Courtyard main stud

The Brandenburg Main and State Stud in Neustadt (Dosse) is a real gem for equestrians and horse lovers as well as a jewel of Prussian architecture and stud management. It’s therefore a priceless cultural and historic heritage site. The Neustadt stud looks back on over 230 years of tradition in breeding and rearing horses. The history of the stud has always been closely interwoven with the history of the land.

The Neustadt stud is one of the few places that plays host to both a traditional state stud with stallions as well as a main stud with a herd of broodmares. Our breeders currently have access to 41 stallions of various breeds in active breeding condition – in particular the German warmblood but also Trakehners, thoroughbreds, draft horses, Haflingers and German riding ponies – across 10 stations in the counties of Berlin-Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt as well as from domestic and international sales partners in the form of fresh and frozen sperm. 35 elite and state premium mares form the foundations of our breeding programme with traditional and highly successful lines.

As a foundation under public law, the Brandenburg Main and State Stud is one of the largest studs in Europe. In terms of its structure and history, it is also a centre of rural development with importance both locally and beyond. Breeding and rearing horses, tourism and sport form the cornerstones of the foundation’s activities.

In 1788, the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm II gave his travel stable master Carl Graf von Lindenau the order to set up a stud for around 60 mares and roughly 100 stallions. That’s how the classically designed main stud – formerly the Friedrich-Wilhelm Stud – and the state stud – formerly Lindenau Hof – became the ‘best in the land’. All horses bred at Neustadt from then on were to exhibit speed, intelligence and agility – symbolised by the ‘snake and arrow’ brand.

The main building of the main stud, the castle-like stable master’s house, was the home of the currently serving state stable master up until 1945. He was responsible for overseeing horse breeding as well as all other equine matters. Today, the stable master’s house plays host to the stud’s administrative team.

The left wing is home to the historic stallion stable, where only the stud’s most valuable stallions were kept. Today, the wing is a coveted event and wedding location. The former apartments of the stallion groom now house the offices of the Brandenburg-Anhalt e.V. equestrian breeding association.

The right wing used to house the treasurer’s apartments but now plays host to the stud museum and library. The adjacent coach house is now used for tourism purposes.

The stalls in the inner courtyard, as well as the whole ensemble, are listed buildings that still house around 40 mares and their foals. The ‘38er stall’ located opposite still offers accommodation for young horses to this very day.

The two corner buildings in the courtyard contain flats for the stud foundation’s 10 trainees as well as holiday homes for participants in the riding school’s courses.