What exactly is a warmblood?

An inset in an article that appeared on page 82 in the January 2010 Equine Journal posed the question What exactly is a Warmblood? The response was written by Tonya Grant-Barber and follows here:

Warmbloods are a group of middle-weight horse types and breeds, primarily originating

in Europe, registered with organizations that are characterized by open studbook selection

and the aim of breeding for equestrian sport. 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). Warmbloods not based in continental Europe are the American

Warmbloods and the Irish Sport Horse.

Open studbook policies separate most warmbloods from all other breeds that have closed

studbooks and require two purebred parents. Most warmblood registries accept horses from

other breeding stock to continuously improve their own horses. The Trakehner is an exception;

This horse is considered a 'true breed'. I find that they can be stiff with a straighter movement

from the shoulder and a bit too straight in the hind legs making it hard for them to bend their

hocks; however, on the positive side, I have found many Trakehners to be good at passage, a

difficult Grand Prix movement. Having said that please note that 'open book' warmblood registries do combine Trakehners into their breeding program.

The most important characteristic of a warmblood registry is that the breeding goal is to

breed sport horses. Most breed primarily for show jumping, dressage, combined driving, and

eventing. The old fashioned, heavier type warmbloods have found their niche as family horses

and in combined driving.

This sentence bears repeating: "The most important characteristic of a warmblood registry is that its breeding goal is to breed sport horses". What is the breeding goal of the Irish Draught studbook? The Irish Sport Horse (or Irish Draught Sport Horse in the USA) is the sport horse or warmblood. They are specifically bred for sport.

I believe the Irish Draught is a 'true breed'. Like the Trakehner, some thoroughbred blood is allowed but it is not an open book. I also believe that the Irish Draught is not being treated as a true breed by any of the organizations that are charged with the breed's preservation. I would even go so far as to say that a lot of what occurs in the breeding of Irish Draughts is contrary to it's preservation and it's continued existence as a true breed.

........to be continued

The Equine Journal is available online in full text. The link is :

http://www.equinejournal.com/equine-magazine/