Without animals, people in the country house could not survive. Cows and chickens supplied them with milk, butter, and eggs, Pigs provided meat and fat, oxen and horses driving power. The animals belonged firmly to the agricultural circuit as their dung fertilized fields and gardens plant in order to provide nutrients for crop growth. Many masters even demanded the cow dung of their tenants so as to acquire a sufficient amount of fertilizer for their park.

Animals also contributed to a varied lifestyle: Dogs accompanied the masters when hunting and horses rendered possible the lords’ sport on horseback. But horses were more than a hobby – they provided mobility. Masters were willing to dig deep into their pocket for the animals: The count of Dillen used 120 kg of spelt every month to feed his dogs.

After 1900, horses received competition: tractors and cars. Nonetheless, the number of horses remained constant or even increased. In this video, Christoph Schlemmer explains why that was so and what happened to the other animals.

After 1945, agriculture steadily lost in importance and there were fewer farm animals in country house stables. Even if the owners still engaged in agriculture, they exchanged oxen and horses for modern tractors. Moreover, cars replaced horses as means of transport for good. Accordingly, horses turned from productive animals into a hobby which was beyond the means of many country house owners. Consequently, on many estates the stables stood empty. Only the general public’s interest in horseback riding changed this situation as the stables began to be used for amateur sports.