Aegidienberger Horse

Walter Feldmann, Sr. and Walter Feldmann, Jr. founded a new breed of horse in 1981, called Aegidienberger. The breed emerged from a targeted cross of Icelanders and Peruvian Paso. The Aegidienberger stands at a height of 140 to 150 centimeters, a strong, small horse, with a fine, straight head, lush curtain, and a low level of vulnerability to summer eczema.

The Aegidienberger is more similar in appearance to the Icelandic than the Peruvian Paso, according to the higher proportion of genetic makeup from the Icelandic. His body is harmonious, and well fitted to the neck in a natural erection. His head is strong, and his mane and tail are luxuriantly covered. He has a viable back, a powerful, often steep shoulder, and a slightly sloping croup.

Characteristics
The Aegidienberger stands in type between the horse and pony. From the Icelandic, it has inherited high stamina and resilience, as well as a lively nature, and from the Peruvian Paso, the greater height. Both breeds were able to bring their original slip resistance and the predisposition to canter and pass. Because of its great balance, the Aegidienberger is well suited for leisure and as a family horse.

Breeding History
In 1981, during a visit of the Peruvian Horse Championships by the Lords, Walter Feldmann, Sr. and Walter Feldmann, Jr. presented the cross of the two speed horses, Peruvian Paso and Icelandic. The respective advantages of both breeds were to be united in a breeding program, launching the Aegidienberger breed.

The breeding target was a corridor with great similarity to the Icelandic horse, which preserves the speed of the Icelandic, but with improvement to the canter and foundation. Greater height and a better tolerance to temperature were sought, along with the racial characteristics of the Peruvian Paso, which has an excellent, natural tolt and greater height, without the robustness of the Icelander.

Breeding methodology
The F1 generation was created through the pairing of a pure Peruvian Paso stallion with a pure Icelandic mare. This F1 generation was then crossed back in a mating with a pure Icelandic horse. The result was the R1 generation. This resulting generation was mated with the F1 generation. The end result was a horse breed that is 5/8 Icelandic and 3/8 Peruvian Paso.

The success was evident in the recognition as a distinct breed of horse (a very rare event) with the name Aegidienberger. The breed is registered in the Rhenish Pferdestammbuch and with various breeding associations, and was also recognized by the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Agriculture as a separate breed of horse.

Breed standards
The intersection of both breeds is as already described in the breeding goal. Through the influence of the medium Peruvian Paso, the Aegidienberger is cooperative, with grace and ease, a bundle of energy, and a natural tolt, and from the ruggedness of the Icelandic, it has a very strong foundation.

It is known that new crossbreeds are not completely consolidated genetically. They occasionally have descendants with properties of a lower level than the actual racial definition. These horses are used not in the breed, but are traded as riding horses.

In 2004, there were attempts to open the Aegidienberger breed line, allowing other breeds to be included in the breeding line. These attempts were met with widespread resistance, however, because the desired mix of 5/8 Icelandic and 3/8 Peruvian Paso would blur.