Brandenburgers are a well-balanced horse with a lively
temperament, an easy to get along with character and little tendency to
nervousness.
Horse breeding was first mentioned in documents in the
Brandenburg March in the 15th century although at that point, there was not a
uniform or standardized breed. The development of the modern Brandenburger
sport horse during the mid-20th century was achieved by utilizing Trakehners,
Hanoveranians, and English Thoroughbreds. The national and state stud of
Neustadt/Dosse, which was founded by King Frederick Wilhelm II in 1788, had
substantial influence on the development of the Brandenburger.
Following reunification with the former German Democratic
Republic (East Germany), stallions from Hanoverian bloodlines and lines which
came via Redefin gained a big influence on the Brandenburg breed.
The stallion Komet who came from Mecklenburg, and who
miraculously escaped the enforced castration that was the rule for unapproved
stallions in East Germany at that time, later became a great sire and produced
a series of successful show jumping sires such as Kolibri by Kobold and Kogani
I by Kobold I.
Comprehensive blood rejuvenation has taken place since 1990,
through the newly-founded breeders' association. Since then, mainly Holsteiners
from the Ladykiller xx line and the Cor-de-la-Bryère-SF lines, but also
stallions from Oldenburg have gained predominance.
In 1999, the breeding stock encompassed 1,927 registered
broodmares and 76 sires. The Neustadt/Dosse state stud is the breeding centre.
This is where the stallion approval takes place in October every year.
Brandenburgers are to be found in all spheres of riding and
driving sports as well as in pleasure riding. Poetin, a Brandenburger mare, was
a successful dressage horse and sold for a record amount at auction - 2.5
million Euros.