Horse Breeds: Warmbloods By PHPiaffe
Hanoverian Temperament: 2 – 6 (on a 10 point scale, with 1 being unflappable, and 10 being unridable) Uses: Dressage, jumping Origin: Germany. (The state stud is at Celle) Colors: Any solid, but chestnut, bay, and grey are common, with black and roan being least common. Defining Characteristics: Typically very well put together with uphill topline. Most are graceful movers with lots of natural impulsion. “D” line Hanoverians are known as dressage horses, “A” line are typically jumpers, but all are versatile and most stallions compete in dressage and jumping as young horses. Famous Horses:
Flim Flam Holsteiner Size: 16.2-17hh Temperament: 3-6 Uses: Jumping, dressage, driving Origin: Germany Colors: usually bay, but any solid. Defining Characteristics: Most Holsteiners have a very expressive canter, but lack impulsion at the trot. They are typically excellent jumpers and have also made their mark on the dressage world, though some lines have notoriously difficult temperaments. Famous Horses:
Cabaret (Leading sire of dressage horses until his death in 2000)
Dutch Warmblood Size: 16-17 hh Temperament: 1-6 Uses: Dressage, jumping, carriage work Origin: Holland Colors: Any solid, except for the Samber line, which is pinto. (In the US, this is Art Deco and his offspring.) Defining Characteristics: Dutch warmbloods are predominately good tempered, well put together horses that excel in whatever discipline that is chosen for them. They have made their mark in all disciplines and Olympic events from the 1930s to the present. Famous Horses:
Roemer: Dressage (the only preferrent stallion in the US until his death in 1995) Friesian Temperament: 2-6 Uses: Dressage, driving, trick training, jumping Origin: Holland, Germany (studbook is now kept in Germany, the FPZ) Color: Always black Defining Characteristics: There are three distinct types of Friesian: Baroque, which is more upright, with higher action and more feathering, heavier mane and tail; Traditional, which is heavier and more “drafty,” usually used for driving; and Sport Horse, which is used for all types of riding and driving. They are very versatile and tend to have equitable temperaments and a good work ethic. Famous Horses: Jorrit: #1 USDF All Breeds Grand Prix (for Friesians) 2001, #4 USDF All Breeds Grand Prix (overall) 2001 Swedish Warmblood Size: 16-17hh Temperament: 2-6 Uses: Dressage, jumping, driving Origin: Sweden Color: All solid, predominantly chestnut. Defining Characteristics: One of the “younger” warmblood breeds, so true “type” is not quite defined. Most have solid movement, but temperament and conformation are highly variable within the breed. Famous Horses:
Ameral: Only stallion ever to receive a perfect 10 for gaits at his 100 days testing. Trakhener Temperament: 4-10 Size: 16-17.2hh Uses: Jumping, dressage, eventing Origin: Poland/East Prussia Color: any solid. Defining Characteristics: Most Trakheners have nice movement with good push from behind. Temperament overall in the breed tends to range from merely stubborn to truly difficult, however there are some that are lovely in movement and temperament. Most possess a strong competitive drive owing perhaps to the large amount of Thoroughbred blood most carry. Incidentally, this is the only warmblood studbook still “open” in an attempt to further refine and define the Trakhener breed. Famous Horses:
Abdullah: Jumper, won Olympic Silver with Conrad Homfield Oldenburg Size: 16-17.2hh Temperament: 2-6 Uses: Jumping, dressage Origin: Germany Color: Any solid Defining Characteristics: Oldenburgs are primarily used for jumping and dressage, and they were the first studbook with an American division. Interestingly, all American Warmbloods approved by the ISR are registered as Oldenburgs, regardless of their actually parentage. Andalusian Size: 14.3-16 hh Temperament: 1-6 Uses: Dressage, bullfighting, parades, trick training. Origin: Spain Color: Any solid, including mulberry. Bay and grey most common, black and dun least common. Defining Characteristics: Andalusians are classically styled Baroque horses. They have thick manes and tails and tend to have high, lofty action for their size. The Spanish Olympic Team was comprised entirely of Andalusians for the 2000 Games. Morgan Size: 14.2-16.1 hh Temperament: 1-8 Uses: Any and all Origin: USA Color: predominantly Bay Defining Characteristics: The first breed completely originated in the US, the Morgan is extremely versatile, able to compete successfully in all equestrian disciplines. The breed possesses square action and round, usually uphill conformation. Each year at the Morgan National Championships there is a versatility award given for the horse that enters and places in the most events, from western, to games, to hunter pleasure, to driving, and many others. Connemara Pony Come chat about the Connemara Pony in the Pony Forum Size: 13-14.2 hh Temperament: 1-6 Uses: Jumping, eventing, dressage Origin: Ireland Color: Any solid Defining Characteristics: Connemaras are bold jumpers who have made their mark, both full and part–bred, on the Eventing world. Their movement is excellent for a pony, with impulsion and overstep that rivals Thoroughbreds and even some Warmbloods in scope. Famous Horses:
Marcus Aurelius: Eventer (USET event horse, competed in 1980 Olympics)
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Today’s warmblood breeds are some of the most versatile horses in the world. All of the studbooks are “closed” meaning that only horses of that breed can be registered in that studbook, except for individuals of other breeding that are deemed to be able to improve the bloodline of the current breed. This is typically shown through performance records and success of offspring in competition. (The exception to this rule is the Trakhener studbook, which was recently re-opened due to a loss in type of modern Trakheners.) Thus, warmbloods today are true breeds, not types, as many people think.