... and the conservation of semen, semen banks and administrative centres for pedigrees and data bases for micro chips. They are so important that we want to do everything within our power to ensure their continued existence throughout Europe.

For many centuries no controlled horse breeding took place. The mares were out together with the stallions on the large fields, watched over my riders who made sure that they do not stray away from a certain pasture or woodland area. The progeny was rather left to chance - or to the strong stallion. The young horses in the herd were caught and broken in after a few years.

Following the lead of Spain, this attitude began to change and there was increasing interest in allowing the best stallions to cover particular mares. This attitude dates back to the Bedouins in the Arabian Desert who had long since recognised the wisdom of such a system, because the pedigrees of Arab horses date back over centuries to foundation sires and tap-root mares. Either passed on by word of mouth or later inscribed on leather skins, this information constituted part of the tribes' most valuable possessions. Some of them are calligraphic masterpieces which are now exhibited in museums.

There was also another reason for the emergence of large studs:- the perpetual wars following the break-up of the Empire of Charlemagne required an increasingly large and powerful cavalry, in other words there was a lack of unridden young horses, so-called "Remonten". In order to be able to produce these more efficiently and in large numbers, horse-breeding became concentrated and more efficient.

Amongst the first renowned state studs which still exist today, are Lipica in Slovenia, Kladruby in the Czech Republic and Marbach in Baden Württemberg. In the years 1410 to 1500 there are the first stablings of mares and covering in hand (see below for more detailed information). Emperors or kings, sovereigns and other representatives of the nobility conducted horse breeding in grand style. It was the influence of the Spanish or Neapolitan horses which, as in Lipica, dominated the entire European horse breeding. 

In 1665 the French Sun King Louis XIV ordered his Minister of Finances Colbert to establish a state stud administration, thus establishing a direction which the whole of Europe later followed.

Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the private studs of the royal courts and the nobility were increasingly turned into state studs. The mares did not stand in individual boxes as is the case today, rather they had large open boxes in which they could move around well, where they gave birth to their foals, protected from the many beasts of prey which roamed Europe at the time. They spent the days out in the fields and the cold nights in the stables.

Then a very important element was introduced, the foals were evaluated and the best sires and dams were selected. This line breeding was the basis of modern horse breeding. The royal courts and the nobility exchanged horses amongst each other in times of peace or even paid some quite horrendous sums of money for good horses. In times of war horses constituted the most valuable form of booty.

Much had been learned from the wars with the Huns about changes taking place in the conduct of war and, as a consequence, attempts were made to breed lighter and more agile horses. For this purpose expeditions were sent to Syria and Palestine, in other words to the Near East, in order to buy Arab horses. In those days this was still a dangerous, long and venturous journey, as is documented by a number of very dazzling reports. These refining stallions are the basis of modern horse breeding in Europe, on which the English Thoroughbred breed later imposed yet another mark.

Friedrich Wilhelm I (1713-1740) manifested the leading power of Prussia by the establishment of the Prussian stud administration in 1732 and the foundation of the court stud of Trakehnen. 

All horse breeds in Europe are more or less interlinked in their pedigrees - this is why there is hardly any common cultural heritage which is more European than the horse.

It has, for example, Spanish, English, French, Slovenian, Polish, German genes in it - not to mention the Arab connection, of course. It is the result of the historic European development with all its wars and marital allegiances, its entire political amalgamation... and it has survived until the present day. Some special breeds, such as the black Altkladrubers or the Shagya Arabs, have only survived in very low numbers, others - such as the Lipizzaners, for example - have survived in abundance. 

In order for this to continue, all Europeans should ensure that the studs will continue to be financed and supported. because nowadays there is no longer a market for many horses if they do not happen to be great show jumpers or outstanding dressage horses. We have also imported so many horses from outside Europe, particularly Western horses, Criollos and Icelandics, that many European horse breeds must struggle for survival on their own home territory.

The state studs are trying to assure the continuation of their existence with a constant wealth of new ideas - from cattle breeding to the keeping of sheep, from training centres to carriage driving. Naturally artificial insemination and sales of frozen sperm are important topics in Western Europe, competition is strong however, and there is hardly a state stud which can exist without subsidies, a situation which automatically makes it directly dependent on the political situation in the country in question. Particularly in Eastern Europe, this has already led to the closing of some studs.

ESSA, the network of directors of European state studs has made it its mission to make the general public aware of the fact that the horses and the state studs in which they were bred are an important part of the European cultural heritage.

The photo exhibition with impressions of the state studs is to be shown at different equestrian sports events in order to show pictures and convey impressions to people of studs which in their entirety and beauty are indeed works of art.

ESSA