A Trakehner performing dressage. Trakehner is a Horse breed. The Trakehner is generally of a lighter type than most other Warmbloods The name derives from Trakehnen, the site of the Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training

Warmbloods are a group of middle-weight horse types and breeds, primarily originating in Europe, registered with organizations that are characterized by open studbook policy, studbook selection, and the aim of breeding for equestrian sport. A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in Animal husbandry and the Hobby of Animal fancy, is an official list of Studbook selection is a process used in certain breeds of Horses Dogs Cattle, and other Livestock to select breeding stock Trot projection-1-jpg|right|thumb|270px|A trot showing natural suspension The term distinguishes these horses from both heavy draft horses ("cold bloods") and refined light saddle horses such as the Thoroughbred and Arabian ("hot bloods"). A draft horse, draught horse or dray horse (from the Anglo-Saxon dragan meaning to draw or haul is a large Horse bred for hard heavy tasks The Thoroughbred is a horse breed The Arabian horse is a breed of Horse with a reputation for Intelligence, spirit and stamina Though modern Warmbloods are descended from heavier agricultural types systematically upgraded by hotblood influence, the term does not imply that Warmbloods are direct crosses of "cold" and "hot". It is thought that the Warmblood type, which originated in continental Europe, descended from a landrace of wild, native proto-warmblood ancestors,^[1] and possibly trace back to a wild prototype called the Forest Horse. Landrace refers to domesticated animals or plants adapted to the natural and cultural environment in which they live (or originated and in some cases work they often develop Originally from Northern Europe, the Forest Horse, or Dulivial was a large-boned slow-moving heavy horse believed to be the ancestor of the draft breeds of Europe

Breeding policies

Open studbook policies separate most warmbloods from true "breeds" such as Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Percherons, Morgans, which have a closed stud book and require two purebred parents. A closed stud book is a Stud book or Breed registry that will no longer accept any outside blood for improvement of a particular breed of animal and the registered Purebreds, also called purebreeds, are cultivated varieties or cultivars of an animal Species, achieved through the process of Selective breeding Instead, most warmblood registries accept breeding stock from other similar populations to continuously improve their own horses, and do not consider their own horses to be a discrete "breed". The Trakehner is an exception, so though some other breeds are used within the breeding population, this horse is considered a true breed. Trakehner is a Horse breed. The Trakehner is generally of a lighter type than most other Warmbloods The name derives from Trakehnen, the site of the The Hanoverian, Holsteiner, and Selle Francais studbooks are also considered slightly less open than others. A Hanoverian is a Warmblood Horse originating in Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding Most warmblood registries recognize breeding stock from any other registry that is a member of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses, which is affiliated with the IOC-recognized International Federation for Equestrian Sports. The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses ( WBFSH) connects Sport horse breeding organizations with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports The Fédération Équestre Internationale (commonly known as the FEI or in English the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, is the international governing body of

A defining characteristic of a Warmblood registry is studbook selection, though even some purebred breeds in Europe use this practice. Studbook selection is a process used in certain breeds of Horses Dogs Cattle, and other Livestock to select breeding stock Studbook selection is the use of external evaluation - critiquing conformation and movement - of potential breeding stock to cull out unsuitable breeding horses and direct the evolution towards a particular goal. Equine conformation refers to the correctness of a horse's bone structure musculature and its body proportions in relation to each other Today, studbook selection usually entails a performance proof in addition to external evaluation, particularly for stallions.

Standards of conformation and movement are not designed to perpetuate a particular ancestral type, but rather to meet a particular need. This concept is illustrated by the history of the Oldenburg horse through the past 150 years: in the late 1800s, the standard called for a heavy but elegant, high-stepping carriage horse, in the early 1900s for a heavier, stronger, economical farm and artillery horse, and since 1950 for a modern sport horse. The Oldenburg is a warmblood horse from the north-western corner of Lower Saxony, what was formerly the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg A carriage is a wheeled vehicle for people usually horse-drawn Trot projection-1-jpg|right|thumb|270px|A trot showing natural suspension

The most critical characteristic of a Warmblood registry is that its breeding goal or "breeding aim" is to breed sport horses. Each registry has a slightly different focus, but most breed primarily for show jumping and dressage, though many include combined driving and eventing as well. Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping" or "jumpers" is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes Dressage (pronounced dress-ahhzh /ˈdrɛsɑʒ/ (a French term most commonly translated to mean "training" is a path and destination of competitive Horse training Combined driving also known as Horse Driving Trials is an equestrian sport involving carriage driving. Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises Dressage, cross-country and Show-jumping. The breeding aim is reflective of the needs of the market. In eras and regions which called for cavalry mounts, Warmbloods were bred to fit that need; when and where horses for light to moderate agricultural work were needed, Warmbloods have filled those roles, too. The purposeful evolution of the standard breeding aim is another characteristic of the Warmbloods.

Warmbloods have come into their own since the end of World War II, when mechanization made agricultural horses obsolete and recreational riding became more widespread in the western world. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The ancestral types are referred to as the heavy warmbloods and are preserved through special organizations. The Heavy Warmbloods (Schwere Warmblüter are a group of horse breeds primarily from continental Europe The heavy warmbloods have found their niche as family horses and in combined driving. Combined driving also known as Horse Driving Trials is an equestrian sport involving carriage driving.

Warmblood registries

Most warmbloods were developed in continental Europe. Germany is particularly known for breeding warmbloods. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.

The best-known German Warmbloods are the Hanoverian, Holsteiner, Oldenburg and the purebred Trakehner. A Hanoverian is a Warmblood Horse originating in Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding The Oldenburg is a warmblood horse from the north-western corner of Lower Saxony, what was formerly the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg Trakehner is a Horse breed. The Trakehner is generally of a lighter type than most other Warmbloods The name derives from Trakehnen, the site of the Others include the Württemberger, Rhinelander, Westphalian, Zweibrücker, Brandenburger, Mecklenburger, and Bavarian Warmblood. The Württemberger, Baden-Württemberger or Württemberg is a Warmblood horse breed originating in Germany. A Rhinelander is a German Warmblood registered with the Rhenish Horse Studbook The Bavarian Warmblood is a horse breed of southern Germany that developed from an older Bavarian Heavy warmblood breed called the Rottaler Several of these breeds are also represented by ancestral types such as the Ostfriesen and Alt-Oldenburger, Alt-Württemberger, and Rottaler. The Alt-Oldenburger and Ostfriesen are representatives of a group of horse breeds primarily from continental Europe called Heavy warmbloods The breed has The Heavy Warmbloods (Schwere Warmblüter are a group of horse breeds primarily from continental Europe

Western European warmbloods include the French Selle Français, Belgian Warmblood, Zangersheide, Dutch Warmblood, Swiss Warmblood, Austrian Warmblood and Danish Warmblood. A Belgian Warmblood is a Warmblood Zangersheide is a Warmblood horse registry founded in 1992 which breeds Show jumping horses A Dutch Warmblood is a The Swiss Warmblood horse breed also An Austrian Warmblood is a Warmblood The Danish Warmblood ( Dansk Varmblod) is the modern Sport horse breed of Denmark. Scandinavian countries also produce high-quality warmbloods like the Swedish Warmblood. The Swedish Warmblood is a Horse that was developed at Strömsholm and Flyinge.

Warmblood registries which are not based in continental Europe include those that regulate the breeding of American Warmbloods and Irish Sport Horses. The American Warmblood is a horse of Warmblood type intended primarily for the traditional Sport horse disciplines of ( Dressage, Show jumping The Irish Sport Horse (ISH (US Irish Draught Sports Horse also known as the Irish Hunter is mainly the result of a cross between the Irish Draught and the Thoroughbred

See also

• Sport horse
• List of horse breeds

References

The Encyclopedia of the Horse E. H. Edwards,1994.

External links

• International Museum of the Horse
• World Breeding Federation for Sports Horses