American Warmblood
As the name suggests, the American Warmblood horses developed in the USA, and are warmblooded sports horses. These animals were primarily created for the purpose of performing in the traditional sport horse disciplines like show jumping, eventing, combined driving, and dressage, and especially suit the purpose till date good conformation and sensible temperament. The American Warmblood horses must be born in the US, Canada, or Mexico for getting an official registration.
American Warmblood Pictures
Quick Information
Behavioral Characteristics | Elegant, attentive, lively, willing, calm, well-mannered |
Physical Traits | The profile is sturdy with a head that is much similar to the Thoroughbred horses, the shoulders are sloping and very strong, while the hindquarters are well-muscled and robust; some individuals might have short backs that make them excel in riding sport events |
Coat Colors | All solid colors |
Height/Size | 15 to 17 hands (adult) |
Weight | Average to heavy |
Common Uses | Jumping, dressage, eventing, endurance |
Health Problems | Generally healthy |
Type | Sport horse, Show horse, Eventing horse |
Blood Type | Warm |
Ancestors (Bloodlines) | Thoroughbreds, Arabian horses, European Warmbloods, and local draft breeds |
Popular Traits | Good temperament, excellent in riding events, easy trainability, durable |
Feeding/Diet | General horse diet including hay, grass, grains, etc. |
Country of Origin | USA |
Associations and Registries | American Warmblood Registry; American Warmblood Society; World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses |
Video: Expo for American Warmblood Horses
History and Development
Just like many other breeds of warmblood horses, the American Warmblood horse was initially created as a sport horse. The horses have the influences of European warmblood, Thoroughbred, the Arabian horses, and also several other draft breeds, and is said to be a ‘type breed’. This is mainly because the American breeders have unanimously asserted that all European Warmbloods have been vigorously intermingled, and hence, do not always represent particular breeds, but instead, various types.
At present, two registries in the US recognize these type breed horses, viz., the American Warmblood Society and the American Warmblood Registry, like they also work with creating similar performance registries for sport ponies in North America in the respective registry books.
In 1981, the American Warmblood Registry was founded, and both the two registries, in turn, are recognized by the WBFSH(World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses).
Interestingly, the equines that are registered by these associations are not recorded on the basis of pre-defined or acceptable bloodlines, but by type, with an aim to breed high-quality sport horses, so that there can be much better diversities in the genetic pool of these sport horses. Just like the European warmbloods have their specific open books, so does the American Warmblood, at present.
However, the individuals that have been considered to be a part of the breeding stock must have the official approval for breeding through studbook inspection. For this, the mares and the stallions need to undergo careful examinations and performance criteria. Individuals that are able to perform the appropriate levels of walk-trot-canter of the accepted disciplines, they are considered as eligible for registration.