Hanoverian horses have been around for centuries.
Today they are used for mostly sport, and carriage driving.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the history and characteristics of the Hanoverian horse.
So if you’re thinking about adding one of these beautiful animals to your stable, read on!
Hanoverian Horse Breed Info
Here are some of the key things you need to know about the Hanoverian:
| Height (size) | 15.3 – 17.2 hands high |
| Colors | All colors, but brown and chestnut-coloured horses are the most common |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Common Uses | Dressage, show jumping, eventing, pleasure riding |
Hanoverian Facts & Information (Breed Profile)
Hanoverian is a type of a German warmblood horse. It is not a breed of its own, but rather a warmblood type from Germany named after the region it is from.
The intentional breeding of Hanoverian horses may be traced all the way back to the 16th century.
Hanoverian horses were produced and developed for both military and agricultural uses.
The State Stud was established in Celle by George II, King of England and Elector of Hanover, in 1735.
He acquired stallions that were appropriate for all-purpose work in agriculture and in harness, as well as for breeding cavalry horses.
The stallions were of different breeds like the Holsteiner, Thoroughbred, Cleveland Bay, Neapolitan, Andalusian, Prussian, and Mecklenburg and they were crossed with local mares.
This stud, where the breed was first centrally registered, still exists today.
At the close of the 18th century, the Hanoverian had developed into a prestigious carriage and military horse.
At the start of the 19th century, stallions from English Thoroughbred and English halfbred lines were extensively used to improve the “Hannöversches Pferd” breed.
After a legislation was implemented in 1844 only stallions recognized by a commission were permitted to be used for breeding purposes.
After 1870, a deliberate effort was made to standardize the breed by taking into account local bloodlines and concentrating on producing horses that were well-suited for use as carriage or war horses.
In 1888, the Hanoverian Studbook was established.
The Hanoverian Association in Verden has been responsible for maintaining the breeding records since 1922.
After the end of World War II, the Hanoverian breed underwent a period of reorganization and restructuring, and the Hanoverian breed was improved further through the use of Trakehnen and Thoroughbred horses, ultimately leading to the breed’s current form.
Today, sport is the primary focus of Hanoverian horse breeding.
Hanoverian horses have historically been among the most successful horse breeds in the world in the Olympic equestrian events of dressage, show jumping, and eventing.
If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating breed, keep reading!
Alternative Names
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Temperament/Personality
Good-natured
Physical Characteristics
The head is dry and elegant with beautiful eyes and a friendly gaze.
The ears are long, and the nostrils are large. Their muscles are well-developed, and their physique is muscular.
The legs are very strong.
They are very athletic horses with harmonious gaits.
Colors
All colors, but brown and chestnut-coloured horses are the most common
Height (size)
15.3 – 17.2 hands high
Stallions
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Mares
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Weight
Around 1,400 lbs (635 kg)
Blood Type
Warm
Common Uses
Dressage, show jumping and eventing, pleasure riding
Health
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Popular Traits
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Feeding/Diet
n/a
Country of Origin
Germany
Ancestors
Local mares, Thoroughbred, Cleveland Bay, Neapolitan horse, Andalusian, Prussian horses, Mecklenburg