WATCH: ‘Winter In Marbach’

Germany’s five-centuries-old state stud is perhaps at its most beautiful in the stark contrasts of winter. Experience the sights and sounds courtesy of videographer Julien Guntz.

Screen shotScreen shot

Julien Guntz produces beautiful visual and auditory journeys for horse lovers to experience unique locations all over the world. (You can view a full list of his works by clicking here.)

His latest masterpiece is one of our favorites yet — we’re revisiting the German state stud of Marbach, steeped in 500 years of history, and making winter look absolutely exquisite.

Throughout its history, Marbach bred the finest horses to help influence local stock, depending on need: heavy breeds were introduced to bolster working horses, followed by general-purpose breeds suitable to both farming and carriage work as well as riding, to post-war sporthorses. The farm is now recognized as the establishing base for the Wuerttemberger warmblood, as well as host to a herd of fine Arabians as well as the Black Forest draught, all of which appear in the video above.

Marbach hosts breed inspections as well as offering boarding opportunities; another farm campus at St. Johann offers retirement for aged equines. Marbach has become synonymous in Europe with fine breeding as well as education for both the rider and the breeder; the farm also welcomes thousands of tourists each year.

We’re big fans of the work of Julien Guntz and we think you’ll agree that his video work provides an up-close-and-personal look at some of the biggest and best places our horse world has to offer.

This piece originally ran on our sister site, HorseNation.com.