Forum rules
Each breed may have only one topic. The first post in the topic is to be informative. It should help explain the breed, and breeding goals; advice on how to select mares and stallions; and links to ideal Stallions available for breeding.
Keeping a directory of breeders working on the same goal is also helpful.
All new threads must be approved.
Each breed may have only one topic. The first post in the topic is to be informative. It should help explain the breed, and breeding goals; advice on how to select mares and stallions; and links to ideal Stallions available for breeding.
Keeping a directory of breeders working on the same goal is also helpful.
All new threads must be approved.
The Dutch Harness Horse
THE DUTCH HARNESS HORSE
Eebert - DHH stallion, photo (c) photographer
The Dutch Harness Horse is distinctive among warmbloods for its high action, and gaining popularity among those saddle seat aficionados who seek a larger, more substantial horse. They are traditionally shown with a braided mane and natural tail, and when shown in-hand often wear a white bridle without a cavesson. The hooves are usually allowed to grow longer than a riding horse's feet, but are never shod with weighted shoes. While the colors black, brown, bay and chestnut are most common, there are greys, true roans, and creme dilutes. Tuigpaarden are often very well-marked, and many have extensive sabino or rabicano markings. There are even some tobianos, though they are rare.
The expressive head is made up of straight lines and distinctly warmblood in type. It is usually narrow, long and quite dry, similar to the Saddlebred.
The neck is set on quite high, and the shoulders are uniformly long and powerful. The carriage of the head and the level croup with high-set tail distinguish the harness horses from their riding-type relatives. The longer back, more open loin, and flatter croup enable the hindlegs and forelegs to work independently and with great action. By comparison, the harness horse appears to stand higher off the ground.
Strict selection procedures mean that the Dutch Harness Horse is reasonably uniform in type and motion, and also means that the gait qualities of the horses are inherent. As the show horses are not asked to canter in harness, this gait receives less attention. The walk is diligent, but the trot is the true show gait. The forelegs are typically longer than the hindlegs - by design - and as such the horse will "sink" in the back and rise in the front. This quality is responsible for the powerful, active hind end and the great freedom in the forehand. These horses usually have a metronomic trot and ample suspension.
In comparison to the riding horse type, the Tuigpaarden are more hot and sensitive to the energy of a crowd. However, with the control of the stallion inspections, bad-tempered horses or those with poor constitutions are at the very least identified, if not culled outright. A dangerous stallion would never obtain breeding permission in the first place, and so the breed is reactive and courageous, but pleasant and kind.
USES
DHH stallion in harness, photo (c) photographer
While most Tuigpaarden are shown in special fine harness competitions, they have also made their mark in combined driving. Several of the teams at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games were Dutch Harness Horses. A few have distinguished themselves in sport, rather than show, though they are the exception. Some of the successful sport Dutch Harness Horses include Constance Menard's Lianca and Anneke Muilwijk's Atuur, both of which compete in dressage.The Dutch Harness Horse is unique from other high stepping trotting breeds in that it has strict shoeing rules for competition, the shoes must be within a certain width and thickness and no pads are allowed. This insures that the breed is sound and able to trot so spectacularly on its own accord, not because of special shoeing.
Of late, Dutch Harness Horses have been crossbred with Arabians in the United States to produce a more powerful horse for half-Arabian Saddle seat-style English pleasure, fine harness and "park" classes.
BREEDING
[ Przewalski Horse x Tarpan ] x Tarpan = Mongolian [ Tarpan x Mongolian ] x [ Tarpan x West African Barb ] = Sorraia
West African Barb x Sorraia = Carthusian
[ Sorraia x Carthusian ] x [ Sorraia x West African Barb ] = Andalusian
Forest Horse x [ Arabian x Andalusian ] = Friesian
Exmoor Pony x [ Exmoor Pony x Friesian ] = Galloway
Arabian x Turkmene = Akhal-Teke
[ Arabian x North African Barb ] x [ Akhal-Teke x Galloway ] = Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred x [ Arabian x Thoroughbred ] = Anglo-Arabian
Thoroughbred x [ Arabian x North African Barb ] = Cleveland Bay
[ Thoroughbred x Cleveland Bay ] x Cleveland Bay = Norfolk Trotter
[ Norfolk Trotter x Arabian ] x [ Norfolk Trotter x Thoroughbred ] = Hackney
[ Thoroughbred x Trakhner ] x [ Norfolk Trotter x Cleveland Bay ] = Holstein
Thoroughbred x Holstein = Hanoverian
[ Andalusian x Anglo-Arabian ] x Hanoverian = East Friesan
[ Andalusian x East Friesian ] x [ North African Barb x Thoroughbred ] = Oldenburg
[ Arabian x Oldenburg ] x [ Norfolk Trotter x Andalusian ] = Gelderlander
[ Friesian x East Friesian ] x Oldenburg = Groningen
Hackney x [ Gelderlander x Groningen ] = Dutch Harness
Re: The Dutch Harness Horse
STALLIONS AT STUD
MCh.++ Charcoal «α»
19.0hh / smoky black / tiger eye
not currently competing
15,635pts - $163,907
Top Rank: 14th
Fee: $3000
19.0hh / smoky black / tiger eye
not currently competing
15,635pts - $163,907
Top Rank: 14th
Fee: $3000
Ch. RH Thoughtful «α»
16.3hh / palomino / tiger eye carrier
actively competing in all disciplines
1,164pts - $18,164
+Intelligence+
Fee: $1000
16.3hh / palomino / tiger eye carrier
actively competing in all disciplines
1,164pts - $18,164
+Intelligence+
Fee: $1000