|
|
|
|
|
„Experience Hanoverians“ is the motto, meant to emphasize that Hanoverian horses are also a perfect partner for pleasure riding. Hanoverian breeding and training farms that offer horses and/or different services especially for pleasure riders form the basis of this program.
These farms especially focus on
Lots of farms are situated in an attractive landscape, from the holiday island Foehr to the Lueneburg Heat and the Harz Mountains, providing offers for tourists, too.
As to the subjects “Raising and Training”, the Hanoverian Society has agreed on a co-operation with the well-known western and pleasure horse trainer Peter Kreinberg. It is the aim to include ground work training according to “The Gentle Touch®”-method in the training of young horses in order to prepare them the best possible way for their use as riding horse in the different disciplines. Many of our corporate farms offer this training method.
Hanoverian breeders do not only talk about the importance of considering riding qualities when deciding to breed a mare. Rideability, character and temperament are core values when choosing mares and stallions. These features are also of tremendous influence at the stallion performance test (70-day-test) as these partial scores make up more than 50% of the final score.
Mares are also consequently chosen according to their riding qualities. Year by year, approx. 1,200 young mares are presented under the rider at mare performance tests before they start their breeding career. Apart from judging basic gaits and jumper abilities, greatest importance is attached to excellent rideability.
The Lower Saxonian farms are regarded as the cradle of the Hanoverian breed. They are surrounded by vast grasslands and offer perfect conditions for horses to grow up. Before tractors conquered agriculture, mares were not only used for breeding purposes, they also had to earn their living with hard work on the fields. And they frequently participated at smaller competitions at the weekends.
Mares that refused to work or with a bad character were of no use. This is how the modern Hanoverian horse developed: It has been shaped by the close contact with humans over generations. It has an honest character, willingly works and matches different requirements and disciplines. Due to these favourable inner qualities, the Hanoverian horse is very popular all over the world today. And it is a popular breed for trekking and endurance riding, for hunting, conventional competitions and for the different riding styles.
Hanoverian horses are as suitable for outdoor raising as many other horse breeds. It is a common practice in the Hanoverian breeding area that foals and mares leave their stables in spring to spend the following months outside until they are stabled again and weaned in autumn. Yearlings and two-year olds are frequently grown up in herds on huge pastures, so that they have no problems to spend the winter months in big stalls in herds, too.