Knabstrupper

The Knabstrupper or Knabstrup is a Danish breed of warmblood horse. It is principally a riding horse, but is also used as a harness horse and as a circus animal.^[6]: 64 It is broadly similar to the Frederiksborger, but often has a spotted coat. In the past, injudicious breeding for this characteristic alone compromised its constitution and conformation.^[7][8] In the years after the Second World War the mechanisation of agriculture led to a sharp fall in numbers, and by the 1960s no more than 100 of the horses remained.^[9] In the twenty-first century it is an endangered breed, with a world-wide population estimated at little over 2000.^[2]

Knabstrupper

Conservation status	FAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 139  DAD-IS (2022): at risk/endangered[2][3]
Other names	Knabstrup Knabstrupperhesten
Country of origin	Denmark
Distribution	Denmark Australia Germany Italy[4]
Use	riding, driving, circus
Traits
Weight	average 500 kg (1100 lb)[2]
Height	154–162 cm[5]
Colour	usually spotted
Colour	usually spotted
Breed standards
Knabstrupper Association of Denmark
Equus ferus caballus

Characteristics

The horses usually stand between 154 and 162 cm at the withers;^[5]: 480 small or pony-sized ones have also been bred.^[10]

According to the Knabstrupperforeningen for Danmark, the EU-approved main organization for the Knabstrupper breed, the primary colouration should be spotted. Solid-coloured horses must only be bred to spotted-coloured horses. To be eligible for registration and breeding, a horse must also display one or more characteristics of striped hooves, mottled skin, and white sclera (white of the eye), though if still in doubt, the presence of the LP-gene may be documented with a gene-test. Horses with a grey gene, rat tail (sparse hair), or distinct pinto colourations are not eligible for registration or breeding.^[11]

A 2022 study found that Knabstruppers are predisposed to Equine recurrent uveitis.^[12][13]

Breed history

The Knabstrupper descends from a single mare believed to have originated in Spain who showed qualities of endurance and speed, and was of an unusual colouration: a deep red (German: Zobelfuchs) with a white tail and mane, and white flecks or "snowflakes" over her whole body and brown spots on her back.^[5]: 480 She was called Flaebehoppen, 'Flaebe's horse', because she was reportedly bought by a butcher named Flaebe from an officer of the Spanish army. He sold her to Willars Knudsen Lunn [da], who took her to his estate at Knabstrup Hovedgård in the kommune of Holbæk in northern Zealand.^[8]: 176 There, in 1808, after a month of testing of her working capabilities, he bred her to a Frederiksborger stallion.^{[5]: 480 [7]: 113} The stallion Mikkel, a grandson of this pair foaled in 1818, was a noted harness-racer and a foundation stallion of the Knabstrupper breed.^{[5]: 480 [7]: 113 [8]: 176} In 1971, three Appaloosa stallions were imported to Denmark in the hope of adding new blood to the Knabstrupper breed; only two of them were used, and many breeders preferred to cross-breed with Danish Warmblood, Holsteiner or Trakehner stock.^[10]

As of 2024, crossing Knabstruppers with other breeds such as Thoroughbreds, Arabians and other warmbloods may lead to approval, but crossing with Appaloosas will not.^[14][15]

Uses

The Knabstrupper has long been used as a circus horse, and is well suited to driving and equestrian vaulting.^[7] It is also used in dressage, show-jumping and eventing.^[8][16]