Horse Breed

A close up head shot of a chestnut trakehner horse with a white blaze with its ears pricked forward - HQ Magazine

THE TRAKEHNER

Breed name: Trakehner Other names: The East Prussian Warmblood Horse of Trakehner Descent Purpose: Sports horses Size: 15.2-17 hands Coat colour: Any solid colour Place of origin: Lithuania Ancestors: Arab, Thoroughbred, Schweiken, Turkomen With an intelligent, willing temperament and athletic build with great agility, the Trakehner is a popular sports horse with an impressive international record. Originally from East Prussia (modern-day…

BylizzieNovember 14, 20250Comments

Horse Breed Horse Training

TRAINING THE EYE – HOW TO ASSESS CONFORMATION AND MOVEMENT

Whether you’re shopping for a youngster, evaluating your current mount, or simply seeking to better understand your horse’s strengths and challenges, developing an ‘educated eye’ for conformation and movement is one of the most valuable skills a rider or owner can cultivate. It’s more than just assessing beauty or elegance — it’s about predicting performance…

BylizzieJune 17, 20250Comments

Horse Breed

BREEDS OF HOY: THE SA WARMBLOOD

The South African Warmblood (SAW) is a relatively modern sport horse breed developed to excel in disciplines such as showjumping, dressage, and eventing. History The breed traces its origins to imported European Warmbloods—primarily from Germany, the Netherlands, and France—crossed with locally bred horses, particularly Thoroughbreds, to create a robust, athletic, and adaptable equine suited to South…

BylizzieApril 6, 20250Comments

Horse Breed

BREEDS OF HOY: THE THOROUGHBRED

The Thoroughbred is one of the most iconic horse breeds in the world, revered for its speed, agility, and endurance. The breed originated in England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, when three foundation stallions—the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Byerley Turk—were imported and bred with native mares. This selective breeding…

BylizzieApril 5, 20250Comments

Horse Breed Horse Channel

BREEDS OF HOY: THE NOOITGEDACHT

Text: HQ Magazine and The Nooitgedacht Breeders’ Society Even though the Nooitgedachter might not be as visually recognisable as the American Saddler, Arabian or Friesian, their non-visible traits are by far their greatest attributes. The Nooitgedachter is prized for his temperament, affection towards humans, hardiness, structural integrity, surefootedness, trainability, work ethic and absolute adaptation to the…

BylizzieApril 5, 20250Comments

Horse Breed

BREEDS OF HOY: DRAUGHT HORSES

Draught horses are renowned for their immense strength, gentle temperaments, and historical significance in agriculture, transportation, and industry. While modern machinery has replaced much of their traditional work, these breeds still play vital roles in farming, forestry, and equestrian sports today. Here, we explore the four well-known draught horse breeds that featured at Horse of…

BylizzieApril 3, 20250Comments

Horse Breed

BREEDS OF HOY: THE FRIESIAN

The Friesian, with its striking black coat, feathered legs, and unique movement, is one of the most recognisable horse breeds in the world. Originating from the Netherlands and classified as a light draught horse, the Friesian has a rich history and continues to captivate horse lovers globally, including in South Africa, where its presence is…

BylizzieApril 2, 20250Comments

Horse Breed

BREEDS OF HOY: MINIATURE HORSES

Whether you are a horse-lover or not, it’s impossible not to fall in love with Miniature Horses, and this week at HOY saw the Miniature classes get the biggest supporter turnout of all! Any Miniature Horse owner will surely admit that it’s not just the petite nature of these pint-sized equines that they love, but…

BylizzieApril 1, 20250Comments

Horse Breed

BREEDS OF HOY: THE APPALOOSA

The HQ Team were blown away by the exquisite Appaloosas on display at Horse of the Year 2025. Here we give you the low down on this unique and versatile breed. History The Appaloosa is a breed with a storied past, tracing its roots to the Nez Perce people of North America. The Nez Perce people…

BylizzieMarch 31, 20250Comments

Horse Breed

BREEDS OF HOY: SOUTH AFRICAN BOERPERD

The SA Boerperd is a distinctive breed with deep historical roots in South Africa. Developed by the early settlers in South Africa, the Boerperd is a result of crossbreeding between various horse breeds, including the Arab, Khoikhoi horse, Hackneys, and later, the Andalusian and Thoroughbred. Originally, bred for their endurance, strength, and versatility, the Boerperd…

BylizzieMarch 30, 20250Comments

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