The Gelderlander is a Dutch breed of warmblood horse. It was bred in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands as a carriage horse capable also of farm work. In 1965 it was one of the foundation breeds of the Dutch Warmblood or KWPN, the other being the heavier Groninger horse from the north.[3]: 462 [4] It is registered in a division of the Royal Dutch Sport Horse stud-book, which also has divisions for the Dutch Warmblood and for the Dutch Harness Horse.[3]: 462 [5]
In 1969 the Vereniging tot bevordering van de Landbouwtuigpaardenfokkerij in Nederland,[a] which registered the Gelderlander, was merged with the Nederlands Warmbloed Paardstud-book, which registered the Groninger, to form the Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland or Royal Dutch Sport Horse stud-book.[9]: 159 In this, three breed types were registered: riding horses (the Dutch Warmblood); harness horses (the Dutch Harness Horse); and the Gelderlander.[5]
In 2005 a new breeders' association, the Gelderlander Paard Associatie, was formed to preserve the original type of the Gelderlander.[10]
Characteristics
The Gelderlander is most often chestnut, often with extensive white markings;[9]: 159 skewbald colouring occurs rarely.[3]: 468 Stallions and geldings usually stand about 168 cm at the withers, mares a few centimetres less; average body weight is about 600 kg.[2]
Uses
The Gelderlander is much used in competitive carriage driving; it jumps well and reliably but is not fast.[9]: 159
Notes
^roughly "association for the promotion of agricultural harness horse breeding in Holland"
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gelderlander.
