Kinsky horse Australia

Also known also as the Bohemian Hunter and the Chlumec, the Kinsky Horse is a stunning sporting horse first bred in Bohemia in an area that is now part of the Czech Republic. The Kinsky Horse is thought to have originated during the 1600s, and has long been famed for both its appealing looks and sporting prowess. Many of the original Kinsky Horses were used as mounts for cavalry officers in Europe and is a rare breed today, with fewer than 1,000 horses currently found around the world. However, recent measures have been put in place to protect the breed, which is now considered protected under the law in the Czech Republic.

The history of the Kinsky Horse

Although the exact dates of the origin of the Kinsky Horse are debated, the breed may have first appeared in the 1500s. Historical documents mention a herd of horses running wild on the Kinsky Land in Bohemia and, in the 1600s, there was mention of the founding of a stud designed to promote the breeding of a superb working horse. Over the following centuries, the breed became renowned for its sporting and military skill, and became more closely tied with royalty. During the 19th century the Kinsky Horse became very prominent, with many such horses winning important events such as the European Grand National. Breed numbers started to decline in the mid twentieth century, however, when the USSR seized not only the Kinsky family estates, but also their horses. The breed, although available in the Czech Republic, North America and Britain, remains rare today.

Protecting the Breed

Because the Kinsky Horse bloodline became diluted throughout the twentieth century, the status of the breed was threatened for many years. Recent efforts have been made to infuse the breed's bloodline with Thoroughbred and Trakehner blood in order to breed horses with an appearance that meets the original breed standard. As the breed is now protected in the Czech Republic, these efforts have been made somewhat easier, although it is common for Kinsky Horse foals to be taken overseas, thus limiting the pool of horses available for breeding locally.

The appearance of the Kinsky

The Kinsky Horse is known for its unusual colouring, and it is in part the breed's stunning appearance that has made it so popular. Kinsky Horses are often golden or palomino in colour, although many are also chestnut in hue. This prevalence of golden coats is due to what is known as the “cream dilution” gene. The coat is not only typically golden in colour, but is also strikingly glossy and metallic in appearance. Very few Kinsky Horses have a black coat, and such individuals are considered to be very rare. Kinsky Horses are a medium-sized breed, and usually stand between 15.2 to 17 hands in height at the wither. The Kinsky Horse owes its current-day appearance to the influence of the Spanish, Thoroughbred, and Trakehner breeds.

Popular Uses

Kinsky Horses are agile and intelligent, and thus make a popular choice for a variety of equine sports and events. They have considerable stamina and are extremely athletic, and this combined with the fact that they can be easily trained, makes them sought after as event animals. Their Thoroughbred genes make them extremely fast, particularly at a gallop, and Kinsky Horses frequently participate in dressage events, show jumping and horse gymnastic events, hunting events, and polo events.