Horse
Breed Description:
Also known as the Gelderlander, the Gelderland breed of horse is a light draft and carriage horse that originated in the Netherlands. It is a versatile horse, as it historically also served as a riding horse. Although not speedy, they are surprisingly good jumpers. The Gelderland also has an attractive high stepping trot. Gelderlands are heavily built, with large, relatively plain heads, upright shoulders, prominent withers, strong legs, and high set tails. The Gelderland breed of horse is not regarded as beautiful, but it is strong and easy to handle. The Gelderland horse is usually chestnut in color, with a wide white blaze on its face and often white stockings on its feet. Gelderlands also may be black, bay, or gray.
Temperament:
The Gelderland breed of horse has a docile temperament and is easy to handle.
Height:
The Gelderland breed of horse stands 15.2 to 16.2 hands high.
Health Problems:
The Gelderland breed of horse is not known for any breed-specific health problems.
Grooming:
The Gelderland breed of horse requires regular grooming. Routine grooming includes cleaning the horse's coat, combing out its mane and tail, picking out its hooves, and keeping its dock, eyes, muzzle, and nostrils clean. A hard-working, stabled Gelderland may require a thorough grooming each day, while one kept in the pasture may require only a light going over with a dandy brush.
Origin:
The Gelderland breed of horse has been bred in the sandy Gelder area of the Netherlands since the 1800s. Native mares were crossed with Andalusian, Neapolitan, Norman, Norfolk Roadster, and Holstein stallions to produce the Gelderland. In the nineteenth century, other breeds were introduced, such as the East Friesian, Oldenburg, Hackney, and Thoroughbred. As competitive sports horses gained popularity at the expense of horses used in agriculture, breeders tried to develop the riding-type characteristics within the Gelderland breed of horse.
In 1964, the VLN, which at the time managed the Gelderland studbook, opened a "sportregister" for Gelderlands that had been cross-bred with other breeds in hopes of creating the perfect "agricultural riding horse." Specifically, the sportregister was for half-Thoroughbreds; crossed back to a Gelderland or Groningen, the offspring of a sportregister horse was allowed to be registered as pure Gelderland.
In 1969, the VLN and the Groningen register (NWP) merged to form the Royal Warmblood Horse Studbook of the Netherlands. Within the studbook, three registries were formed: one for riding horses, one for the Dutch harness horse, and one for the Gelderland breed of horse. 