Senner Horses in Moosheide Nature Reserve

The Senner horse is one of the oldest known horse breeds in Germany. In summer, with a bit of luck, you can watch the Senner horses here 🐎. Also very interesting for children.

The Senner horse is a light, medium-sized horse of the Anglo-Arabian type. It is elegant and spirited. All colors are possible. The height is between 159 and 165 cm. In the Red List of the Society for the Preservation of Old and Endangered Domestic Animal Breeds (GEH), the Senner horse population is classified as extremely endangered. The Senner horse is considered one of the oldest known horse breeds in Germany. Wild horses in the heathland of the Senne were first mentioned in documents in 1160. In the Middle Ages, Senner horses were a sought-after breed. Bernhard I of Oesede, the Bishop of Paderborn, donated a third of his untamed mares to the Hardehausen monastery, which he founded. When the wild horse population was recorded in 1493 on behalf of the wife of Count Bernhard VII of Lippe, the number of wild horses was 64, including 23 mares and 18 foals, which even then suggested good fertility. The stud farm, which had existed since the 16th century and is located near the Lopshorn hunting lodge of Prince Lippe in the Senne, was used for relatively controlled breeding and population monitoring. A wild stud farm existed until the early 20th century.From the end of the 17th century, Arabian thoroughbreds were crossed, and at the end of the 18th century, English thoroughbreds and Anglo-Arabs, which still determine the type of the Senner breed today.The animals were kept in the wild all year round until 1803, after which they were no longer kept outdoors in winter.The Breeding Association for Senner Horses e.V. maintains the original stud book for Senner horses in accordance with Section 7 of the Animal Breeding Act. For over 80 years, Senner horses no longer grazed in the Senne. Since 2000, some Senner geldings and mares have been used to graze on grassland in the Moosheide nature reserve in the Senne and kept on over 20 hectares of dry grassland. This project is intended to preserve the landscape, as their feeding and trampling behavior has influenced the vegetation of the heathland. On the other hand, the horses' characteristics should be preserved. Since the Senne landscape is very poor in nutrients and offers few water sources, Senner horses are very hardy and healthy. Source: Wikipedia

Here you not only have the opportunity to experience the Senner horses directly on the path, but you can also find out more about them on an information board.