Almost all sites and magazines devoted to horse breeding decorate the photos of Dutch warm-blooded horses. These graceful animals possess not only excellent external data, which provides them with excellent photogenicity, but also show themselves with no less success in sports, winning the main prizes of leading world tournaments, including Olympic gold.
The birthplace of the breed of winners
The Netherlands has always been famous for its highly developed agriculture. The main source of income for this state is livestock and crop production. Most of this business is in private hands. More than two thirds of the population of the state of the Netherlands are known to be farmers. A competent economic policy of the country includes a number of measures to promote and strengthen this important sector of the economy.
In the homeland of the Dutch warm-blooded breed of horses, the question sometimes arises of limiting the number of private farms due to the saturation of the world market with their products. In emergency cases, authorities are forced to offer rewards to owners of large farms who are willing to give up their occupation. But, oddly enough, there are usually very few such volunteers.
Our brothers are no less
It is not surprising that the horse for the average Dutchman is not only a domestic animal and an indispensable assistant in the hard peasant labor. For residents of the Kingdom of the Netherlands - this is one of the main members of the family. The tradition of having stables close to home fully confirms this thesis. It is to this animal that the Dutch owe their stable well-being, based on a prosperous agricultural holding.
Universal Dutch warm-blooded breed of horses
The number of horses in the Netherlands is much larger than the population of this country. Even official statistics find it difficult to name the exact number of livestock of these animals. However, in the country where the Dutch warm-blooded breed of horses was born, there are practically no large stud farms. Breeding of this breed lies almost entirely on the shoulders of medium-sized businesses.
Initially, these animals were intended exclusively for agricultural labor, in which they were used for draft work. To improve the quality of the species, local horses were usually crossed with breeds imported from France and England. At the same time, progress in development also occurred by mixing the blood of animals from different regions of the Netherlands. Horses bred in regions with sandy soil had characteristics ideal for horseback riding, and individuals from areas where the soil is denser differed in their large size and more developed musculature.
Big sport
The offspring received from representatives of these two different species inherited the best traits of their parents. Thus, a new breed of Dutch warm-blooded horses was bred, perfectly suited for participation in equestrian sports, which was widespread in Holland, when the advent of agricultural machinery allowed freeing part of the livestock from working in the field.
Distinctive features
The following will describe the Dutch warm-blooded breed of horses. These animals are of medium height. Other features of the Dutch warm-blooded breed of horses:
- The breed is a carrier of a wide variety of colors. There are individuals, both dark and light in color.
- Representatives of the breed have equally well developed front and rear legs.
- Animals have a noble profile, inherited from purebred horses.
If you look at the photos of the Dutch warm-blooded horses, the following external features are immediately evident: unusually expressive eyes and neat brewed ears, large nostrils, a neck that has a thickening closer to the base.
However, the neck of these animals is distinguished by its grace, mobility and lightness. The muscular back has ideal contours for sports riding. In the description of the Dutch warm-blooded breed of horses, it is important to mention that the withers of these first-class athletes have subtle outlines merging with the neck. The loin is distinguished by its power with a rather wide abdomen, with ribs having roundings. The hind limbs are small for thoroughbred horses. This trait was inherited from purebred horseback.
Clean breed is not the main thing
Warmblood horses are a breed that combines the qualities of horses designed for riding in teams, and the features of riding horses. These animals are obtained by crossing several varieties with the properties listed above. The title of a sport horse has long been attached to the name of the breed. And this is not surprising. These horses are really good in almost all types of equestrian sports, as they possess the necessary running qualities, and they are also distinguished by such important properties as quick learner, calm disposition and speedy obedience to the owner.
At the same time, warm-blooded breeds cannot be considered as fully formed, since in order to improve driving qualities, infusion of fresh blood from other, mainly European relatives, periodically occurs.
Despite this fact, horses of the Dutch warm-blooded breed of black, pinto, pinto, gray and other stripes are always in demand and are indispensable participants in the vast majority of equestrian competitions. This variety is recognized as one of the most promising by most experts around the world.
The best of the best
Specialists involved in breeding horses of this breed, rely in their activities on the latest scientific research in the field of biology and are guided by carefully designed breeding programs.
The purposeful breeding of the variety began in the late 19th century with the advent of the first union of Dutch horse farmers. Then the ancestor of the Dutch warm-blooded was bred. This animal possessed the best qualities of two leading local breeds. Moreover, the advantages inherited from both sides have proved themselves to the highest degree. A horse possessed endurance unprecedented until then and extraordinary courage - an extremely rare trait of character for horses. Speedy qualities also exceeded the expectations of specialists.
Secret of success
To breed horses that have all the necessary qualities for equestrian sports, the Dutch horse breeders use an extremely strict selection system for individuals of both sexes. As a result of this, offspring are born that are distinguished by good health, excellent physical characteristics and external beauty.
The selection system applies to both horses and females. Mares of three years of age undergo a mandatory examination, as a result of which the most worthy are selected according to two indicators - external data, correctness and speed of running. The names of the best of the best are included in a special list. In this case, the horses receive a special brand with the image of the quality mark of the Dutch horse breeding - the lion. The dream of all Dutch specialists in this field is that their horses win the regional selection and become participants in a national competition. According to the conditions of this competition, each mare is awarded a mark for external data, as well as for the purity of the pedigree and physical form, demonstrated during the race.
Selection of stallions
No less stringent selection criteria are presented to horses. To be included in the list of male producers, it is not enough for a stallion to simply have spectacular external data and be well developed physically, it is necessary to show excellent results in competitions for several years.
Even after the name of the stallion was included in a special list, worthy of being a successor to the Dutch warm-blooded breed, he must annually confirm this right, passing additional commissions. Only males, whose contribution to the development of offspring is recognized as indisputable, receive the stigma of "selected." The highest honor for a stallion is to be awarded the “Preferred” mark. But such a title is received by a few units.
Maintenance and care
The Dutch warm-blooded breed of horses, like any other breed, is more demanding of conditions in relation to outbred horses. Currently, there are three known methods of keeping horses.
The life of horses in a herd is the closest way to the existence of a horse to natural conditions. Also, this method does not require particularly large costs. Horses live year-round outside of any room, in the open. Only pregnant and lactating mares are allowed to take refuge in bad weather in non-monumental rooms.
The rest of the herd finds shelter from the outbreak of the elements in the natural environment.
This method of keeping horses, although the most economical, is not suitable for areas with harsh climatic conditions.
Keeping horses in stables is the right solution for those who keep a small number of horses. In this case, cozy stalls are built for animals. Walking of animals on a specially prepared and fenced area should be carried out regularly.
For large stud farms, the ideal way of keeping horses is the way in which animals are kept in stables in the cold season, and in the warm season they go out for a long graze.
All three methods are suitable for breeding Dutch warm-blooded horses .
The following requirements must be made for equipping stables:
- The stable should be located in elevated places in order to avoid possible flooding in rainy weather and during floods.
- Finishing the inside of the stable is best done with natural materials.
Nutrition
What does the Dutch warm-blooded horse breed eat? This question, undoubtedly, worries horse breeders who are going to replenish their stables with new inhabitants.
This, of course, is important, because for all its endurance, this breed is extremely demanding on observing a regular diet and freshness of food for feeding. It should be remembered that no, even the best balanced diet is able to replace horse nutrition with fresh grass on grazing.
Bean crops can be added to animals that participate in sports, as these foods contain the right amount of protein.
However, it should be borne in mind that excessive overfeeding of domestic animals can negatively affect their well-being.
Before you start a horse of this breed, you should familiarize yourself with special literature on the topic "Dutch warm-blooded breed of horses and how to care for it."