With tradition into the future If the Oldenburg horse was popular practically only as a carriage horse in the old days, this picture has changed completely today. Oldenburg horses lead in all disciplines and are right at the top of international sports. The breed of the 'old' Oldenburg horse achieved fame throughout Europe under Count Anton Günther von Oldenburg (1603 - 1667) who was renowned as a great horseman and a supporter of the breed. The period following was shaped by three important events: the first stallion approval decreed by state lay in the year 1820, the introduction of a register of origins in 1861 and the foundation of two horse breeding societies by the Horse Breeding Act of April 9, 1897. These two societies merged in 1923 to form today's "The Oldenburg Horse Breeders' Society". The first measures to refine the breed were introduced in 1935 with the thoroughbred stallion Lupus xx and in 1950 with Condor. In 1959, the thoroughbred Adonis xx appeared on the scene who was quickly followed by other representatives of his breed. By the 60's, the turnaround in breeding towards the modern riding horse was well underway. Since the experience breeders gained with Condor was encouraging, Oldenburg stallion owners once again turned to French stallions towards the end of the 60's. Practically no other breeding area was able to achieve the success Oldenburg reached with stallions of French origin.
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