Out in the paddock grazing is your magnificent Hanoverian horse. If you are lucky enough to own an excellent example of this breed, you would have acquired or obtained pedigree papers. These are coloured pink, hence the name ‘pink papers’. Pink papers are ‘issued by the Society for foals by licenced, performance-tested stallions, from Studbook mares’. These papers belong to the Breed Society and must go with the horse when it is sold or changes hands. Only if you have these papers can you call your horse a “Hanoverian”.
Just because your horse has Hanoverian blood in them, for example, your horse is the product of a Studbook mare or Licenced Stallion crossed with a non-studbook horse, it is incorrect to call your horse a Hanoverian or Hanoverian Cross. Depending on the breeding, your horse if registered, would be either a Warmblood, Derivative Warmblood, or may qualify as a Rhineland. This is another breed of horse. Like the Hanoverian, the Rheinish Warmblood originates from Germany and is a breed of sport horse. It was registered with the Rheinisches Pferdestammbuch until 2014, when the Hannoveraner Verband took over management of the studbook. In New Zealand, the Hanoverian Society manages the studbook.
There is no issue with saying your horse has a parent that is Hanoverian (if that is the case) and it is important to say which parent it is, however, when entering competitions or advertising your horse, the correct way to describe to your horse is with reference to the breed society it belongs to, for example, Hanoverian or Rheinland. If your horse is not registered to a breed society then it is properly referred to as a crossbred horse.
Hanoverians are mainly chestnut, bay, black and grey. Hanoverians are elegant, strong, and robust. They are bred to be willing and trainable, and have a strong back, powerful body, athletic movement, and strong limbs. For this reason, they are a popular horse to breed from and own and compete with. They are a very versatile horse. A Hanoverian has to go through rigorous testing procedures particularly stallions to become licenced so only the very best are approved, licenced stallions. This keeps the breed type strong.
If you are not sure how to describe the breed of horse you have, we are only too happy to help.
Happy competing.