The Kladruber, also known as the Kladrubsky (Czech) or Kladrubian (German), is of Spanish and Italian decent. It shares common ancestral lines with the Lipizzaner and Western Horse, as well as Holstein, Irish, and Oldenburg horses, all which share common lines with the Andalusian.

The Roman Emperor Rudolf II, and the Czech King founded the breed in 1579. The stud farm in Kladruby was located at Perlstein stables in the Czech Republic. There it was bred as a heavy carriage horse for ceremonial purposes, typically in four or six-hitch teams. In 1580, another farm, Lipiza, began breeding the horses primarily for riding.

They were used for imperial ceremonies and the cavalry. White stallions were used for earthly, or common ceremonies, like when the royal family had a parade through town. Black stallions were used for clerical, or religious ceremonies, such as funeral parades.

The Kladruby studs were evacuated to Kopcany, Slovakia and Enyed, Hungary during the Seven Years' War. In 1757, the original stud farm burned, and the breeding documents and histories were lost. The stud farms in Kopcany and Enyed didn't prosper, and the horses were transferred back to a new farm in Kladruby several years later.

The breed is now bred in two primary places. Black horses are bred in Slatinany and the Czech Republic; white horses are bred in Kladruby. The breed is highly inbred, making it much more susceptible to disease than other horse breeds. They stand between 17-18 hands high, and weigh over 1500 lbs (700kg). The black line is slightly smaller and heavier than the white, due to differences in founding studs. There are currently about 700 of these horses in the Czech Republic. They are tall with Roman heads, and short ears, cropped as a foal. The Kladruber helped to create the Lipizzaner and Lusitano breeds.

These horses have made their way through 400 years of downfalls and progress, and are some of the rarest horses in existence. They are used for riding and in-hand carriage horses, but the breed itself is very versatile.

The Kladruber is a remarkable breed; loved by equine enthusiasts and breeders. Despite their dwindling numbers, the Kladrubers seem to be here to stay.