Carrying itself with graceful elegance, the Georgian Grande is dependable, quiet, and calm—perfect for trail riding. International Georgian Grande Horse Registry
International Georgian Grande Horse Registry, Inc.
P.O. Box 845
Piketon, Ohio 45661
www.georgiangrande.com
The Georgian Grande horse has the graceful elegance and noble bearing of the Saddlebred perfectly blended with the size, good bone, and calm disposition of the Friesian or draft horse. The purpose of creating the Georgian Grande was to produce a breed that is a perfect blend of these great horses, having the best of both worlds and being better than either parent.
It has a natural self carriage that eludes description. Some call it presence, class, or style, but a superior air distinguishes every movement of the Georgian Grande. It is a proud, powerful, and vigorous horse, but it is always quiet and reserved.
Georgian Grandes grow large and stay sound. They are sturdy horses that are intelligent and alert, retaining the common sense of a working horse. They possess strength, beauty, and a good mind. Overall, they are extremely versatile and are good at multiple disciplines. In fact their movement is that of upper level dressage, and they are adept at jumping. On trails they are dependable, quiet, and calm; they also excel at driving. They are easy to train and very willing to work. Such are the abilities and qualities of the incredible Georgian Grande.
History
During the 1970s, a breeder named George Wagner Jr. started crossing drafts to Saddlebreds to recreate and bring back the original, heavier boned, bigger Saddlebreds of the historic past, which were more robust and sensible. One example of the original type Saddlebred was General Robert E. Lee’s horse, Traveler, which was Lee’s favorite horse throughout his many battle campaigns. Other examples would be the noble Saddlebreds ridden by officers of the U.S. Calvary during the American Civil War. Those were the old fashioned, bigger Saddlebreds of yesteryear, yet the American Saddlebred of today has had a lot of its original appearance bred out of it. Occasionally, an old-fashioned, or baroque, style Saddlebred can still be found, but most have disappeared from the equine scene.
With Wagner’s dedicated efforts, the original Saddlebred can again be seen, even nobler, calmer, and more beautiful than before, in the magnificent Georgian Grande. Its name means “George’s Great Horse,” and indeed George Wagner succeeded in producing a great horse after selectively breeding Georgian Grandes for thirty years. In 1994, the International Georgian Grande Horse Registry (IGGHR) was founded, and since then it has grown by leaps and bounds. IGGHR is now a member of the U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) All-Breeds Council, as well as the American Horse Council. As a USDF participating breed, Georgian Grandes are eligible to compete for the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF)/USDF/IGGHR All-Breeds Award.
The breed is becoming quite popular, as its many abilities are being noticed and appreciated. There are IGGHR horses winning in dressage, eventing, and show jumping, and they can be shown in English Pleasure, Hunt Seat, Hunter Hack, English Show Hack, Driving and Western Pleasure. They excel in Renaissance exhibitions and make wonderful and dependable trail horses for the entire family.
Just a few days old, this colt shows off his striking spots with the typical Georgian Grande presence. Flying W Farms
Registry Requirements
The acceptable blend to produce a Georgian Grande is that of the American Saddlebred with the Clydesdale, Shire, Percheron, Belgian, Friesian, or Irish Draught. Horses with a registered Georgian Grande sire or dam can be registered. Registered Drum Horses or Gypsy Vanner Horses can also be used for foundation breeding. Registered Spotted Draft Horses with a background of Clydesdale, Shire, Percheron or Belgian can be used for producing Georgian Grandes. Geldings can be a combination of Saddlebred and any draft breed.
No other light breed other than a Saddlebred can be crossed with a draft to produce a Georgian Grande. The percentage of Saddlebred blood may be up to 75 percent, but never less than 25 percent. In every case, the purpose of crossing the Saddlebred with the draft or Friesian is to produce offspring that are a perfect combination of both parents, but better than either parent individually.
Standards
Overall impression: The breed has grandeur and great power, yet very gentle and submissive to rider or handler. The Georgian Grande is a large, very impressive horse that commands attention wherever it is seen.
Conformation: The ideal Georgian Grande should definitely appear to be built uphill, carrying itself with deep hocks well up under the middle of the horse in movement. It should be in good flesh, with good muscle tone, and a smooth, glossy coat. Stallions should exhibit a masculine look, while femininity in mares is desired.
Size: Heights can range from 15.2 hands to 17 hands and taller. They weigh from 1,000 to 1,400 pounds or heavier.
Color: Any color is acceptable.
Head: The Georgia Grande has a well shaped head with broad flat forehead. Eyes should be large, luminous, expressive, and set wide apart. They can be any color; blue eyes shall not be penalized. Profile should be straight or slightly concave. Muzzle is relatively fine, but must have large nostrils and clean, smooth, strong jaw line. The ears should be expressive, well shaped, attractively set, and carried alertly. The bite is even.
Neck: The neck is one of the most important points of conformation in the Georgian Grande horse. It should be long and well muscled, denoting strength, suppleness, and power. It should be well arched and well flexed at the poll, with a good clean throatlatch. The throatlatch should be clean and fine enough to allow for flexion and “setting the head,” yet also large enough to allow for plenty of airflow during competition. The ultra-fine throatlatch of the pure Saddlebred show horse of today is not desirable in the Georgian Grande. Rather it should be a sensible blend of the ultra-fine Saddlebred’s throatlatch and the more practical, larger one of the Friesian or draft—in other words, a happy, commonsense medium.
Withers: These are well defined.
Shoulder: The shoulders should be deep, sloping, and well laid back, allowing for great freedom of movement.
Back: The back is strong and relatively short and supple in movement with well sprung ribs.
Croup: The croup is long, not table-top level, but slightly sloping; the tailset is high or moderately high. The hips are big, round, and powerful. The hindquarters should be strong and well muscled. The chest is proportionate to the size of the horse. The muscles of the forearms, croup, and gaskins are especially emphasized.
Legs: Front legs are set well forward under the shoulder. Rear legs are clean and correct, not cowhocked or sicklehocked. Proper angulation of the rear legs allows for good jumping. Feathering on legs is acceptable, but not required, and horses may be shown with feathering or with legs clipped.
Knees: The knees are large, flat, and clean.
Hocks: The hocks are large, clean, flat in front and at the sides, and wide from front to back. Rear hocks should be positioned so that a line dropped from the horse’s buttocks falls straight down the back of the hock and cannon. Legs should be straight with plenty of good, clean, flat bone. At maturity, there should be at least 9 inches (or more) of good, hard, flinty bone just below the knee (in circumference), and the more, the better. It should be noted that Georgian Grande horses are not fully mature until five to six years of age.
Cannons: Well made. When viewed from the side, should be flat and broad; tendons are well defined and tendons behind the cannon are firm and smooth. Pasterns are sloping.
Feet: Hooves should be of proper size to carry the weight of this big, beautiful animal. They are well built, round, open at the heel, and sound. May be shown shod or unshod.
This solid 17-hand stallion has the noble bearing of the Georgian Grande. International Georgian Grande Horse Registry
Mane and tail: Both should be naturally full and flowing. For show purposes a Georgian Grande may be exhibited with the mane braided. The mane may also be pulled for Hunter/Jumper classes (optional). Tail is always natural, never docked (like the draft) or cut (like the Saddlebred).
Movement: The walk should be supple and very energetic with good “overtrack” (overreach from behind), marching forward with good swing to the hips showing suppleness through the back.
At the trot, the ideal Georgian Grande horse should move with floating suspension (lift) and power from behind (impulsion). There is great flexibility in the loins and freedom in the shoulder. Above all, the horse must be able to get its hocks well up under itself from behind, (deep hocks). The horse must be able to bend the hock and stifle deeply, as well as set the hind foot well under its center of gravity. By bending the hind limb in this way, the horse lowers the entire hindquarters and thus appears to lift up the front end. The trot should be very light on the forehand, carrying most of the weight on the rear quarters, and exhibit good impulsion, suspension, and extension. The hind foot should actually contact the ground slightly before the front foot on the opposite side, (called diagonal advanced positioning or DAP). The front feet should not wing nor paddle, but move straight ahead.
The canter is balanced and round, with hocks well up under the horse. It should be a true three-beat canter, quiet through the back and unhurried.
Dressage and Sport Horse In-Hand Class
The ideal Georgian Grande is well proportioned and presents a beautiful overall picture. It carries itself with neck high and well arched, head up and ears forward, and every movement saying, “Look at me!” Large, wide-set expressive eyes and gracefully shaped ears set close together are positioned on a well-shaped head. The neck must be long and elegant with clean throatlatch. The neck is arched and well-flexed at the poll. A short heavy neck is to be penalized.
The horse has well-defined withers, while the shoulders are deep and sloping. The back is strong, and the hindquarters well muscled with a strong rounded croup. The legs are straight with broad flat bones and sloping pasterns. Georgian Grandes are built uphill (higher in front than in the back) and move that way. They have clean fluid action, which is straight and true.
The hocks are deep, and carried well up under the horse in movement, giving great impulsion from behind and lifting the front with beautiful suspension and extension at the trot.
Masculinity in stallions and femininity in mares are important qualities to be expressed. The Georgian Grande, with its conformation type, calm temperament, and stamina, is well suited for any discipline.
Horses should stand with front legs perpendicular to the ground. Front legs should be square; back legs should be positioned either squarely or with one slightly behind the other to give a clear view of the hocks. Horses should stand with ears forward, head up, and neck extended and arched. They are alert and attentive to the handler.
Horses are judged 50 percent on conformation and manners, and 50 percent on movement.
Serious conformation defects, such as an overbite, underbite, only one testicle descended (stallions) or any unsoundness, lameness, or similar conditions, are grounds for disqualifications. Manmade scars and blemishes shall not count against a horse. Excessively unruly behavior will result in disqualification in the show ring.
Performance Requirements
Age considerations: Horses are not considered mature until the age of six. Georgian Grandes cannot be shown under saddle until they are three years old. A Junior horse is five years and under. A Senior horse is six years and older. Georgian Grandes cannot be shown in any driving class until they are two years old.
Show aids: The application of any foreign or caustic substance, such as ginger, mustard, pepper, or abrasives, that could alter or influence a horse’s natural carriage, movement, or behavior is prohibited. The injecting of any foreign substance into a horse’s tail or ears, the cutting of tail ligaments, soring, or maiming of feet, or any such practice that would alter or influence a horse’s natural carriage, movement, or behavior, is prohibited. Uses of any devices or aides that alter the natural movement of the horse, such as chains, shackles, or rubber bands, are strictly prohibited in any competition. The use of color changing products on Georgian Grandes is prohibited, except for hoof polish. Gag and twisted bits of any type are prohibited.
The addition of supplemental hair in manes, tails, or feathers is prohibited. Georgian Grandes are to be shown in their natural splendor, with full natural flowing mane and tail for Open In-Hand classes. The exception is for In-Hand Dressage or Hunter class, for which manes may be braided or pulled.
Shoeing: Artificial lengthening of the hoof wall and use of any kind of material other than hoof packing or repair material is prohibited. The shoe is not to extend more than one-fourth inch beyond the hoof in front and beyond one-fourth inch of the bulb of the heel. Weighted shoes (toe, side, or heel weighted) are prohibited. The weight of shoes should be proportionate to the horse’s height and weight. Excessive weight or that which causes unnatural action/movement is prohibited. Bar shoes, caulks, pads, wedges, and bandages of any kind are prohibited.
Weanlings and yearlings must be shown barefoot. Horses over the age of two may be shown without shoes, or flat shod in pleasure or dressage type shoes.
Credit: International Georgian Grande Horse Registry, Inc.