Stables Germany: The Most Famous Breeding Stables & Horse Farms

A German stud farm is more than just a place where horses are bred — it is tradition, craftsmanship, and passion in their purest form. The most famous stud farms in Germany stand for decades, sometimes even centuries of horse breeding and have shaped the world of riding horses globally. Here are the most important addresses.

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State Main and Land Stud Celle

Schlenderhan Stud (North Rhine-Westphalia)

Schafhof Stud (Bavaria)

Hanoverian Association and Verdener Auctions

Trakehner Association and Marbach

Oldenburger Association and National Elite Mare

Where can you visit horse farms?

Frequently asked questions about German riding schools

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State Main and Land Stud Celle

Gegründet im Jahr 1735 von König Georg II. von Großbritannien (zugleich Erzherzog von Hannover) ist die Zuchtstation Celle eine der ältesten und bedeutendsten Warmblut-Zuchtfarmen der Welt. Auf den großen Geländen in der Lüneburger Heide werden jedes Jahr bis zu 100 staatliche Stuten — darunter Hannoveraner, Trakehner, Holsteiner und andere Warmblüter — gehalten.

Special feature: Annual stallion parade in October — public show of the state stallions
Visits possible: Guided tours, events, stallion auctions
Significance: Without Celle, the Hanoverian would not be what it is today

Schlenderhan Stud (North Rhine-Westphalia)

The Schlenderhan stud farm in Bergheim (North Rhine-Westphalia) is the oldest private stud in Germany, founded in 1869 by Eduard von Oppenheim from the well-known banking family. It has produced five German Derby winners and is considered the benchmark for thoroughbred breeding in Germany.

Thoroughbreds (galloping racehorses) as the main focus
Own racing colors: white with orange sleeves
Tradition for over 150 years without interruption

Schafhof Stud (Bavaria)

The Schafhof stud near Ampfing (Bavaria) is known for its annual Elite Auctions, where Hanoverians, Oldenburgs, and sport horses change hands for six- to seven-figure sums. Buyers from Asia, the USA, and the Middle East travel to the Schafhof auctions.

Focus: sport warmbloods, especially for dressage and jumping
Auction: spring and autumn elite auctions
Average auction prices: 30,000 – 300,000 euros

Hanoverian Association and Verdener Auctions

The Hannoveraner Association based in Verden an der Aller is Germany’s leading warmblood breeding association. The Verden Auctions (twice a year) are the most important horse auction marketplace worldwide:

300–500 horses per auction (stallions, mares, riding horses)
International buyers (USA, Japan, Saudi Arabia)
Price records up to well over 1 million euros
Live broadcast on the internet

Trakehner Association and Marbach

The Trakehner is one of the most noble warmblood breeds in Germany, originating from East Prussia (today Kaliningrad/Poland). The main breeding register is maintained by the Trakehner Association in Hamburg. The Marbach Stud in Baden-Württemberg, also the State Stud, operates one of the oldest Arab stud farms in the world and also breeds Trakehners.

Oldenburger Association and National Elite Mare

The Oldenburger Association (Oldenburg, Lower Saxony) is, alongside the Hannoveraner Association, the most important warmblood breeding association. Famous horses from Oldenburger breeding:

Totilas: (KWPN/Oldenburger Einfluss) — eines der teuersten Dressurpferde der Geschichte
Donnerhall Line: Distinctive stallion of German dressage horse breeding

Where can you visit horse farms?

Celle: Public tours, horse parade (October), Contact via landesgestuet-celle.de
Marbach: Public tours, Arab and warmblood mare inspections
Verden: Verden auctions are publicly accessible
Iffezheim: Race track with auctions and race days

Frequently asked questions about German riding schools

What is the difference between state-owned and private stud farms? State-owned stud farms are operated by federal states (Celle, Marbach, Warendorf), private stud farms by families or companies (Schlenderhan, Schafhof).
Can I buy a horse from a state stud as a private individual? Yes — through stallion auctions (Körungen) and occasional sales events.
Where is the best stud in Germany? Celle for Hannoveraners, Schlenderhan for thoroughbreds, Schafhof for sport horse auctions — all are “the best” in their segment.