…and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play, and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.
At one time, the Rhineland Heavy Draft Horse was the most numerous horse in all of Germany.
It is often called the “Rhenish Deutches Kaltblut,” the Rhenish Heavy Draft, the Niederschen Heavy Draft, or the German Coldblood. (1)
This stocky, blocky, German tank of a horse was developed in the latter half of the 1800’s for Ag and pulling purposes.
A studbook opened in 1892, having arrived at a point in its development with foundation stock contributed from Belgians, British Clydesdales, French Percherons and French Ardennes Draft Horses. (2)
The principle stud farm was located at the Prussian State Stud at Schloss (chateau, manor house) Wickrath, in Wickrathburg in Rhine Province, in the Kingdom of Prussia, 1876. (3)
World War II decimated the population and after the war, mechanization all but left the breed near extinction.
Wickrath Stud Farm closed in 1957, merging with a stud farm in Warendorf, Wesphalia.
Efforts began to save the breed and by 1975 there were 11 mares and 2 eligible stallions.
When Germany was divided after WWII, it wasn’t until 1989 that the breed could be looked at for future development with more than 50 years of lapsed time between the East and the West. (4)
Three sub-populations of the horse developed in the East: the Altmarkisches, the Mecklenburger, and the Sachish-Thuringische Kaltbluts, all. (5)
Kaltblut means Coldblood in German.
The western Rhenish German Coldblood is genetically distinguishable from these three sub-populations.
In 2007, the Rhineland Heavy Draft was listed as “endangered” by the FAO, the Food & Ag Organization of the United Nations, under “Category 3-red.” (6)
By 2013, efforts at saving the breed began to pay off and there were 1,173 mares and 149 stallions listed as eligible. (7)
They can still be seen in parades, hauling beer wagons and hay wains.
The Rhineland Heavy Draft originated in the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Westphalia region of Germany.
It comes in at 16HH to 17HH high and is considered a Coldblood. (8)
The colors are chestnut, roan, sorrel, and even bay.
These colossal animals are very drafty-looking, very large and are quite a rare breed. They have attractive, well-shaped heads with massive jaws, gigantic shoulders, short backs and substantial, giant rumps. They have short legs with slight feathering, thus giving them a tanky appearance and the good ones have a nice poll with considerable crests. (9)
Their temperament is amiable, willing, and kind. The Rhineland Heavy Draft Horses prefer moderate to cooler climate environments.
Nowadays, breeders seem to be focused on a more Warmblood-type of animal, known as a Rhinelander. (10)
This has been another look at rare horse breeds from around the world, with more to come next week.
Closing with the immortal words of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, “Happy Trails to You.”
1-7: Internet/ Wikipedia/ Equine Kingdom
8-10: “A Pocket Guide to Horses & Ponies,” by Corinne Clark, Parragon Books, 2007, Bath, UK