American Warmblood facts for kids
Christian Brühe on Cinco de Mayo
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| Distinguishing features | Sport horse type, can be any size or color, but are primarily 15-17 hands and solid colored |
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| Country of origin | United States of America |
| Breed standards | |
| American Warmblood Society & Sporthorse Registry | Breed standards |
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The American Warmblood is a special kind of horse. It's known as a "warmblood" type. These horses are mostly used for exciting sports like dressage, show jumping, eventing, and combined driving.
What Makes Them Special?
American Warmbloods are usually tall horses. They stand about 15 to 17 hands high. (A "hand" is a way to measure a horse's height, about 4 inches). They can be almost any color, but solid colors are seen most often.
Many different types of horses can become American Warmbloods. They need to be a "sport horse" or "warmblood" type. This means they are built for athletic activities. They also need to meet certain standards for how they perform.
The most important thing is the quality of each horse. This applies to both registering them and approving them for breeding. There are no strict rules about their family tree. This means many different horse breeds can contribute to the American Warmblood.
Even horses that are 100% "hot-blooded" or "cold-blooded" can be registered. Hot-blooded horses are usually fast and spirited, like Arabians and Thoroughbreds. Cold-blooded horses are often larger and calmer, like draft horses. These horses can be registered if they perform well enough.
Horses that are "gaited" are also usually not typical. Gaited horses, like the Tennessee Walker, have special ways of moving. But if they can perform the usual walk, trot, and canter for these sports, they can also be registered.
If a horse doesn't meet these performance standards yet, it can still get recording papers. But it won't be a fully registered American Warmblood until it passes the tests.
Horses used for breeding must pass even tougher tests. These tests are called "studbook inspections." This makes sure that only the best mares and stallions are used for breeding.
How the Breed Started
There are two main groups in the United States that recognize American Warmbloods. They are the American Warmblood Society & Sporthorse Registry and the American Warmblood Registry. Both are part of a big international group called the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses.
The American Warmblood is more of a "type" of horse than a specific "breed." This means it doesn't have a closed family tree. Instead, it has an "open book." The main goal is to create great sport horses. It's not about keeping certain bloodlines pure. This allows for many different kinds of horses to be part of the American Warmblood family.
The American Warmblood has been shaped by several other horse types. These include European warmbloods, the speedy Thoroughbred, the elegant Arabian, and even some strong draft horse breeds.
Both registries have also started programs for "sport ponies." These are similar programs for ponies that are good at sports.
