Rhenish-German Cold-Blood
 Rhenish on a German Stamp | |
| Country of origin | Germany |
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| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The Rhenish-German Cold-Blood is a draft horse which comes from Germany. This cold-blood was very popular in its heyday at the beginning of the 20th century, but now there are fewer uses.
History
The Rhenish was developed as a breed in the Rhineland less than 100 years ago. Local heavy horses from Rhineland, Westphalia and Saxony were used, but the main foundation stock came from Belgium. The Belgian horse was imported in large numbers to establish what was to become Germany's most numerous breed of heavy horses. Some Ardennes blood was also used.
The heavy horses of Germany now make up only 2% of its equine population. The Rhenish is one of four German heavy horse breeds (the others being the Black Forest Horse, Schleswig horse and the South German Cold-Blood), and its numbers today are very small.
Breed Characteristics
The Rhenish is similar to the Belgian, with a large, muscular body. Its head is plain, and the neck is short and strong. The body is compact, broad and deep, and the hindquarters are very muscular. The limbs are strong and short and have a fair amount of feather. They can be chestnut, red roan with flaxen mane and tail or bay roan with black points. They stand between 16 and 17 hands high.
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