Dutch Harness Horse History

Horses of the Netherlands have a proven, world-wide reputation for excellence.

Approved stallion "Hoogheid", born in 1966.

The Dutch KWPN selection and breeding stock approval process,unrivaled among horse breeders, guarantees that only the finest individuals will become progenitors of succeeding generations. Improvement is an unwavering goal. Approval and registration is not an automatic license of heritage; each horse is admitted, advanced or rejected according to individual characteristics. Breeding is not accomplished as a right of gender, but by strict analysis of apparent and inheritable qualities.

Registration of Dutch Harness Horses, or Tuigpaards, is administered by the KWPN. The KWPN also maintains the records of the world renowned Dutch Warmbloods. Each breed, having its own individual criteria for characteristics, selection, approval and exhibition, is separately maintained.

In the Netherlands, the Dutch Harness Horses are bred to perform mainly in Fine Harness classes and Driving Competitions. Following the same traditions of all light horse breed development, the Dutch Harness Horse was developed to fulfill a need for a fancy, high trotting, upright show horse. The fanciest ancestral Tuigpaards were selected by Dutch farmers to lend distinction to their family outings, business trips and social gatherings. One's position in the community was once defined by the same type of horseflesh that turns heads today. The most beautiful, highest stepping horse was then, as today, a measure of prestige. Naturally, a degree of competition arose during these outings, for these early Dutch horseman were no different than their present day counterparts. When the automobile and tractor made horse transportation and the working farm horse obsolete, the exceptional Tuigpaard had, however, generated so much enthusiasm and pride, that breeders were quick to organize and concentrate their cooperative efforts. Tuigpaard breeders formed their own program and controls for mare and stallion selection based on presence, soundness and movement, including all types of horses that were suitable sources of desirable characteristics.

Approved stallion "Oregon", born in 1950.

Today's Dutch Harness Horse may have a pedigree of many breeds, for they have steadfastly maintained an "open" studbook whereby any horse may be used, as long as it is considered and proven "acceptable" according to the high standards of the Dutch. Over the last century, select Hackney stallions have been imported from England, and most Dutch Harness Horses today possess considerable Hackney blood. More recently several American Saddlebred stallions were approved for injection of Saddlebred characteristics into their gene pool.

Complements of REESINK HARNESS HORSES