Intro
Considered a half-bred, the Erlenbach or Simmental horse is an light saddle breed that comes from Erlenbach in the Simmental region of Switzerland.
Origins
Established in the 18th century as a solid cavalry mount, the foundation included stallions of several breeds, the most influential being Andalusian and Thoroughbred. In fact, in 1871 a black colt born to a Thoroughbred mare had perhaps the largest impact, lending the breed their signature black color.
Primarily bred for cavalry, they were loved in the Canton of Berne for their black color, as when mounted cavalry matched the canton’s banner colors. Their handsome conformation and homogeneous coloration also made them popular as riding and carriage horses.
During the 19th century their numbers began to decline, particularly as the railroad made transportation easier in steep mountainous areas. By the turn of the 20th century, local breeders had all but abandoned horse breeding in favor of cattle for cheese. While this breed isn’t listed in the DAD-IS, they seem to have gone ‘extinct’ by the early 20th century. However some small personal breeders continued to breed handsome black half bred riding horses in the Simmental and Ormont mountains.
Features
Average height 15-16 hands
Physique
Head is light
Eyes are large
Withers are well defined
Chest is broad
Back is straight and broad
Hindquarters are round
Legs are straight and muscular
Hooves are dark
Traditional Colors
Generally black
Temperament
Lively and bright
Use
Cavalry
Riding
Carriage horse