365 Days in Horse Country – The Hanoverian
A member of the family of warmbloods, the Hanoverian is a
German breed originating in the former kingdom of Hannover. In the 1600s, they were used as warhorses,
and they went on to be bred to Spanish, Oriental, and Neapolitan horses. The horses that resulted from these breedings
were used as farm horses, riding horses and to pull coaches. These early Hanoverians had a much lighter
build than they do now.
As cars began to replace horses as transportation, breeders started working on making the Hanoverian into competition horses. As a result, Hanoverians are knows for being very athletic.
Standing 15.3 to 17 hands high, Hanoverians are strong, sturdy horses. They are most often seen in chestnut, bay, brown, black, and gray. They are most well known for their skills as show jumpers, although many are also used for dressage. Hanoverians have completed successfully in the Olympics.
Michael