Are you thinking of getting a horse and are you looking for a balanced, high-performance animal? Maybe a Rhinelander is exactly what you were looking for.
In the following article, you will find the most important information about the Rhinelander, their characteristics, and for which groups of people and requirements they are best suited.
Breed description
Rhinelander belongs to one of the youngest breeds among the German warm-blooded animals. They are a result of the breeding of Westphalians, Hanoverians, and Trakehners.
Today Holstein and thoroughbreds are also used for breeding. Rhinelander have their own brand that looks like the antlers of a young deer.
Size: 162-178 cm
Weight: 600 – 750 kg
Origin: Germany
Lifespan: 25-30 years
Color: All basic colors (fox, black, brown, gray)
Dressage, leisure time, competitions
Origin and breed history
Before there were tractors or other agricultural implements, horses were used to work in the fields and farms. In the German Rhineland, especially Rhineland cold-blooded animals were used for this purpose.
They were often used as draft and carriage horses and also when working in the fields because they were strong and powerful. As more and more technical machines were introduced in agriculture, Rhineland cold-blooded animals were no longer needed.
Therefore, after the Second World War, in the 1950s, a new and warm-blooded breed was bred in Wickrath Castle near Mönchengladbach.
At that time, sport and tournament riding became more and more popular and sporty, nimble and muscular horses were required for this. That was the hour of birth of the Rhinelander, as he is mostly known today.
The name “Rhinelander” simply comes from the breeding region of the breed, the Rhineland. Rhinelander quickly became known and appreciated. As early as the 1970s, they were able to take on well-known and successful German warm-blooded animals in tournaments.
The appearance of the Rhinelander
The Rhinelander is a real athlete and impresses with a muscular appearance and an elegant appearance. An expressive head shows something of its unique character.
The long neck is well-positioned and supported by a stable back and strong shoulders. The withers are well marked. Rhinelander is considered to be resilient, they have stable joints and appear robust. Rhinelander usually has a size of about 1.60-1.80m.
The noble-looking animals are bred in the four basic colors, i.e. brown, fox, gray and black. They move elegantly, lively, and with expansive movements.
Temperament and essence
Rhinelander is very willing to learn, hardworking, and willing. You still have the temperament and a quick grasp of things. Due to their versatile character, Rhinelander is used for all purposes.
They are suitable as leisure horses, as sport and competition horses, especially for dressage and jumping. Due to their graceful appearance, they look good and also convinced of their intelligence.
Rhinelander is friendly and balanced and are considered uncomplicated but still strong in character. Therefore, they can also be used well for working with beginners.
In short: Rhinelander are very versatile horses and convince with a balanced nature.
Husbandry and nutrition
Attitude
If you want your Rhinelander to be a successful competition horse, it is important that you train him regularly. But even as a recreational horse it is important to provide enough ride and exercise to meet the horse’s urge to move.
It is ideal if people from the Rhineland can go out into the pasture for several hours a day. This gives them enough exercise, fresh air, and sun, and they also get grass and hay at the same time.
That is why it is good if you place your Rhinelander near a pasture and also in an area where there are enough opportunities for horse riding and training.
Nutrition
The diet depends on the performance of the animal and the need is calculated individually. The weight, the area of application, and also the age and size of the horseplay a role.
If you are toying with the idea of getting a Rhinelander, it is important that you seek advice from the breeder or the vet about the appropriate amount of feed beforehand.
Education and care
Upbringing
Just like humans, Rhinelander also needs a good upbringing so that a healthy coexistence between humans and animals is cultivated. This training ideally begins with foals.
Because: “It is early to practice what a master wants to be”. Note, however, that you are dealing with an animal that perceives primarily through instinct and feeling. It is important to use a gentle, understanding tone and show respect for the animal.
Only in this way can it adapt to human behavior. If you yell at or hit your horse, it will never learn not to bite or kick.
So you are a role model for your horse in your behavior. In addition to the specific training, for example in jumping or dressage, there are certain principles that apply to every horse.
Basic things that every horse should learn include:
- Allowing touch
- To be guided
- Loaded onto a horse trailer
- Put on saddles, ropes, or halter
- Raise and scrape hooves
- Stand still when you get on
- Brushing, cleaning, and hosing down with the hose
Make yourself aware beforehand of what your Rhinelander should learn and follow a clear and consistent concept. When implementing it, it is important to be playful.
Remember to reward your horse with a treat every time it learns successfully because this is the most effective way of learning and memorizing the sense of achievement. You can find more tips here.
Maintenance
As with all horses, adequate and regular care is also important for the Rhinelander. In addition to the cleansing effect, cleaning horses is also beneficial and the muscles are massaged.
When cleaning, the fur is first brushed with a harrow in circular movements to remove the coarsest dirt. The loosened dirt is brushed off with a brush.
Then the fine dirt, such as dust, is removed with a grooming brush. After the fur, the mane, forelock, and tail are freed from dirt and cleaned.
You can do this with your hands or with a comb. Finally, the hooves are scraped out and greased. This is especially important as small stones could get caught in it and it is painful for the horse.
If you brush your horse regularly, you can effectively prevent many diseases. Regular mucking out and keeping the stable clean is also important for the health of your horse.
Health and Typical Diseases
If you consider the above points in relation to care and feeding, the Rhinelander has the best conditions for health and well-being.
Due to the robust and resilient joints, it is not particularly prone to injuries. However, it can lead to typical horse diseases such as colic, lameness, Mauke (bacterial skin inflammation), or thrush (bacterial hoof disease).
With the right treatment, the horses will quickly become fit and ready for action again. Other diseases of the joints and, for example, osteoarthritis usually only appear when the horses get older, from around the age of 20.
The life expectancy of the Rhinelander
Rhinelander has an average life expectancy of 25-30 years.
In some cases the animals get older – this varies as it does with humans and often depends on the previous illnesses the horse had and how it was cared for.
Buy Rhinelander
The price for Rhinelander varies a lot. It depends on how old he is, what diseases he has already had, what his level of training is, how talented he is and what breeding combination he comes from.
Rhinelander aged 3-5 years cost around $5,000-16,000. The purchase of a horse also includes transport costs, veterinary costs, saddle, bridle and reins, cleaning utensils, and, depending on the case, renting a stable.
You may also need items to equip your barns, such as buckets, pitchforks, brooms, and straw. Remember that you will also need food. As you can see, getting a horse is very expensive and needs careful consideration.
But you will benefit from a healthy and young horse for a long time to come and it will accompany you for a large part of your life.
Decision support
As you will have noticed, Rhinelander is a very lovable and promising horse. You will be fine with this if you have some experience with horses.
A young horse often still has to be trained, so you should already have some experience. When you take on older horses, things often get easier.
As a beginner, it is worthwhile for you, perhaps, first of all, to have a Rhinelander as a foster horse to get an impression of whether you can imagine it. Keep in mind that a horse costs a lot of money and that it takes a lot of time to care for.
Think about whether you can find the time to look after your Rhinelander every day, to feed and care for him. If you plan to compete, it is important to exercise regularly, and otherwise, horses need regular exercise.
If you live in a city, you should keep in mind that it is better to place the Rhinelander in a rural area.
Ask yourself if you are willing to take longer journeys to get to your horse. Or maybe you already know a lot about horses and would like to have a horse to train with.
Then a Rhinelander with his promising talents and personality traits might be just right for you. Get good advice when buying and check the documents carefully before you overlook something.
It’s worth taking someone with you who is very knowledgeable about horses. Perhaps you will soon be the proud owner of a noble Rhinelander and you will also have a good, lifelong friend.
FAQ on Rhinelanders
What should Rhinelanders be fed?
Rhinelander is versatile. Therefore, the diet should be adapted to the area of application. The best thing to do is to get advice from your vet.
How big do people from the Rhineland get?
Rhinelander reaches a size of 162 to 178 cm.
