Leopard complex and Boxter from the protecting hand

Apparently, the most valuable color pattern when it comes to a horse is leopard. The genetic precondition is being called leopard complex and it emerges among only few breeds. One of the breeds is called Knabstrupper after the place in Denmark, where the breeding line has been founded. In Europe of the early modern days, it used to be a fashion and status statement among aristocrats and kings to have a perfectly trained horse. Spanish horses appeared to be the most capable of being trained to perfection so Spanish schools of riding has been founded - a kind of elite schools for horses. The most famous is the one in Hofburg in Vienna where Lipizzan horses perform some breakneck horse acrobatics for visitors. The second oldest one is in Bückeburg where this glamorous Knabstrupper named Boxter is one of the stars in the horse dancing ensemble.

Apparently, the ancestor breed of the Knabstrupper - the Frederiksborger has almost died out after the French Revolution. In the wake of leaving behind status symbols of absolutism the representative horses lost their popularity. The leopard patterned breeding line has been saved by a conservative Danish major Villars Lunn who collected all horses he could to renew the breed. In Knabstrupp.

Boxter from Bückeburg proves that major Lunn has done a good job. Sorry! The full name is: Boxter aus der schützenden Hand. Boxter from the protecting hand. I wish I had a whole day for a photo shooting with him but he is a star so I have to be happy that at least I had a glimpse!