Horses in Germany

The equine sector in Germany is one of the country's leading sporting industries, housing the largest population of horses in Europe.

Germany is renowned for breeding sport horses, with the most distinguished animals originating from the Hanoverian, Holstein, and Oldenburger studbooks.

The German government actively supports and finances its equestrian industry at the European level; however, associations within the sector do not receive subsidies.

[5] Horse racing is managed independently by a national branch of the Jockey Club while trotting events are overseen by the Hauptverband für Traber-zucht e.V.

[citation needed] The warm climate, influenced by the Gulf Stream, provides a favorable environment for horse breeding in western Germany.

These studs act as stallions,[clarification needed] organize qualification events to evaluate breeding stock, and buy young foals yearly.

In the folklore of Lower Saxony and the Altmark,[10] the "Schimmelreiter" is depicted as an ominous white horse or rider, symbolizing maritime disasters that breach dikes during storms.

[11][12] The horse is also widely associated with notions of prosperity, luck, fertility, and good news, a legacy of the divinatory practices of hippomancy.

Jacob Grimm notes a Lower Saxon tradition of decorating the roof structure with wooden horse heads to protect against evil.