Dutch Harness Horses

Description

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.

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