- Hessen -

The Hessen horse breeding began at the courts of Hessen's dukes and princes, during the 15th century. The 'Dillenburger Ramsnasen', a cross-breed of native mares, Spanish, Neapolitan and Anglo-Arabian stallions bred at today's still existing State Stallion Depot at Dillenburg, became gifts for other royalties throughout the world. A couple of stallion depots have been founded by the dukes and princes. Those in the northern and middle part of Hessen were joined with the State Stallion Depot at Dillenburg in 1870. In 1957, the depot at Darmstadt, south of Hessen, was also transferred to Dillenburg. Now, there is a balance between the supply of high quality, state-owned, and private stallions. For a long time, at the Beberbeck stud farm, stallions highly influenced the Trakehner and Hanoverian riding horses, Later on, the Hessen breed became more of a workhorse.

During the 1950s, there was a change in the Hessen from the heavier work and carriage horse to the lighter, more elegant riding horse. The modern, today-version of the Hessen Riding Horse is based mostly on the successful genes of the Hanoverian, Westphalian, Oldenburg, and Holsteiner. All the major bloodlines are represented in the Hessen. The most famous Hessen horse of all times has been Hans-Gunter Winkler's legendary World Champion, and Olympic Champion, Halla. One of the first modern type sport horses to claim international successes was Floriano, who became a European Dressage Team Champion in 1987, and the worldwide highest prize money winner in the same year. Also there was the prestigious show jumper Intermezzo, who was, for a decade, the most successful show jumper in Belgium.

The Hessen is an excellent quality horse that can be used for many disciplines and levels of equestrian sports...such as show jumping, dressage, three day eventing, driving, vaulting, endurance, reining, or pleasure. The Hessen has a good temperament, expressive paces, and great jumping abilities. The major part of the breeding lies in the hands of rural breeders with extensive experience in horse breeding, that is quite often passed on in their families for generations.

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