One of the most influential stallions in the development of the Brandenburger was Komet, a Mecklenburg horse that somehow was missed in the forced castration of all unapproved stallions in East Germany. This policy was designed to keep the state studs solely responsible for the breeding of horses in the country. He fathered several stallions that would also go on to sire many international show jumping champions including Kobold and Kobold l.
Horses have been a key part of the society and culture of Germany for centuries, with documents of horse breeding in the Brandenburg area dating back to the early 15th century. The modern Brandenburg Horse was not actually bred for specific conformation and ability until the 20th century.
Trakehners, Thoroughbreds, and Hanoverians have all been used to develop and refine the Brandenburger Horse. Many of the horses used at the current studs can trace their lineage back to the national stud farm at Neustadt/Dosse, which was founded by King Wilhelm II in 1788.
Poetin was a record breaking Brandenburger mare that won the 2003 World Young Dressage Horse Championship at the age of six. Due to financial problems of the owners she was sold at auction in 2003 for the record breaking price of 2.5 million euro. Unfortunately she had developed severe laminitis and had to be humanely put down just two short years later. Huge lawsuits ensued and are ongoing. Poetin was one of the few horses that has been successfully cloned, and a filly was developed out of the cloning and foaled in March of 2007.
Since 1990 there have been additional influences of Oldenburgs and Holsteiners into the Brandenburger line. This has lead to an increase in the genetic pool and the increase in size of the typical Brandenburger registered horse.
All Brandenburger horses must pass a very strict testing procedure to be allowed into the registry. All horses must be of approved crossing and bloodlines, and after testing with successful results can be branded and registered as a Brandenburger.
Competition level Brandenburger horses can now be found worldwide, and are some of the top placing horses in national and international level show jumping, dressage, and eventing competitions. They are known for their calm temperament when outside of the show arena and their dedication, athletic ability, and drive when under saddle.
Even though the Brandenburger is now a highly prized competition horse, the original purpose of the stud at Neustadt was founded with the intent to breed a dual purpose carriage style warmblood that would be capable of working on the farms as a light agricultural horse but also serving as a carriage horse and all purpose riding horse.
The association for Brandenburger horse breeders, called the "Verband der Brandenburger Pferdezchter", was founded in 1922 and worked to take the existing carriage type of warmblood horse and streamline them to make ideal mounts for the Prussian cavalry. Through continued refinement of the breed since the wars, this association has continued to promote the breed as a first rate competitive warmblood.
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