The South German Coldblood shares common origins with the Noriker breed of Austria, and the two breeds are sometimes considered an entity.[5] However, genetic analysis has shown it to be not only quite distant from the other German draught breeds,[4][6] but also to be clearly distinguishable from the Salzburg and Carinthian Noriker populations.[7] The differences may be attributable to Thoroughbred and warmblood influences on the South German Coldblood.[7]
In 1906 a stud book was established for horses of Noriker type in the Bayerisches Oberland [de], the upland region of central southern Bavaria that borders with modern Austria. From 1920 breeding came under Bavarian state control at the former State Stud of Schwaiganger at Ohlstadt; the stud book was closed, and an edelweiss symbol was adopted as a brand. At this time the lighter type of Noriker horse was known in Bavaria as the Oberländer, and the heavier type was called, as in Austria, the Pinzgauer; this distinction was dropped in 1939, and the name Noriker applied to all. In 1948 the present name, Süddeutsches Kaltblut, was adopted.[1]
The breeding population has remained relatively stable since 1997, when it was 2113. In 2013 it was reported as 1921 mares and 129 stallions, totalling 2050.[8]
Like the Noriker, the South German Coldblood is one of the few horse breeds to sometimes display leopard or "tiger" spotting.[2]
The South German Coldblood is particularly susceptible to the bone diseases osteochondrosis and osteochondritis dissecans. A study of 167 young horses averaging 14 months old found osteochondritic lesions in the fetlockorhock joints of 61.7% of the sample, and osseous fragments in 28.9%. The incidence in fillies was double that in colts, and symptoms were more often seen in horses a year or more old.[9] Three single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with osteochondritis dissecans in fetlock joints have been identified.[10]
These are the horse breeds considered to be wholly or partly of German origin. Many have complex or obscure histories, so inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively German.
