Swedish Arrennder

ARDENNER HORSE

Appearance
The Ardenner is a heavy, energetic horse that loves to work and has an extremely good temperament. It is manoeuvrable, average sized, long legged and broad. In Belgium the most common colour is roan coloured, brown and bay are more common in Sweden. Average withers height is between 155 and 162 cm.

History
The Ardenner was well-known and appreciated in Cesar's time and was introduced to Sweden in 1873 from Belgium.

Prevalence
There are approx. 9000 Ardenner horses in Sweden but the breed is on the decline. Approx. 625 breeding mares are used today.

Application and Production
This breed of horse is incredibly powerful at pulling and consequently dominates in agriculture and is used for general haulage. Some are used in forestry work in the south of Sweden.

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These large heavy and impressive horses are named after the plateau region, Ardennes, in south-eastern Belgium where the breed originates.
Julius Cesar discovered the advantages of the horse and used them as war-horses. Evidence of the horoughbreds' influence can still be seen as the Ardenner mares were paired with Arabian thoroughbreds and Berber horses during the crusades. Attempts to purify the breed during the 1800's succeeded, after overcoming many difficulties, into a pure breed line.

Three Ardenner studs were imported into Sweden at the end of the 1800's in order to develop a more powerful workhorse. This line was sustained and so, some years later, more studs and mares were imported, some 30 or so horses.
These horses form the basis of the Ardenner breed in Sweden.

However, unfortunately the demand for Ardenner horses has been effected badly by the motorization of the agriculture- and timber industry, but the Ardenner horse is still used in the timber industry. The breeders association "Avelsföreningen Svenska Ardennerhästen" is our oldest association, founded in 1901.

The Ardenner should be155-162 cm to the withers. They are brown, bay, black or roan. They usually weigh between 600 and 800 kg. The Ardenner is massive and heavy with a good capacity for work and has lots of energy. They have heavy heads, short muscular necks and a broad and deep chest. Their legs are short and powerful, with relatively little hoof hair.

Swedish Ardennes

COLDBLOOD

OVERVIEW
The purpose for creating the Swedish Ardennes was to develop a heavier horse than the native Swedish horses. Farming's popularity grew in Sweden in the late 1800s requiring horses to do heavier work than the native country horse could handle. Although modern mechanization has, for the most part, made farm work for the horse irrelevent, it is still popular as a cart horse.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Standing around 15 to16 hands high, the Swedish Ardennes is a medium build heavy draft breed. Although not exactly distinguished, the horse more than makes up for this lack through its good health, longevity and sweet temper. Its head is heavy with a smallish eye. The neck is short and thick. The back short, the chest wide, and the shoulders are well muscled.

ORIGIN
In an effort to create heavier horses in Sweden, the Count C.G. Wrangle brought the large Ardennes horse to the country in 1872. By 1880 most parts of south and central Sweden had imported or crossed Ardennes. These heavier horses were bred with the horse of the Swedish countryside. The resulting horse was very mobile and marked by longevity. So successful was the breeding effort that a stud book was opened in 1901.

INTERESTING FACTS
For years, the wild horse population of Sweden was indiscriminately crossed with other imported breeds. Even when studs began focusing their breeding efforts, however, horses were chosen more for their outer looks than well examined conformation standards. By 1874, this had all changed and examinations were required for a horse of Swedish Warmblood, Swedish Ardennes, and North Swedish Horse stock to be entered into a stud book.

INFLUENCES
1. Forest Horse 2. Ardennes 3. Swedish Country Horse

For more information:
Avelsforeningen For Svenska Ardennerhasten 571 61 Bodafors SWEDEN Phone & Fax: 0380-308 61