Stutteri Kronplet

Horseman and ©:
Silke Frisch Branderup
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The stud farms stock of horses exists of pure-bred Knabstrup horses (both spotted and of one colour), which can be traced back to the 1600 century. Seeing that there unfortunately is not many of these Knabstrup horses left, we are considering to mix Frederiksborg horse with the same qualities.

The classic Knapstruphorse originates from a Spanish mare and a Frederiksborg stallion. Apart from that we think it is very important that the horse has natural bearing and we find it very important that the horse is teachable and sociable. We believe that many breeders today put to much importance on the exterior instead of the interior, for what use do you have of owning the most beautiful horse in the world , if it from lack of intelligence and bad temper is impossible to ride.

History

The horses that were to be found in Europe around 1600 - 1800 century was the result of several hundred of years of serious breeding. In Europe's early history they fought man to man on horseback and ones life was therefore depending on the horses skill to perform some of the training most difficult exercises.Therefore the result of the breeding work became a very intelligent and ready to collaborate horse with natural bearing, which should be the riding horse primary quality. Unfortunately most of the breeding work were lost at the same time as the riding horse purpose
disappeared in the end of the 1800 century, when it at the time was no longer vital to have a highly educated riding horse. In the military they no longer had use for a horse which lithely could perform the difficult training exercises but on the other hand now needed a horse that could run fast and therefore they mixed the stock with english thoroughbred to gain backward push from the hind legs instead of bearing. apart from that the horse was used in agriculture which made it to heavy to perform the academic training.
Unfortunately today many modern horse breeds has a tendency to offer backward push from the hind legs instead of bearing, what separates both the racehorse and the coach horse from the riding horse is that their primary goal is to offer backward push from the hind legs. If you like to read more about these fantastic horses which were to found in Denmark around 1600-1800 century, we strongly recommend that you read the book:
" Knabstrupperen, en dansk hesterace" written by Bent Branderup.

Breeding goal

There has existed spotted horses from prehistoric time, but only in recent time a race was founded, whose distinctive features is the spotted exterior:
The Knabstrup Horse.
Among the Knabstrup horse ancestors there where a vast number of spotted horses, that not only in response to this exterior features was popular, but also because they in so many context showed great ability and endurance.Major Villars Lunn on Knabstrup manor house founded the Knabstrup horse breed and managed as one of the few to see results of his breeding work in the form of a new horse breed, though it was based on centuries proud Danish breeding traditions.

Loke Af Kronplet

Exterior

The classic Knabstrup horse is a little horse around 155 centimetre (61 inch)
(various between 148 - 160 centimetre - or 58 - 62 inch).

The head is of medium size with an attentive and intelligent almost proud look.
The back of the nose is straight or with a faint convex. Has a good free throat strap. The neck is well set up, high set and appropriately long and goes back to the lance mark.

The body is square with sloping shoulders. rounded loin and a low disposition of the tail. the mane and tail are plumb. The foundation is light and dry. The movements are rhythmical and underneath moving with bearing in all gaits. The trot is spacious and with a high foreleg movement.
The gallop is combined as if the horse were going uphill.

Character and peculiarity

every spectator will by the first sight notice the exterior peculiarity of the Knabstrup horse - because of its colours.
That its interior, its character also is something quite special is often noted far to late. In which this peculiarity consist, is a constant source for discussion among owners of Knabstrup horses - because every horse is different from the other!
Everybody is in agreement though, that they never had such a horse before.

If you look a cat in the eye, it will often look down on you. Look a dog in the eye, it will often look up to you. If you however look into the Knabstrup horses "human eyes" you will experience, that you look each other straight in the eyes.
In doing so a partnership can occur, which is extremely unusual between horse and man. But if one neglect to practice one's authority, the Knabstrup horse get the supremacy - and then one has problems!

So it was earlier if anything the Knabstrup horses character than its quality or colour, that it for centuries made it such a popular race. these characteristics also made a fantastic sport - or recreational partner.

As a rider or owner one must be prepared to - as in all partnerships - to live with the partners peculiarity.
The Knabstrup horse is both in the positive and negative sense a distinct original. In the right hands it assumes its task with heart and soul, whether it is the high school or as a riding horse for children. In the hands of a careless rider it can be merciless in its demonstration of, who is the wisest.

(from the book: "Knabstrupperen en dansk race" by Bent Branderup).

Baldur aus der Schützenden Hand