Swiss warmblood

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Swiss warmblood
Swiss Warmblood 2.jpg
Important data
Origin:
Main breeding area: Federal stud in Avenches, Switzerland
Distribution:
Stick measure : up to 168 cm
Colors :
Main application area: Sport horse

The Swiss Warmblood (CH-Warmblood), also called (modern) hermit , is a warm-blooded horse breed that emerged after the Second World War. The most important crossbred Swiss breed is the Hermit ( Cavallo della Madonna ). Today the hermit can no longer be distinguished from the Swiss warmblood.

Background information on horse evaluation and breeding can be found under: Exterior , interior and horse breeding .

Exterior

The Swiss Warmblood is a large, calm, well-built horse about 1.68 m tall, suitable for all branches of riding. The selection and performance assessment procedures are strict. The stallions are carefully selected and have to take a performance test at the age of 3 ½ years and 5 years. The tests include jumping, dressage, cross country and driving. The conformation is important and the horses are only selected if the parents are performance tested. Mares are performance tested at the age of three and can only be registered if the parents are registered half-bloods.

Breeding history

Although the Swiss Army had cavalry for a long time , in the past Switzerland relied mainly on the import of horses. However, horses were also exported to France, Germany and even England in the 19th century. Nevertheless, horse breeding in Switzerland can be traced back to the Benedictine monastery in Einsiedeln as far back as the 10th century . The stables of the monastery are considered to be the oldest still operating stud in Europe. Today the focus of Swiss horse breeding is on the state stud in Avenches and the breeding of the modern hermit.

The continued existence of the oldest horse breeding company in Europe and Switzerland, the Cavalli della Madonna , is in danger today.

hermit

hermit

The origins of the hermit date back to the 10th and 11th centuries, the breed is based on the native Schwyz. Around 934, Provost Eberhard of Strasbourg came with a train into the Dark Forest, where the village and monastery of Einsiedeln are today. The first handwritten evidence of a large number of horses is a document from King Heinrich IV. From February 1064. In 1655 the first stud book was opened. After a few crossings of Spanish, Italian, Turkish and Friesian stallions, Father Isidor Moser compiled a second, extensive register in 1784.

Breeding experienced the greatest change after Napoleon's conquest of Switzerland . The generals of his army gave each other the most beautiful horses from the stables, so that after the withdrawal of the French, the breeding had to be restarted. In the 19th century, the breed was improved by Anglo-Norman mares and the Yorkshire Coach Horse stallion Bracken, imported in 1865. Later they switched to a mixture of Holstein / Normann crosses.

Swiss warmblood

After the Second World War, interest in riding and sport horses also increased in Switzerland. The Swiss Warmblood breed was born around 1960 and is bred at the state stud in Avenches. The stud symbol, the Swiss cross , also serves as a brand . Swedish and Irish mares were imported to Avenches in the late 1960s . The stallions used were just as varied, including Anglo-Normans, Holsteiners and Swedes, as well as some local stallions.

The most important bloodlines include those of the Anglo-Normans Ivoire (* 1957). Que d'Espoir (* 1960) and Orimate du Mesnil (* 1958). The Swedish warm-blooded horse Aladin (* 1964) was also very influential, as were the two Holsteiners Astral (* 1957) and Chevalier (* 1956).

Since the Avenches State Stud is very tolerant in the selection of stallions and, like the modern hermit, has thoroughbreds , Hanoverians , Swedish warm-blooded horses , Selle Français , and occasionally Trakehner , the number of imports is now falling.

swell

Individual evidence

  1. Heini Hofmann: Cavalli della Madonna - what next? The oldest horse breeding in Switzerland at a crossroads. (PDF file; 362 kB) In: DoXMedical. 1/2009, p. 30. Retrieved April 17, 2011.

Web links

Commons : Swiss Warmblood  - collection of images, videos and audio files