Knabstrupper

The Knabstrupper is a Danish spotted horse breed shaped by nineteenth-century Danish breeding and leopard-complex coat genetics. Its patterns can range from full leopard spots to blankets, roaning, snowflake markings, or nearly solid coats, so the breed is broader than the bold spotted animals seen in many photographs. Modern Knabstruppers may appear in baroque, sport-horse, and pony types, and although they can resemble Appaloosas, they come from a separate European studbook tradition. The spotted coat draws attention, but size and shape vary by breeding section.

Owners use Knabstruppers for dressage, jumping, driving, eventing, therapy work, and recreational riding according to the individual horse's build and training. Breeding decisions need to weigh temperament, conformation, movement, and eye health as well as the inheritance of spotting. Pale skin around white-patterned areas can need sun protection, fly control, and careful grooming during bright turnout, but the horse should be judged first as a sound riding animal rather than a coat pattern.

Colors: Amber Champagne, Bay, Bay Dun, Bay Roan, Black, Blanket, Blanket Appaloosa, Blue Roan, Brown, Buckskin, Champagne, Chestnut, Classic Champagne, Cremello, Dun, Dun Roan, Fewspot Appaloosa, Flaxen Chestnut, Frame Overo, Gold Champagne, Gray, Grullo, Leopard Appaloosa, Liver Chestnut, Near-Leopard, Overo, Palomino, Perlino, Piebald, Pinto, Rabicano, Red Dun, Red Roan, Roan, Sabino, Seal Bay, Silver Dapple, Skewbald, Smoky Black, Smoky Cream, Snowcap Appaloosa, Snowflake, Sorrel, Splash White, Tobiano, Tovero, Varnish Roan, White