Knabstrup Horse

The Knabstrup is a breed of horse from Denmark, which is named after the Knabstrup estate in the Northwest Sealand. It is characterized by the spotted coat sometimes referred to as the Leopard complex. It is a popular horse used as a riding horse for both children and adults and is also recognized as the spotted circus horse.

History

The Knabstruphasten dates from the Napoleonic wars, specifically from 1812, when a Spanish officer, a prisoner who was said to have sold his brindle mare to a Danish butcher named Flaebe.

The filly was then called “Flaebehoppen” or Flaebes mare, and was probably a descendant of the famous Spanish horses. The Flaebehoppen resold the mare to a Danish judge named Lunn who was the owner of the Knabstrup estate in Northern Sealand.

The mare was used as the broodmare and was sought after because of her speed and endurance, and her offspring often inherited the spotted color.
In 1808 Flaebehoppen was covered by a stallion of the breed Frederiksborg and the offspring became the foundation to the breed of a line of spotted horses, mainly through his grandson, Mikkel.

Mikkel is now regarded as the breed’s ancestor and founder. During the 1880s, the estate was sold and the Knabstruphasten breed started to decline in numbers until 1933, when a Danish stud was founded for the breed.

In 1947, the Breed Society was working to preserve the spotted horse and was called “Foreningen til Knabstrupperavlens Fremme in Holbæk Amt”. The association’s work was successful and led to the Knabstruphasten increasing in number. The Breeding Society later had breeding success with the famous Knabstrup colt Max.

In 1938 the colt was shown to the Danish King Christian X, but the mechanization of agriculture and transport, decreased the number of horses around the world significantly.

As demand for horses fell so did the demand for the Knabstrup. Breeders began to realize that in order to save the breed, they had to form a nationwide association.

In 1970 they formed a “Knabstrupperforeningen for Denmark”. Today the Knabstrupperforeningen of Denmark is the original stud book of the Knabstrupperrasen and is thus considered as the official EU parent association, for the breed.

Attributes

The Knabstrup most distinctive feature is the spotted color, called the Leopard complex. Many of the Knabstruperhastar has a white background with dark brown or black spots.

There are Knabstrup in many color patterns, but the “normal” coloured are roans with brown and white or black and white. Many colours are not allowed in the breeding and the eligibility is determined by DNA testing, and the gene for the spot must be in the blood.

The modern Knabstrupen has a small, attractive head with the typical white sclera around the iris and spotted skin visible around the eyes, on muzzle and tail.

The Nose profile is often convex, outward curving. The neck is usually short, rather thick and slightly arched, while the shoulder is straight.

Their backs can sometimes be long and straight and considerably wide. The horse tends to be muscular and the legs short and strong. The Knabstrup is bred for four different types, the sport horse, the classical type, the pony type and the miniature pony type.

The classic type of horse has a more compact build with more rounded forms, and higher more energetic movements, and is used particularly in baroque riding.

The Pony type is popular among children, and is used as a riding horse for children.

The miniature pony type is the smallest, which is always below 104 cm and is used as a riding horse for children and as a show pony for its confirmation and agility.