fruits

You can add root crops, vegetables and fruits to the diet, especially for pregnant mares. Horses love carrots and beets (fodder), rutabaga and potatoes. From fruits - apples, bananas (skins), watermelons. Everything must be clean and free of signs of rot. No more than 4 kg per 100 kg of weight per day is given.

Additives

Premixes are a mixture of biological substances that are necessary for an animal and are not contained in sufficient quantities in the diet, especially in winter. They serve to prevent diseases, beriberi, increase the nutritional value of feed. They can be used separately, or mixed with food, but cannot be steamed with water at temperatures above +60°C.

Advice! even with a well-chosen premix that includes all the vitamins, it is good to give the horse additional flaxseed and garlic. This will serve as an antiseptic, have a good effect on the condition of the skin, improve appetite and increase immunity. Garlic is given in a tablespoon twice a day with food. From flaxseed, you can prepare a decoction and add it to the porridge in a tablespoon.

Norms of feeding an adult horse.

Feed	Quantity (kg/day)
oats	8
Barley	6
Corn	6
Millet	4
Legumes	2
Bran	2,5
Salt	0,03
Premixes	according to instructions
Hay	10-12

Prices for briquette "Oatmeal" for horses and foals

Briquette "Oatmeal" for horses and foals

Feeding and drinking technique

Horse digestion is slow. She grabs portions of 20 g and chews thoroughly. The first is given roughage - hay. Then, after half an hour - an hour - grain.

If the horse has worked (including dressage), grain is given two hours after hay.

After eating, the horse should rest for about two hours.

The daily rate is divided into three feedings. First in the morning (ideally at 6 am). Second afternoon (at noon). The third is in the evening. It is the most abundant in giving roughage. That is, at night it is necessary to give a maximum of hay, since a horse should not be without food for more than eight hours.

You can water the horse both before and after, and even in the process of eating. Once the chosen mode should be observed. Usually watered after roughage before cereals. A hot horse should not be given to drink until it has cooled down. The daily norm of water is up to 30 liters, with a temperature of + 8 ° С ... 16 ° С.

Usually the mother takes care of the diet of the cubs. Feeding by a foal to a mare and a foal who has given birth is enhanced with vitamins and premixes that stimulate milk production. But it happens that the mare dies during childbirth, or the foal for other reasons is left alone. There is a need for artificial feeding.

A monthly foal should receive 20 liters of milk per day, preferably goat's, it is absorbed better and does not cause colic (unlike cow's).

Goat milk is diluted with water in half, 5 eggs (per 20 l) and 20 tablespoons are added to it. Sahara. The mixture is fed from plastic bottles, syringes are used as "nipples".

The first week - feeding every two hours, sweep half a liter. The rate is increasing daily. Interval too. By the month of one feeding, the foal drinks two liters, nightly intervals are three hours.

From the second month, the foals are taken out to pasture, if possible for the whole daylight hours, and the milk rate (20 l) no longer increases. At three months, she is divided into 5 feedings of 4 liters. At this age, porridge and steamed grain feed are added to the diet. Premixes are given from birth. At six months, an artificial foal can be transferred to an adult diet.

Video - Video about Hanoverian horses

Video - Hanover breed

The Hanoverian horse is a sporting animal that is widespread in Europe. Hanoverians have a rather long and interesting story development. IN modern world this breed mostly used for sports. It is worth considering in more detail the description, the history of the origin of horses, as well as studying the conditions that are necessary for their maintenance.

Origin story

If you study history, it can be noted that the Hanoverian breed of horses was actively bred in the 18th century at a stud farm located in Celle. This factory belonged to the state. Initially, it was understood that Hanoverian horses are animals that are necessary for work in a team and movement. Those individuals that had the most outstanding characteristics (external, physical, and so on) were used in the army or in royal carriages.

The Hanoverian breed did not previously exist in wild nature, it was the result of the painstaking work of breeders and breeders who crossed the mares of Lower Saxony with German, English and Iberian stallions.

In the process of crossing, only the best individuals were selected, which made it possible to develop a breed that met all the requirements necessary at that time.

In 1888, the first breeding collection of the Hanoverian breed was published, the editorial staff of which was represented by members of the society of breeders and horse trainers for the army. Shortly thereafter, the Hanoverian horse became one of the most popular and sought after. They began to be used not only in the army and royal carriages, but also in sports.

However, this trend came to an end, since in the post-war period (after the First World War), heavy and powerful breeds were more respected.

Hanover in this period was used for the most part for a variety of household and household needs. During the Great Patriotic War horses of this breed performed a draft role for light artillery. Thus, one can trace the significance that the Hanoverian breed of horses had in the history of mankind and even in the most critical periods.

Important! In the post-war period, breeders again took up the improvement of the Hanoverian breed and began to cross it with Arabian breeds, as well as with Trakens. The breed created as a result of such manipulations has become an excellent specimen of a sports animal.

Description of the breed

Germany is considered the birthplace of such horses, and concurrently the country in which the Hanoverian breed was bred. Horses have a very characteristic appearance- their color is monophonic (in brown tints) with small spots and splashes of white. The height of the horse at the withers does not exceed 175 centimeters. The minimum value of this indicator is 160 centimeters.

The main purpose of horses is sport. Hanoverians participate in almost all sports competitions, which is explained by the distinctive characteristics of the animal: power, mobility and agility.

An untrained eye can easily confuse the Hanoverian breed with a thoroughbred English horse. This similarity is due to the gracefulness and nobility of the movements of Hanover, as well as the article of the horse. The body of the animal has a large number of muscles, and the croup is quite powerful (including in its dimensions). The neck of the horses is quite long, and the chest is wide. The oblique line of the shoulders gives the Hanoverians a special nobility.

As for the legs, it is important to note that they have rather short pasterns, but at the same time quite powerful and well-developed muscles. Due to this structure, the animal is distinguished high level endurance and able to withstand heavy loads. The joints of the limbs of the Hannover are quite pronounced, which ensures elasticity, as well as smooth movements. The hooves are covered with a dense stratum corneum. The animal has a medium-sized head, on which wide nostrils and large expressive eyes are located. The profile of the muzzle is straight.

There are several colors of the Hanoverian breed. Two of them are considered the most popular, namely bay and black. However, the variety does not end there. And also you can meet gray and red color.

In order to ensure a healthy and active lifestyle for horses, it is necessary to keep them in optimal conditions. Initially, keeping a horse may seem like a daunting task, but if you strictly follow all the instructions, recommendations, tips and rules, then you can handle it. So, first of all, it is important to consider that the room where you plan to keep horses should be warm and dry. In addition, in the warm season, fresh and clean air must be continuously supplied to it.

The stall should be covered with a special bedding, the layer of which should be in the range from 10 to 20 centimeters. Sawdust can be used as such bedding, but it is worth taking large sawdust and avoiding small ones, as the latter can clog into the nostrils of the Hanoverians. In addition, it is forbidden to use shavings as a bedding, which is a by-product of furniture production. The fact is that such waste contains a large number of various chemical impurities that can cause negative reactions in animals.

It should also be taken into account that such bedding must be updated regularly with a fairly high frequency - at least once a day. In addition, once every 30 days, the bedding must be completely changed, getting rid of the old one, which will protect animals and workers from harmful microorganisms.

In premises where horses are kept, there must be a feeder and a drinker. Animals should eat according to their schedule and diet, but access to water should be constant and unlimited. Remember to wash and clean your water and food containers regularly. In addition, a specially designed salt holder will become a convenient fixture.

As for the diet of the Hanoverian horse itself, it should be based on grass. So, according to the calculations of veterinarians, as well as zoologists, its share in the total food volume should be at least 80%. Moreover, in the warm season it should be fresh and clean grass, but in winter you can use hay.

A side effect of a positive nature from such food will be an improvement in the peristalsis of the body.

It is best to use cereal hay. It should be given to the Hanoverians in its purest form. However, if this is not possible, then bean, meadow or steppe hay is also suitable for feeding horses. Such food is best mixed with straw. With regard to the required level of consumption, according to general rule accepted that For every 100 kilograms of animal weight, approximately 2 kilograms of food should be provided. That is why it is so important to individually approach the preparation of the diet of each individual.

However, grass, as we said above, is only 80% of the diet. The remaining 20% can be distributed among other products. So, in the diet you can include grains crushed and steamed in boiling water (barley, oats, corn, wheat, legumes, millet), as well as fruits and vegetables. Horses need to be given special licks.

Important! To keep your horse healthy, don't keep him hungry for more than 8 hours. It is also important to remember that after training, the animal cannot be watered for one and a half hours.

Among other things, hygiene is of great importance in the process of caring for Hanoverians. So, as it gets dirty, the animal must be cleaned with a special brush against hair growth. You can also use a damp cloth.

After cleaning, the horse must be wiped dry.. It is necessary to comb Hanoverians to avoid matted tufts of hair. For combing the mane of horses, there are specially designed combs and massage gloves that can be purchased at zoological shops.

Besides, The horse needs to be bathed regularly. Bathing should be done with special detergents and a hose. However, make sure that the water pressure from the hose is not too strong. Otherwise, you will just scare the animal. Take care of your hooves too. They can be shod, but this is not necessary. One way or another, do not forget to clean the dirt from the hooves.

Breeding

Official organizations are engaged in breeding Hanoverian horses - this is the Hanoverian Tribal Union in Europe and VNIIK in Russia. It is worth considering their difference.

Domestic scientists base the breeding of horses on the principle of crossing two purebred Hanoverian individuals. A foal that is born as a result of such a union receives breeding papers. Moreover, regardless of how the newly born individual meets accepted standards.
Breeding is carried out differently in Europe. Abroad, Hanoverians can be crossed with individuals of any breed that have been licensed. If the offspring from such a union meets all the necessary requirements, then it is entered in the register of horses of the Hanoverian breed.

Thus, depending on the specific geographical location, the principles of breeding and reproduction will differ.

The Hanoverian horse breed was created by German breeders in the 18th century. Her ancestors were not distinguished by their attractive appearance and outstanding qualities, and modern Hanoverians are one of the most popular sports horse breeds. These horses are especially good in dressage and show jumping.

Origin of the Hanoverian horse

The ancestors of modern Hanoverians are horses of eastern and Spanish origin, which were crossed with mares that lived at that time on the territory of modern Germany. In the Middle Ages, they were used by knights and participated in numerous battles.

The history of Hanover began in the 18th century, when Duke George II of Saxony took the English throne.. The ruler himself was born in the Hanover region of Germany. He loved horses. By his order, a stud farm was founded there in 1724. The Duke bought several dozen stallions of Spanish origin, Mecklenburg, Holstein, Andalusian, and later Thoroughbreds.

On the territory of the Hanover factory, beautiful albino horses were bred, which were very popular among the nobility. These horses were used only for riding. They were not suitable for team work, as well as for work in the countryside. Over time, this breed has degenerated due to genetic mutations.

Then it was decided to revive and modify the breed by crossing mares with purebred stallions from England. The half-breeds were successful. By the middle of the 18th century, there were more than 50 breeding stallions at the Hannover stud farm. By 1800, the population had doubled.

During the Franco-Prussian War, the number of heads decreased. There was an active struggle for the preservation of the breed. Work on its revival continued at the end of the 19th century. In the course of selection, it was possible to achieve the desired traits - crossbreeds turned out to be large, strong, hardy. They were perfect for harnessing and doing hard work in the field, as well as for riding.

Attention! A stud book for the Hanoverian breed was established in 1888, and in 1910 the mandatory branding of breeding stallions was introduced.

A turning point in the development of the breed

If in the 18th and 19th centuries Hanoverian horses were used as faithful helpers in agricultural work, everything changed after the Second World War. Now mechanical engineering was actively developing, and the labor of horses was replaced by tractors and combines. In the 20th century, interest in equestrian sport increased, so the Germans decided to re-breed and modify the Hanoverian horses, to make them lighter and more frisky.

The breed was improved by the influx of fresh blood from an English riding horse, as well as Arabian Thoroughbreds and Trakehner horses. As a result, German breeders managed to create a truly unique breed. racehorses, which can compete even with the English horseback.

Description of the breed

The Hanoverian horse has a classic athletic body type. Her exterior is perfect in every way. The horses absorbed all the best from their ancestors - they received beauty and agility from English riding horses, strength and power from Trakehner horses, endurance and grace were inherited from the Arabs.

exterior features

Hanoverian horses look like English riding horses. Main characteristics:

growth is 1.63–1.68 m;
the body is muscular, proportionately folded, taut;
a medium-sized head with beautiful intelligent eyes and a straight or slightly humped profile;
the neck is quite long and has a beautiful curve;
the withers are well developed;
the body is elongated, the back is straight and wide;
the chest is very powerful, deep;
the croup is round with prominent muscular relief;
the limbs are dry and sinewy, long with short pasterns and very strong hooves.

The common colors of Hanoverian horses are bay, black and red. White spots are often present on the head and lower legs.

Character

Sports horses are inherent in perseverance and endurance. Such qualities help horses win numerous awards in competitions. Unlike English thoroughbred horses, Hanoverians have a balanced and complaisant character. They easily make contact with people and show humility.

Attention! The Germans scrupulously select individuals for breeding for a tribe, giving preference to stallions and mares with a balanced character.

Representatives of the Hanoverian breed are energetic, strong and hardy. Their movements fascinate with lightness and grace.

Breed advantages

The Hanoverian horse breed has several advantages:

has a strong immune system;
shows obedience, has a good disposition;
well passes on its characteristics to descendants;
easy to contact;
suitable for hippotherapy and horse riding training.

Reference. Considering the advantages of the breed, one cannot fail to mention the relatively low cost of horses.

Modern usage

The Hanoverian horse breed is used in equestrian sports. She excelled in dressage and show jumping. The breed is in the top three in the mentioned sports areas. Strong legs and a displaced center of gravity helps animals to easily overcome obstacles.

Attention! Representatives of the Hanoverian breed have repeatedly become gold medalists at Olympic Games, for example, in 1928 and 1964.

In addition to sports, stately horses are used for riding training. It is comfortable for beginners to deal with such horses, their movements are light and smooth, and the animals themselves are docile and good-natured. Hannover is ideal for horseback riding and hippotherapy.

German breeders have put a lot of effort into creating and preserving this horse breed. Now they can be proud of the result - Hanoverian horses are considered one of the best in the world in equestrian sports due to agility, endurance, strength and beauty.

A good sport horse is light, agile, energetic and obedient. It is these qualities of the animal that make it possible to achieve success in triathlon, show jumping, and dressage. Among the sports horses, the Hanoverian breed of horses takes pride of place. Representatives of this particular tribe have been confidently taking prizes in competitions of various levels for the last twenty years.

Horses of the Hanoverian breed repeatedly win competitions.

As the name implies, Hanoverian horses come from Germany. In its development, the breed has come a long way from a powerful and hardy war horse to a graceful and light jumping horse.

1735	George II of Hanover orders the creation of a stud farm in the city of Zell (Moselle) and sends 14 breeding stallions of Danish, Prussian, Andalusian, Neapolitan and Holstein blood there. The goal is to create a powerful universal horse. Horse mares were of local peasant origin.
1815	After the war with Napoleon, which reduced the breeding stock, German breeders begin to cross Hanover with English riding horses.
1850	Two branches are distinguished within the breed: noble (with an admixture of English and Arab blood) and massive (remains of the former form).
1888	Creation of a studbook and start of registration of Hanoverian horses.
1910	The beginning of the branding of the Hanoverians. The brand is in the form of the letter H, stylized as two horse heads.
1922 - 28 years	Creation of the Hanoverian tribal union and the beginning of tests of thoroughbred stallions.
Mid 20th century	The direction of selection is changing towards the creation of a high-class sports horse. Hanoverians massively cross with Holsteins and Trakehner riding horses.

Today, the population of Hanoverians is 20 thousand heads. The main method of working with breeding stock is purebred breeding. However, the genetic potential of other breeds is used from time to time.

A myth is associated with Hanoverian horses that they allegedly participated in the battle of Poitiers, which took place in the 8th century. However, the first mention of Hanover itself refers only to the XII century. The Hanoverian breed could not have appeared before the city after which it was named.

Main characteristics

Tribal selection within a population is very strict. Breeders make serious demands on the exterior, character, pedigree and athletic data of each Hannover admitted for reproduction.

Exterior

Tall horse - up to 175 cm at the withers. The body is elongated. The head is small, with a straight or slightly hook-nosed profile. The neck is high-set, with a beautiful bend, long. Oblique long shoulders, well developed, relief muscles. Legs are high, dry, straight.

The movements of the Hanoverian horse are smooth, sweeping, light, with tact from the rear. The step is even, without amble. Walk without waddling.

The suit is solid. It can be black or bay, less often caraque or red.

Hanoverian horses have excellent musculature, a flexible neck and high legs.

Character

Restrained and balanced, but energetic and "easy-going" horses. Gender behavior is clearly differentiated.

Breed use

The Hanoverian horse is one of the most popular show jumping breeds. The percentage distribution of these horses by sport is as follows:

show jumping - 60%;
dressage - 30%
equestrian triathlon - 10%.

The Hanoverians deserved such recognition due to their superiority over other show jumping and dressage horses in most body indices and measurements - height at the withers, oblique body length, chest and metacarpus circumference, tibia and metatarsus length, etc.