Gelderland Horse

Origin: Holland - Gelderland.

Height: Usually 15.2-16hh; occasionally taller.

Color: Solid colors. Chestnut and gray are commonest.

Character: Docile, good-natured and very active.

Physique: Somewhat plain head with convex face and intelligent ex-pression, carried gaily on strong, arched neck. Good shoulders. Compact,strong body, broad and deep. Powerful hindquarters, with tail set on highand held with exaggerated carriage. Legs short and strong, with shortcannon bones and hocks well let down. Round, hard feet. Stylish action,typical of a good carriage horse.

This attractive breed stems from a variety of sources, notably Andalusian,Norman and Norfolk Roadster. During the last century Hackney, Olden-burg, East Friesian and Anglo-Norman blood has been introduced and thebest of the offspring interbred in an intelligent campaign to fix a new breed.

The Gelderland makes a first-class carriage horse, combining presence,good conformation and an attractive, showy action. It is also capable oflight agricultural work. It is a pleasant horse to ride, and its power and thrusthave proved it to be an above-average showjumper.