Dutch Warmblood
Origin
Holland
History
Horse breeders in Holland have been united for more than a century. King William III recognized the first stud book in 1887, thereby stimulating the breeding of registered horses in the Netherlands. The national KWPN stud book originated in 1969 from a combination of various regional books and was granted the royal title in 1988 by Queen Beatrix.
Making use of the Gelderlander and the Groningen, the one having a good forehand overall and the other being especially powerful behind the saddle, Dutch breeders, as it were, made the best of both breeds. Strict breeding practices have long been used. Faults in soundness and character were quickly eliminated. This severe culling made a great contribution to the Dutch Warmblood or sport horse of today. As mechanization of equipment gradually caused the horse to become superfluous on farms, riding clubs became more popular and interest in the sport horse increased steadily.
Using the fine old established bloodlines, the Dutch changed direction in their horse breeding to develop a true riding horse. Thoroughbred stallions were used, as well as riding-type stallions from France, Holstein, Hanover and elsewhere, with breeders taking care to retain the time-tested farm horse qualities of the old Dutch breeds.
Over the years the modern KWPN has divided into two streams: 80% riding horses and 20% carriage horses.
Horse breeding in Holland, where horses are classed as agricultural animals, and their owners benefit accordingly, is strictly controlled by the state-aided "Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland". This body pursues a rigorous selection policy based on physical assessment and performance testing. Stallions, all of which are privately owned, may not be used for breeding until they have undergone a comprehensive performance test. This test includes jumping, cross-country trials, and sometimes harness work. Particular attention is paid to the reports on an individualīs temperament. The mares are also tested, and great emphasis is placed on conformation and movement as well as temperament.Finally, the breeding value for both stallions and mares is estabished by monitoring the performance of their progeny.
Description
- Head:
sometimes plain, reflecting the background influence of the Gelderlander, but it is free of fleshiness through the jowl - Conformation:
-arched and well muscled neck, light and of medium length, in proportion to the shoulders
-fairly prominent withers
-deep and full chest
-well sloped shoulder
-straight and fairly long back
-short, broad, and flat croup
-strong legs with a long forearm
-powerful and highly muscled hind quarters, a characteristic inherited from the original and powerful farm horses of the Netherlands
-open and well-rounded hooves - Average height:
13 to 14 h.h. - Colours:
usually bay or brown - Temperament:
unflappable, even, calm - Today:
the breed excels at show jumping, and several world-class international jumpers are either Dutch or Dutch crosses. The Dutch horses have also made their mark in the dressage arena. Like many warmbloods, the Dutch horses are less good as cross-country rides, but this failing can be countered in part by breeding with Thoroughbreds.
