The German Black Forest Horse, also called the Schwarzwalder Fuchs or Schwarzwalder Kaltblut, is considered endangered and there are several breeders that are working together around the world to try to preserve the genetic pool to keep these magnificent horses from becoming extinct.
The first Black Forest Horses were imported into Washington, United States in May of 2001, only after the breeding stable, Black Forest Stables USA was able to gain approval from the German breeding association.
Currently there are approximately 46 state approved breeding stallions and 700 breeding mares recognized for the Black Forest Horse in Germany. Of the 46 approved stallions 30 are in private breeding programs and 16 are kept at the Marbach/Baden-Wurttemberg Stud Farm that is owned and operated by the State.
The Black Forest Horse is almost always a dark sorrel color with a flaxen mane and tail. The mane and tail are extremely thick, profuse and are completely striking in their length and beauty. The mane may easily hang down well below the lower line of the neck and the forelock may completely cover the face when not braided.
The Black Forest Horse is used for many different activities but rarely as an agricultural heavy draft horse. They are often seen as icons or symbols of Germany and may be used as driving and carriage horses or as mascots or symbols in parades, community events or even to pull wedding carriages.
The Black Forest Horse is a true coldblood with a gentle, even temperament. They make excellent riding horses and this dual role that the breed can easily perform has helped increase their numbers both inside and outside of Germany.
Both the Noriker and Breton horse breeds were used in the original development of the Black Forest Horse. While these two different breeds are a part of the Black Forest Horse, it is different than either and is a unique breed unto itself.
The Black Forest Horse can be traced back at least 600 years in Germany. They were ideally suited to forestry and logging work in the steep and harsh terrain of the Black Forest, hence their name.
There are six main bloodlines left in the Black Forest Horse breed, each is represented by a letter (D, M, R, W, F, V ) each letter designates the infusions or additions to the bloodline, with the F and V lines indicating the addition of Freiburger and Schleswiger breeds respectively.
Every three years in the town of St. Maergen in the Black Forest of Germany there is a "Rossfest" or festival of horses. Black Forest Horses are brought to the event to compete against each other and to choose the champion mares for breeding. In addition there are stallions on exhibit and several different events highlighting the versatility of the breed.
The town of St. Maergen is considered to be the true home of the Black Forest Horse and it is were the first studbook for the breed was founded.
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