Upcoming Trade Shows in Germany for Horses

In Europe, no other country has as more an influential equine industry than Germany. In 2015, the number of equines, including donkeys, was estimated at around 1.2 million, positioning Germany as the country with the highest horse population in Europe. Naturally, what this means is that Germany is a global leader in sport horse breeding, producing world-class breeds such as the Hanoverian, Holsteiner, and Oldenburg. The climate in western Germany provides favorable conditions for horse breeding, particularly along the Rhine Valley. Germany’s breeding industry is supported by nine Federal Studs (Langestüt), managed and financed by the federal states (Länder). These studs play a vital role in the country’s breeding programs by providing stallions, organizing horse qualifications, and purchasing young foals each year. Currently, around 700 stallions are owned by the federal studs, making up about 20% of the licensed breeding stallions in Germany. Germany’s sport horse breeding sector is its strongest, with German saddle and sport horses recognized worldwide. The Hanoverian, Holsteiner, and Oldenburg studbooks are the most important and sought-after in the global equestrian market. The Hanoverian breed, in particular, has seen widespread success, with breeding programs extending to 12 countries. The Holsteiner and Oldenburg are bred in five and four countries, respectively. While sport horse breeding remains the focus, Germany also ranks fourth in Europe for purebred racehorse breeding, with approximately 750 foals born annually. In addition to sport horses, Germany is home to a variety of pony breeds. The Haflinger is the most prominent sport pony breed, with Huçul and Shetland ponies from neighboring European countries also found in large numbers. The diversity of Germany’s equine population extends to draft horses as well, although most are small breeds. The South German Coldblood (Oberländer) is the most numerous among German draft horses and the only one not considered endangered.