Skip to main content

Breeds of Livestock

Open Main MenuClose Main Menu

Two Schwarzwälder horses pulling a sled in the snow. Also Known By: Black Forest, Schwarzwälder Kaltblut, St. Märgener, Wälderpferd

 

This horse originated in the Black Forest in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is a small, hardy draft horse which is suitable for the highlands with it's long winters. It looks like a big Haflinger or a little Noriker. It is selected for work in farming and forest in hilly regions. Nowadays, it is also often used as a coach and riding horse. It is nimble and lively, has a good character, high fertility and has a long life-span. The color, which is a part of the name, is mostly sorrel with a light mane and tail. Most popular is the dark silver dapple (german: Kohlfuchs).

 

Height: 153-160 cm Weight: approximately 500 kg

 

A Schwarzwälder Fuchs horse pulling a carriage provided by Beate Milerski.In the Middle Ages there was a horse breed in the Black Forest. The old Noriker was selected for the special requirement of the highlands. In 1896 a breed-association and a stud-book were established to standardize the breed. They wanted the breeders to only use heavy Belgian Draft horse stallions in order to increase the size of the breed. But the traditional farmers secretly used native stallions. Many foals in this time got forged identity papers. In World War I the authorities finally noticed that the Belgians were not suitable for the Schwarzwald(farmers), so the farmers were allowed to use whatever stallions they wished.

 

A team of Schwarzwälder Fuchs horses pulling a carriage provided by Beate Milerski.In 1999, the number of registered mares is about 700 and stallions 45. The number is rising because the breed is very suitable as a leisure horse. In the stud Marbach/Weil (owned of the state Baden-Württemberg) are always about 16 stallions stationed.

 

More Information

Haupt- und Landgestüt Marbach, D-72532 Gomadingen-Marbach

Phone: 07385 / 9695-0

Fax: 9695-10

Email: poststelle@hu/.bw/.de

 

Pferdezuchtverband Baden-Württemberg e.v., Heinrich Baumann Str. 1-3, D-70190 Stuttgart

Fax: 0711 / 1665520

Email: verband@pferdezucht-bawue.de

 

GEH (society for the protection of old domestic animal breeds)

 

References

Beate Milerski, Theodor-Heuss-Str. 42, D-71735 Eberdingen,

Email: b.milerski@web.de 

MENUCLOSE