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History of the Dutch Harness Horse
Horses of the Netherlands have a proven, world-wide
reputation for excellence. The Dutch KWPN selection and
breeding stock approval process, unrivaled among horse
breeders, guarantees that only the finest individuals
will become progenitors of succeeding generations.
Improvement is an unwavering
goal. Approval and registration is not an automatic
license of heritage;
each horse is admitted, advanced or rejected according
to individual
characteristics. Breeding is not
accomplished as a right
of gender,
but by strict analysis of apparent and inheritable
qualities. |
Registration of Dutch Harness Horses, or Tuigpaards, is
administered by the KWPN.
The KWPN also maintains the records of the world
renowned Dutch Warmbloods.
Each breed, having its own individual criteria for
characteristics,
selection, approval and exhibition, is separately
maintained.
In the Netherlands, the Dutch Harness Horses are
bred to perform mainly in Fine
Harness classes and Driving Competitions. Following the
same traditions of
all light horse breed development, the Dutch Harness
Horse was developed to
fulfill a need for a fancy, high trotting, upright show
horse. The fanciest
ancestral Tuigpaards were selected by Dutch farmers to
lend distinction
to their family outings, business trips and social
gatherings. One's position in the community was once
defined by the same type of horseflesh
that turns heads today. The most beautiful, highest
stepping horse
was then, as today, a measure of prestige.
Today's
Dutch Harness Horse may have a pedigree of many breeds,
for they have
steadfastly maintained an "open" studbook
whereby any horse may be used,
as long as it is considered and proven
"acceptable" according to the high
standards of the Dutch. Over the last century, select
Hackney stallions have
been imported from England, and most Dutch Harness
Horses today possess considerable
Hackney blood. More recently several American Saddle bred
stallions
were approved for injection of Saddle bred characteristics into their
gene pool.
To learn
more about the Dutch Harness Horse visit www.dutchharness.com
or contact Gene or Erin LaCroix at 502-222-1795.
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