Tuesday 26 May 2009

spring - and something about the Frederiksborg horse






Extensive areas of forest in Northern Sealand are surrounded by dry-stone walls, like the one in the picture below. They were established for about a thousand years ago, when the Danish kings started to breed horses on the basis of imported Spanish horses. The walls were built to keep the farmers' less noble, free-range horses out of the fenced areas, and thus from covering the royal mares, not to keep the royal horses inside the fenced areas. The breed of the Danish kings later became famous as the Frederiksborg horse, the world's oldest, documented horse breed.



Bent Branderup on Frederiksborg stallion Zarif Lykkesager (picture stolen here - and actually taken in our indoor riding arena)

4 comments:

susan said...

Beautiful pictures, and beautiful horse. It's so nice to take a break from mental health issues, and world politics and the economy, and look at a lovely animal.

I honestly expect you to blog about our favorite filly, if she wins her next race.....

Give your guys a sugar lump from me and my cat .

Marian said...

Susan: After I'd posted this I scrolled down and realized that it actually is the third post in a row, that doesn't explicitly deal with mh issues, politics, or the like. Even if the post about Offret implicitly does...

Sometimes the shit simply gets too much and needs a counterbalance. I've had a lot of shit in the Danish blogosphere lately...

I'll certainly blog about Alexandra the Great! :)

Give Holly a pat from me.

Mark p.s.2 said...

Very nice pictures!

susan said...

Marian, I don't have your email address, but it's breaking here on the news that Rachel Alexandra is not running in the Preakness.

I am pretty sad about it. I am sure you can find it on the news......