Breed Registries | History & Origin | Uses | Conformation

Gelderlander History & Origin

The Gelderlander developed approximately 100 years ago in the Gelderland province of the Netherlands. They were bred by the local people primarily as a versatile farm horse, able to work on the farms, but also sufficiently conformed to make a good riding horse. The breed evolved from a rather mixed gene pool. The local people bred native mares to Andalusian, Norfolk Roadster, Neapolitan, and Norman stallions. There were then further infusions of Arabian, Anglo-Arab, Furioso, Holstein and Orlov blood. In the late 19th century, the breed was further improved by the introduction of English Thoroughbred, Hackney, and Oldenburgh blood. Rather remarkable, considering the diversity of influences, a fixed type did develop by crossbreeding the progeny, and this became known as the Gelderlander.

Gelderlander Uses

The Gelderlander is increasingly being used for competitive driving, at which they are very talented, many having competed at International level competitions. They also have very good stamina. They make good middleweight riding horses and are often quite athletic, possessing a good natural jump. However, they do lack speed.

They have great presence and elegance with a free-flowing action and a particularly stylish high-stepping trot. Numbers of the Gelderlander have somewhat decreased in recent years, as they are increasingly used to breed Dutch Warmbloods, which are a much higher caliber of riding horse.

Gelderlander Conformation

The Gelderlander generally have good conformation, with a long, sometimes plain head, and straight profile. The neck is muscular and gently curves from broad withers to the poll. The back is quite straight and long with muscular quarters, which are fairly straight from the croup. The tail is set and carried high.

They are broad and deep through the chest, and have muscular shoulders which can be rather straight. The legs are muscular and quite short, while proportionally often being long in the forearm, with good, strong joints, and very hard hooves. They are mostly chestnut, but can be bay, gray, or black in color, with white markings, and stand between 15.2 hh and 16.2 hh.

References:
- The Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. Tamsin Pickeral.