The Hesse State Stud Dillenburg

The stud of the Orange city Dillenburg was founded in 1869 and has a chequered history that can be traced back to the 16th century. With some interruptions due to wars, Dillenburg has played a leading role in Hessian horse breeding for nearly 400 years. The breeding centre was initially the royal stud on the Schlossberg (castle hill) in Dillenburg. After being destroyed during the Seven Years War, it was rebuilt from the ruins of the castle. The elegant facade of the stud in Wilhelmstraße with its three late-baroque buildings was completed in 1770 and still exists today.

The stud premises initially served as the royal stud and stables of the Princes of Orange-Nassau. When the Hessian state studs in Weilburg, Kassel and Korbach were merged in Dillenburg, the result was the Prussian Hesse-Nassau State Stud. The “Princes’ House” became the home of the state stable master. In 1957, the State Stud Darmstadt was dissolved and merged with the Dillenburg stud.

Today the State Stud Dillenburg covers an area of ten hectares with a large parade area, five barns, two riding halls and a carriage museum in the historical orangery. With around 60 horses and 38 employees, including 17 trainees, organisationally it belongs to the Hesse Department of Agricultural Affairs in Kassel.

Its three areas of activity - stallion husbandry, state riding and driving school, and cultural tourism - shape the work of the state stud. With respect to the stallions available, the stud has enjoyed excellent cooperation with the Lower Saxony State Stud Celle since the merger of the Hesse and Hanover horse breeding associations.

The 5-star FN professional school for riding and driving training offers a comprehensive range of courses in general riding and driving sports up to advanced level, in school riding sport as well as horse breeding and keeping. The trainer courses are another important facet, and the stud offers leadership seminars for managers too. Most importantly, however, inter-company training for equine managers is offered all year round.

Approximately 20,000 guests a year visit the stud. The big traditional events include the International One-horse Carriage Tournament held at the beginning of June, the Stallion Parades and Open Day at the end of September (alternating every other year) and various other events. All information can be found at www.landgestuet-dillenburg.hessen.de.