The Groningen Horse resembles its Dutch brother, the Gelderlander, only it is heavier and much larger. Though more compact that its ancestors, the Groningen still has a long and powerful body with a deep girth. The hindquarters are strong and muscular and the joints are enunciated and rounded. A Groningen's neck is short and the head is heavy with a pronouncedly convex profile.

Aesthetically, the Groningen comes in a number of colors, usually black, bay, or brown. White markings on the legs are also common.

Though the breed is dwindling out, particularly over the last century, it is still often used as a cross breeding horse. The Groningen type is desirable because it's strong, but also has a very calm, tractable, and willing personality. Like the Gelderlander, the Groningen Horse was originally bred with a firm focus on temperament.

The Groningen Horse is a man-made breed. Originally, the prototype was based on the Oldenberger and the Friesian, a large horse that was popular at the time, and the Groningen was a success. By the early nineteenth century, it was a beloved farm horse also used in coach and carriage work.

After the Second World War, the breed became more compact. It was an attempt by breeders to keep up with changing style preferences. However, due to the increasing mechanization of agriculture in the area, the Groningen's numbers began to dwindle.

In an attempt to revive the breed and prevent it from being assimilated into the Dutch Warmblood stud book, the official Groninger Horse Association, or 'Het Groninger Paard' was founded in 1982. As a result of strict breeding policies, the Groninger's numbers are growing again. Today, there are an estimated three to four hundred registered Groningers.

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Groningen - Horses for Sale