Hot-Blooded Plus Cold-Blooded Equals The American Warmblood Sporthorse

The American Warmblood, like many of the European Warmbloods, is generally thought to be any horse that fits into the warmblood type that is used primarily for jumping or dressage competition. It originated in the United States, and an American Warmblood must have been born in the United States, Canada, or Mexico to be registered in the American Warmblood Registry. It has also been called the Sport Horse, the American Warmblood Sporthorse, or simply Warmblood.

American Warmbloods often excel in dressage, show jumping and eventing, which is what they are being bred for.

The American Warmblood is a result of breeding hot-blooded horses (Thoroughbreds) with cold-blooded horses (drafts) to produce an athletic, well-rounded "warm-blooded" mount. Many American breeders claim that all the various European Warmbloods are highly intermingled and do not represent distinct breeds, but rather various types of Warmbloods. So, rather than splitting up the various types in the United States, the American Warmbloods have been grouped into a single registry. Out of this desire to combine all imports, the American Warmblood Registry has been registering European imports and their American offspring on an equal basis. The combining of all European Warmbloods into one American Warmblood Registry is believed to be a way to save the Warmblood from being ruined by too many splinter groups trying to control small numbers of horses.

The American Warmblood has been influenced by Thoroughbreds for speed, Arabians for stamina and has also added other European Warmbloods to further enhance the American breed. The European Warmbloods also have draft horses in their backgrounds. Horses of nearly all bloodlines are acceptable for registration as long as they are of a sport horse or warmblood type, and are able to meet the appropriate studbook selection or performance criteria. Yet the American Warmblood breeders consider them to be a more distinct breed than the European Warmbloods, even though they are mixed with the Europeans and thus share the same backgrounds. Even though they are still selecting breeding specimens to very high standards, the American Warmblood type is a work in progress at this time. Since the stud books are still open to outcrossing, they are not yet a pure breed.

American Warmbloods come in all shapes, colors and sizes, but average between 16 to 18 hands. They have many of the quality characteristics found in other competition warmblood types in Europe, such as being powerful and balanced with elastic gaits. Its head is similar to the Thoroughbred, as well as having the sloping shoulders with powerful, well-muscles hindquarters, which are much needed in jumping competition. Its short back makes it an excellent horse for all riding events. All colors are accepted, but the solid colors and Bay are the most common.

There are two main gaits of the American Warmblood. The Quality Walk is four even beats in length as well as height. When stepping forward from behind in a generous & athletic way, it creates a swinging momentum throughout the body. The horse should be freely reaching forward through the shoulders down to the hooves showing articulation in all the joints which results in a harmonious and balanced walk with a marching tempo. The Quality Trot is two even beats in length as well as height. When stepping clearly forward from behind with there is an "uphill" profile with suspension off the ground. The head reflects the balanced self-carriage of the horse being nearly vertical.

The American Warmblood is a noble, well mannered and attentive horse with an alert presence. It possesses a willing, yet calm, attitude and is attentive, obedient, tractable, and eager to please to its handler or rider. The energetic way that the horse approaches its work, and the concentration and focus it has, shows an inner drive that indicates a propensity towards performance.

There are two registering bodies for the American Warmblood, neither of which is affiliated with the other.

The American Warmblood Registry (AWR) was established in 1981 and is the one most people consider to be the main registry. The American Warmblood Registry has a goal to develop the American Warmblood Sporthorse to the highest possible standard in North America through careful maintenance of their registries, studbooks, and annual breeding stock approvals. They have chosen a distinct and unique brand to identify these American-bred Warmblood Sporthorses.

There is also the American Warmblood Society (AWS), which is an International, non-profit Performance horse corporation founded in 1983, that is dedicated to the development of Sport horses from grass roots through the Olympic levels. As one of the Associate Members of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH), the AWS promotes, represents, nominates, records and registers horses for the Olympic sports and for combined driving.

American Warmbloods are rapidly gaining ground as the horse of choice in the demanding sports of 3 Day Eventing, which includes dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping. The American Warmblood has also proven to be competitive at the world class level in dressage.


About Crystal Eikanger

Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites. www.HorseClicks.com is a popular website filled with classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, tack, and horse related properties.

The World's Most Famous Draft Horse - The Clydesdale

Clydesdales are a breed of heavy draft horse that originated in Scotland from native farm horses during the eighteenth century and that have since evolved into one of the most recognizable breeds throughout the world. They are recognized for their strength, style and versatility, and have been made popular through T.V. commercials world-wide, most specifically shown in multi-horse teams hauling wagons of beer. The vivid body colors, bright white faces, and long white feathered legs with a high stepping gait and a head held proud leave no doubt in your mind that you are looking at a Clydesdale. The breed derives its name from the Scottish district where it was founded, Lanarkshire, through which the River Clyde flows, and which was previously known as Clydesdale.

The Clydesdale horse can be traced back to Flemish stallions that were imported into the Clyde Valley of Scotland in the 18th century. Scottish farmers later began mating some of the larger English and Flemish stallions to the smaller native draft mares. Eventually they produced a powerful horse with a long stride that had a hoof the size of a dinner plate; perfect for working in the soft soils of the rough Scottish farmland. The Clydesdale was primarily bred as a farm and agricultural workhorse but their great strength has been used in the coal mining industry, for forestry work and for general draft and hauling work in cities and towns. In fact, the major cities of Scotland and the North of England and Northern Ireland probably housed as many Clydesdales as the agricultural areas did.

The popularity of the Clydesdale flourished in Scotland in the late 19th century and this led to large numbers of horses being exported to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. In Australia and New Zealand, the Clydesdale Horse Society was formed in 1877; nearly a century and a half after the breed first began to evolve; with the first stud book published the following year. The American Clydesdale Horse Association (ACHA) was formed ten years later in 1878.

As with all heavy draft horses the Clydesdale breed hit a low point in the 1960's and 1970's due to wide-spread mechanization after World War II and little need for draft horses anymore. The breed was kept alive by a number of people out of sentiment more than anything else and now their numbers have increased to a fairly healthy level. The United States has the largest number of Clydesdale horses, with Canada, Great Britain, and Australia trailing in numbers, with over 600 Clydesdales being registered in the United States every year.

Today the Clydesdale is the only draft breed in its native Scotland and it is still a favorite in all nations.

Early drawings of the Clydesdale draft horses show chunky, solid colored horses that were short and close coupled, but by the time photography was in use, the early examples were also mainly dark colored horses with dark legs, still short coupled and very powerful. Gradually, the well-known white legs became fashionable and the breed as you see it now became more clearly defined.

Today, Clydesdales are used mainly for breeding and showing. Horses are exhibited in the Scottish tradition of line and harness events. The breed is also popular with carriage services; and street parades would not be complete without at least one Clydesdale team. Saddles are offered in draft horse sizes and many owners compete in shows next to the more typical riding horses. Under saddle, the Clydesdale excels in many pursuits including dressage, hunter jumper, and for therapeutic riding. They make exceptional trail horses due to their calm disposition.

The Clydesdale has gone through several changes over the years to meet the demands of the times. In the 1920's and 1930's, the demand was for a more compact horse while currently, the demand is for a taller horse. Currently, mature Clydesdale horses range in size from 16.2 to 19 hands high and weigh between 1600 and 2400 pounds, or about as much as a Volkswagen Beetle car. But no matter what the changes have been, one trait has always been retained: the sound legs and the huge sound hooves.

The Clydesdale has a very distinctive look compared to other draft breeds. A Clydesdale should have a nice broad forehead, a flat, straight profile, a wide muzzle with large nostrils, and bright, clear, intelligent eyes. Ears are large and the neck is well-arched and long. The back should be short with well sprung ribs like the hoops of a barrel. The quarters should be long, with thighs well packed with muscle and sinew and the horse stands with the hocks close together. The long, soft, silky hair on the legs that flows to the ground and accentuates the high knee action and hock flex is called the feather and originally helped protect the horse's legs though now it is primarily just for show.

The impression created by a thoroughly well-built horse is that of strength and activity, exhibiting action by lifting the foot high and taking a long stride to cover ground rapidly and easily.

Clydesdales are mostly bay or brown but can be black, chestnut or sorrel with various roans also seen. A white blaze or bald face and four white legs are common, but black legs are also in the genes. White spots can occur on the body, as well as some white on the stomach, but color is usually ignored in the show ring. But a matching team of traditional colors is quite impressive and the increased popularity of large hitches has led to an attempt at stabilizing the color patterns.

The Clydesdales are very easy to train and strong enough to pull many times more than their own weight. They are agile and docile with a willingness to work.

For anyone desiring a stylish and active yet tractable, intelligent and serviceable draft animal for work, show, or simple pleasure, the Clydesdale should come under their serious consideration.


About Crystal Eikanger

Crystal Eikanger is a freelance writer, web designer, video editor and voice talent working as Ei-Kan Productions on www.rentacoder.com as well as other freelance sites. www.HorseClicks.com is a popular website filled with classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, tack, and horse related properties.