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Kladruber horse

Country Of Origin	Czechoslovakia
History and Background	The Kladruber (Czech Kladrubský kůň) is the oldest Czech horse breed and one of the world's oldest horse breeds. It is considered very rare. The main breeding centre is in National stud farm Kladruby nad Labem in the Czech republic where Kladrubers have been bred for more than 400 years. Kladrubers have always been bred to be a galakarosier - a heavy type of carriage horse for the court of the House of Habsburg. Bred in Kladruby nad Labem national stud, the Kladruber breed is almost 400 years old, yet is remarkably rare (492 mares as of January, 2011). Kladruby stud was founded in 1579 by Rudolf II as an Imperial stud, at the Perlstein stables. The breed was based on imported Spanish (such as the Andalusian) and Italian horses, crossed with Neapolitan, Danish, Holstein, Irish, and Oldenburg blood, in addition to the heavy Czech breeds. The animal was first developed to be a galakarosier; a heavy type of carriage horse used to pull the imperial coach, usually in a four- or six-in-hand, at ceremonies and funerals. It originally came in a variety of colours, including palomino and appaloosa, although today the breed is strictly gray or black, due to a breeding program requiring 18 "white" (i.e. fully mature grays) and 18 black stallions for various ceremonies of the court. The stud was evacuated during the Seven Years' War to Kopcany, Slovakia and Enyed, Hungary. Due to a fire in 1757, the earliest 200 years of breeding records were lost, and the stud was dissolved before the remaining breeding stock was brought back to a new stud in Kladruby. The surviving records show a particular influence by several stallions on the herd of gray Kladrubers: Pepoli: a gray who sired the colt Generale in Kopcany in 1787. Generale is thought to be the progenitor of all gray Kladrubers today, and he produced the son Generalissimus (1797) who produced a separate lineage. Maestoso (1773) and Favory (1779): born in Kladruby, became two of the six founding Lipizzaner stallion lineages. Favory returned to Kladruby after WWII, to add new blood to the decimated herd. Barzoi and Legion: Orlov Trotters added new blood between WWI and WWII. Rudolfo: A Lusitano from Portugal, added new blood after WWII. The herd of black Kladrubers had two particular influential stallions, Sacramoso (born 1799) and Napoleone (born 1845), and was regenerated in Slatinany. The black and white Kladrubers have several differences due to their breeding. The white is finer, more Thoroughbredish in type, and usually taller than the black. The black has more Neapolitan blood, and thus is heavier, has a shorter croup, a different head and neck, and a more "Nordic" look to it. Pepoli's bloodlines are still bred at the Kladruby Stud, but the herd of black horses sired by Sacromoso and Nepoleone was destroyed in the 1930s, after many of the animals were sold for meat. Despite the decimated herd, a few horses were saved and efforts have been made by breeders to re-establish their bloodlines at a new stud in Slatinany, at The Research Institute for Horse Breeding. Timeline of Imperial stud farm Kladruby nad Labem; 1491 Pernstein family purchased the Pardubice estate, later including Kladruby park 1560 Maxmilian II. (emperor since 1563) given the Pardubice estate with Kladruby park as a gift from the Czech estates 1562 Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor founded a Spanish horse stud farm in Kladruby 1579 Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor gave the stud farm an Imperial Court Stud Farm status 1757 Stud farm (with studbook documents) burned down 1770 Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor rebuilt the stud farm 1764 foaling date of Pepoli, founding stallion of the gray variety of Kladrubers 1787 foaling date of Generale, gray stallion 1797 foaling date of Generalissimus, gray stallion 1800 foaling date of Sacramoso, black stallion 1844 new Empire (style) stables built 1918 stud farm falls under governance and management by the new nation of Czechoslovakia 1922 Napoleone bloodline extinct 1995 Kladruber breed was designated a Czech Historic Landmark 2002 Kladruby stud farm and the basic herd of gray Kladrubers was designated a Czech National Historic Landmark 2005 Kladrubers serve on ceremonial occasions at Royal Court of Sweden and are used by mounted police of Sweden as well
Use Today	Carriage horse, Driving horse, Riding horse
Height	16.2 and 17 hands (65-68 inches, 162-172 centimeters)
Colour	Black, Grey
Characteristics	Modern Kladrubers are usually gray. They are suitable for light draft and agriculture, and can be seen at the international levels in the sport of combined driving. This FEI sport makes good use of the Kladruber's calm nature, endurance, and relative speed. The Kladruber is also occasionally crossbred with lighter breeds to produce a more suitable riding horse, usually for dressage. Due to their small gene pool and long history of selective breeding, Kladruber type is well "set" and they possess recognizable breed characteristics. Many of these characteristics, such as a prominent Roman or convex facial profile, have been retained from their Baroque ancestors. While the relatively upright shoulder, pasterns and hooves, long back, and short croup are not desirable in a riding horse, these qualities allow high-stepping gaits in a driving horse. The high-set, powerful and well-arched neck of the Kladruber was a trademark feature of their Spanish-Neapolitan ancestors, and contributes to their appearance in harness. A horse of substance, the Kladruber possesses a deep, broad chest and sound legs with large joints and hooves. Their legs are unfeathered, though the mane and tail are thick and flowing, and the features are lean rather than fleshy. All gaits, though most especially the trot, should have high action and elasticity with a clear cadence.
Personality and Temperament	The Kladruby is a vigorous horse with noble characteristics. It is a tough horse with great endurance.
Other Considerations	Kladrubers have traditionally been bred to be carriage horses. Although they are still used as driving horses today, they are also particularly popular in competitive driving, having won many championships, as well as in dressage. Their regal appearance makes them excellent ceremonial horses too. For example, in 1994, the Danish Royal Family bought a few stallions to be used in various ceremonies. Kladrubers are also used for leisure riding while their docile nature makes them excellent mounts for therapeutic riding.