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Did you know how amazing the royal story and historical heritage behind the Kladdrub horse is?
The Starokladrubský kůň is one of the oldest Czech horse breeds with a long history and is considered one of the rarest horse breeds in the world. These horses have been bred at the Kladrubina Drabem National Stud in the Czech Republic for more than four hundred years and remain a national treasure of the country.
The Kladdruber horse was bred to meet the needs of the Habsburg court and become a noble ceremonial horse.
Breeding History
The history of Kladrubi horse racing can be traced back to 1580, when the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II founded the Kladroubi horse farm. This horse farm was established to breed heavy ceremonial horses, used to pull royal carriages, especially for use during important ceremonies and funerals.
The bloodline of the Kladdruber horse is a mixture of several different horse breeds, including Andalusian, Neapolitan, Danish, Holstein, Irish and Oldenburg horses. The combination of these horse breeds gives the Kladdruber horse a unique charm in appearance and character.
These horses originally came in many variations in color, but today are limited to gray and black, due to demands for royal ceremonies.
Not all Kladdrub horses have always prospered throughout history. During the Seven Years' War, the racecourse was also affected by the war and was forced to relocate to Kopcany, Slovakia and Anyde, Hungary. A fire in 1757 destroyed almost two hundred years of breeding records, which made later breeding work even more difficult.
Characteristics of the Kladdruber horse
Modern Kladdruber horses are mainly known for their noble characteristics, with the height of adult horses usually ranging from 16.2 to 17 hands. Due to long-term selective breeding, the characteristics of the Kladdruber horse have been relatively stable, showing the famous cape color and typical broad-chested body.
The bridge of the horse's nose is quite Roman-style, a result of the influence of its Baroque ancestors.
Horses with Kladdruber characteristics usually have a high and elastic step, especially at the trot. Horses have strong hooves, featherless limbs and a strong body, which are their basic physiological characteristics.
From racecourse to world heritage site
Over time, the Kladrup horses and their stables became not only a Czech cultural heritage, but also became part of the international horse culture. In 2019, Kladrupbi Racecourse and the surrounding landscape were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, further enhancing its status internationally.
The current use of the Kladdruber horse is mainly focused on carriage hauling and agriculture, and it has demonstrated its excellent endurance and stability in international gentle driving sports. At the same time, they are occasionally bred with other light horse breeds to produce horses more suitable for riding.
Looking to the future
As the Kladdruber horse gradually gains international recognition, more and more horses are shining in international equestrian events. Breeding excellence will continue as more attention is paid to the culture and history of the Cooladrup horse's habitat. And how can such a horse breed retain its unique essence and importance in the future?
