https://www.thepearmanranch.com/

I recently came across this breed when I saw a stable that trains them not far from where I live post some videos on Facebook. I instabtly was captivated by these beautiful high steppers. I would love to get them re-added if possible!

DUTCH HARNESS HORSE

The Dutch Harness Horse, or Tuigpaard, is a warmblood breed of fine driving horse that has been developed in the Netherlands since the end of World War II. Their studbook is kept by the Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland (Royal Warmblood Horse Studbook of the Netherlands) or KWPN. The breed is based on the native Groningen and Gelderland horses, which were formerly indispensable in agriculture and transportation services. Strict selection procedures and a clear breeding aim enabled breeders to produce a refined, high-stepping horse within a few decades. While with 40 sires and fewer than 2,000 broodmares the population is not large, Dutch Harness Horses are highly recognizable. In the past few years, a handful have come to North America, where they are used as sport horses and saddle seat horses alike.

The Dutch Harness Horse is distinctive among warmbloods for its high action, and gaining popularity among those saddle seat aficionados who seek a larger, more substantial horse. They are traditionally shown with a braided mane and natural tail, and when shown in-hand often wear a white bridle without a cavesson. The hooves are usually allowed to grow longer than a riding horse's feet, but are never shod with weighted shoes. While the colors black, brown, bay and chestnut are most common, there are greys, true roans, and creme dilutes. Tuigpaarden are often very well-marked, and many have extensive sabino or rabicano markings. There are even some tobianos, though they are rare. The expressive head is made up of straight lines and distinctly warmblood in type. It is usually narrow, long and quite dry, similar to the Saddlebred.

The neck is set on quite high, and the shoulders are uniformly long and powerful. The carriage of the head and the level croup with high-set tail distinguish the harness horses from their riding-type relatives. The longer back, more open loin, and flatter croup enable the hindlegs and forelegs to work independently and with great action. By comparison, the harness horse appears to stand higher off the ground.

Strict selection procedures mean that the Dutch Harness Horse is reasonably uniform in type and motion, and also means that the gait qualities of the horses are inherent. As the show horses are not asked to canter in harness, this gait receives less attention. The walk is diligent, but the trot is the true show gait. The forelegs are typically longer than the hindlegs - by design - and as such the horse will "sink" in the back and rise in the front. This quality is responsible for the powerful, active hind end and the great freedom in the forehand. These horses usually have a metronomic trot and ample suspension.

In comparison to the riding horse type, the Tuigpaarden are more hot and sensitive to the energy of a crowd. However, with the control of the stallion inspections, bad-tempered horses or those with poor constitutions are at the very least identified, if not culled outright. A dangerous stallion would never obtain breeding permission in the first place, and so the breed is reactive and courageous, but pleasant and kind.

American Dutch Harness Horse Registry: https://adhha.org/
Dutch Harness Horse Registry: https://www.kwpn.org/kwpn_database

Any takers?

BREEDERS:

• shadow fox
• Hanging Valley
• Vida

I'd be interested...

I do not need another horse breed lol, but I will help by pointing out that HP has had Dutch Harness Horses previously, so you only need 3 breeders to get them added back in!

I follow them on IG!! Though originally for Ivan, but all they post is great!
I sadly cannot commit to this breed, but you are lucky to live close by to some pretty impressive horses! :D

@hanging valley awesome :D thank you!

@mango yassss thank you, that will make things easier ;D

@bv god I know, all their horses are sooooo so beautiful and majestic 🤩

I will also start a couple pairs if they get readded :)

@vida yaaaassssss it's a go! Thank youuuu! 

They have been added! 

Thank you, Blitz!  

I love these guys :)  I first learned about them from ohkaytacos on IG/tik tok, who later created a whole rescue non-profit called "Colby's Crew" after the girl, Ally, pulled Colby from the shippensburg pen.  He has a pretty cool story :)

https://colbyscrewrescue.org/home

You're welcome!

@blitz thank youuuu 🙏🏻

I'm late to the chat but I am going to start them. They are gorgeous

Hallelujah! I legit was going to start a pair or two before the breeds were updated and switched about....but hesitated a week too late! Hooray!! 

:D commence the dhh stampede

I'm glad they are added back!

I do not need another breed, but these are beautiful!