25 Warmblood Horse Breeds (With Info & Pictures)

Whether you’re familiar with horses or not, you’ve likely heard the terms “hotblood” and “coldblood” regarding equines. These terms refer to where a horse originated, wherein a “hotblood” horse came from a hotter climate and a “coldblood” horse from a colder climate. But what about warmblood horses? What exactly does warmblood mean? It’s a term that has confused even those knowledgeable about the world of horses.

Today, we’re introducing you to 25 warmblood horse breeds (and explaining exactly what it means to be a warmblood breed). Take a look below to learn more about these horses, their origins, and what they’re commonly used for!

How Are Warmblood Horse Breeds Classified?

Before we get into the breeds of warmblood horses, it’s essential to know exactly what a warmblood horse is. A warmblood horse breed is simply a breed that was created by crossing a hotblood horse breed and a coldblood horse breed to create a horse with the best traits of both. The “hot” part of hotblood doesn’t refer to blood but to the regions where these breeds originated, like the Middle East. “Cold” refers to the fact that these breeds originated in colder climates, like Northern Europe.

You might also know hotblood and coldblood breeds as light and heavy breeds. A light breed is designed for light work or riding, while a heavy breed is a stronger horse breed used for work. And you may have heard warmblood horses referred to as “sports horses.”

Warmblood horse breeds have undergone years of selective breeding programs meant to create versatile sports horses, so warmbloods should be athletic, versatile in equestrian sports, and even-tempered.

The 25 Warmblood Horse Breeds

1. Bavarian Warmblood

Bavarian Warmbloods were developed from an older Bavarian warmblood breed known as the Rottaler. Rottalers were calm, heavy horses used for everything from riding to plowing. However, in 1963, the focus of this horse’s breeders turned to competitive riding, and the Rottaler became the Bavarian Warmblood. The Bavarian Warmblood was designed to be a horse worthy of Olympic competition, so bloodlines from a wide variety of horses, including Thoroughbreds, Cleveland Bays, and Saxony-Thuringian Warmbloods, were eventually mixed in. This breed is highly valued for their dressage and show jumping talent; in fact, one of these horses sold for 2.8 million francs in 1997, making that horse the most expensive on the planet at the time!

2. Belgian Sport Horse

The Belgian Sport Horse is one of three Belgian warmblood breeds. This breed was founded in the early 20^th century when horses from the Belgian Draught breed were bred with imported breeds like Thoroughbreds and Selle Français to create cavalry horses. Eventually, this breed started being bred for leisure, specifically for three-day eventing, dressage, and show jumping. These athletic horses have been growing in popularity since their original appearance!

3. Belgian Warmblood

As you’ve probably guessed, this is another of the three Belgian warmblood breeds and is, in fact, the first of the Belgian warmbloods. The Belgian Warmblood breed was developed from foundation stock, including Hanoverians, in 1937 and is quite similar to the Belgian Sport Horse. However, the original purpose of this horse was to be used as an agricultural riding horse. This use of the horse was partially due to the fact saddle horse breeding was restricted at the time. When this restriction on saddle horse breeding was lifted in 1954, a breed society for the Belgian Warmblood began, and in 1955, a stud book was opened. These days, the Belgian Warmblood is used primarily for show jumping, though they can also be used for three-day eventing and dressage.

4. Brandenburger

The first mentions of horse breeding in the state of Brandenburg date back to the 15th century, though there wasn’t a standardized breed in those days. The Brandenburger as we know it today was developed in the mid-20th century utilizing the bloodlines of the English Halfbred, English Thoroughbred, Oldenburg, and more. This breeding resulted in a robust, highly energetic warmblood breed that has evolved into a horse commonly seen in horse shows and sports. In particular, this breed was designed for competing in three-day eventing, dressage, and show jumping.

5. Brazilian Sport Horse

This horse breed is newer, as it was created in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, European warmbloods were imported to Brazil so Brazilian competition riders could have the best horses available. But by the 1970s, a Brazilian horse breeder named Enio Monte decided it was time to create a Brazilian sport horse. Monte bred warmblood stallions of different breeds with Criollo mares to accomplish this. By 1977, the Brazilian Association of Sport Horse Breeders had been established, and the Brazilian Sport Horse was recognized as its own breed. These horses are bred specifically to do well in the highest levels of show jumping and dressage but also work as police horses.

6. Czech Warmblood

All original Czech horses were warmblood, but in the mid-20th century, breeders decided to improve them. They did this by introducing Spanish and Oriental horse breeds, then later included breeds such as the Thoroughbred and Furioso. The result was a robust horse used primarily for dressage and show jumping (although this breed also makes wonderful horses for simple recreational riding). The Czech Warmblood is also the most prolific horse breed in the Czech Republic; as of 2021, there were a reported 18,000 to 20,000 of these horses in the country!

7. Danish Warmblood

The Danish Warmblood originated via the breeding of the Frederiksborg (Denmark’s most famous horse breed at the time) and the Thoroughbred, but it wasn’t until this breeding included the Trakehener and Anglo-Norman that the breed truly developed. Originally known as the Danish Sport Horse, this warmblood horse breed is one of the youngest in Europe, having only come about in 1962.

Initially designed as a fantastic all-around sports horse who could participate in dressage, show jumping, and three-day eventing, the Danish Warmblood (whose name was changed from the Danish Sport Horse in 1980) is now primarily used for jumping and dressage.

8. Dutch Warmblood

The Dutch Warmblood evolved from the Gelderlander and Groningen, which were native Dutch breeds. Later on, the result of that crossbreeding was further bred with the Yorkshire Coach, Cleveland Bay, and more with the result of a sturdy but versatile farm horse who could pull heavy loads. However, the end of World War II saw the start of the mechanization of agriculture, which led to a declining need for farm horses.

Because of this declining need, the breeders of the Dutch Warmblood began developing the breed into a riding horse by crossing the farm horses with Holsteins, Thoroughbreds, and Hanovers. The result of this breeding was an athletic sport horse.

Today, there are actually three varieties of Dutch Warmbloods. The first is the Gelder, which is used for riding and harness. The next is the harness horse, which (as the name implies) is used for driving competitions. Finally, there is the riding horse, which is an athletic horse designed for riding and jumping.

9. Einsiedler

The Einsiedler is an extremely old horse breed and is the ancestor of the Swiss Warmblood breed. The two breeds are sometimes confused, but the Einsiedlers were created around a thousand years ago. This breed started at Einsiedeln Abbey, where it was bred by monks for farm work and riding; to this day, the breed is still bred here. The Einsiedler breed became popular in this region, so the monks of Einsiedeln Abbey expanded their herds. In the 17th century, the monks started writing down the records of these herds, creating one of the very first European studbooks.

In 1798, most of the Einsiedlers were stolen from the abbey during the French invasion of Switzerland. When the monks returned to the abbey after the invasion, they obtained horses from local families to re-establish the Einsiedler bloodline. As many locals had purchased horses from them, they hoped (but were not positive) that these animals were related to the original line of horses.

Though some believe the Einsiedler line is extinct, the abbey does still breed these horses, though in much smaller numbers. The breed excels at dressage, driving, and show jumping and is also used by the Swiss cavalry.

10. Hanoverian Horse

The Hanoverian Horse dates back to 1735 when King George II of England was responsible for founding the State Stud at Celle. This allowed local breeders to have access to imported stallions. They took those imports, which included the Cleveland Bay, Neapolitan, Holsteiner, and more, and bred them with local mares to produce the Hanoverian. By the end of the 18th century, this breed was known for being a coach horse. It wasn’t until 1867 that breeders formed a society to consolidate the native lines of this breed, and the first official Hanoverian studbook didn’t appear until 1888. While this breed started out as coach and military horses, they are now known for their skills in dressage, eventing, and show jumping. In fact, this breed has won gold at the Olympics in all the equestrian disciplines!

11. Holsteiner

The Holsteiner dates back to the 13th century, making it one of the world’s oldest (if not the oldest) warmblood breeds. The breed was created by monks in the Uetersen region, who took small native horses and began developing them to be larger and more suitable for agricultural work, transportation, and cavalry mounts. The Holsteiner had a state stud department that oversaw its breeding by the end of the 15th century. Though this horse breed only makes up around 6% of Europe’s equine population, they account for many successful show jumpers. You’ll find the Holsteiner competing not only in show jumping but also in show hunting, dressage, driving, and more.

12. Irish Sport Horse

Also known as the Irish Hunter, this warmblood breed got its start in 1923 when Irish Draught horses and Thoroughbreds were crossbred. In more recent years, continental warmblood breeds have entered the bloodline, and in the 1990s, there was a limited introduction of the Trakehener, Hanoverian, and Selle Français breeds. These horses are known for being highly successful in every equestrian discipline, including show jumping, three-day eventing, and dressage. The studbook for this breed often places highly in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses annual eventing rankings. As fantastic as they are at equestrian sports, the Irish Sport Horse also makes a wonderful leisure horse!

13. Knabstrupper

This Danish warmblood breed was established in 1812 when a Frederiksborg stallion was bred with a mare with leopard markings. The mare came from an estate known as Knabbstrupgaard, hence the name of the new breed. These horses were highly sought-after for quite a while, but eventually, problems arose due to the limited gene pool and decades of inbreeding. Add to that the fact that 22 Knabstruppers were killed in a fire in 1891, and the breed seemed doomed. However, dedicated breeders worked hard to bring the Knabstrupper back, and in 1971, they added Appaloosas to revive the breed.

Though the breed is prized today for their success in eventing, show jumping, and dressage, and their use in general riding, there are only about 600 of these horses in the world.

14. Luxembourg Warmblood

Also known as the Cheval de Selle Luxembourgeois, the Luxembourg Warmblood is a European sport horse. Like many other European warmblood breeds, admission to the Luxembourg Warmblood stud book is decided by a horse’s performance rather than who their parents are. Two of the main breeds in this bloodline are the Hanoverian and Holsteiner. As a sports horse, the Luxembourg Warmblood is designed for equestrian disciplines, such as show jumping and dressage.

15. Mecklenburg

The Mecklenburg breed originated at the Stud of Redefin in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where it is still produced today. This middleweight, athletic horse has been influenced by Thoroughbred and Arabian blood and is quite similar to the Hanoverian. The Mecklenburg is used for a variety of things, including combined driving, show jumping, show hunting, dressage, and eventing.

16. Oldenburg

The Oldenburg, sometimes called the Oldenburger, dates back to the late 16th century when Count Johann XVI von Oldenburg started a breeding program. The original horse breeds used in this program included Danish, Turkish, Andalusian, and Neapolitan stallions mixed with Friesian mares. Unlike many German warmbloods, the Oldenburg breed does not have a state stud; this allows private breeders to change the breed’s development as needed to meet market demand.

These horses were originally utilized as war mounts and then moved on to become carriage horses. Eventually, the breed was developed into the sport horse it is today and is known particularly for its success in dressage.

17. Rhenish Warmblood

Also known as the Rhineland Horse, the Rhenish Warmblood is a fairly modern German warmblood breed developed as a heavy draft horse. This breed came from the Rhine region, which is best known for breeding Rhenish German Coldbloods. However, around 1957, the breeding of riding horses became more popular, and the Rhinelander took a turn from a heavy draft horse to a riding horse. It wasn’t until the 1970s that breeders truly began to turn the Rhinelander into the ideal sport horse. Now, this breed is suitable for almost any competitive activity, as well as for recreational purposes.

18. Selle Français

This breed is relatively new, having been created in 1958. The Selle Français came about when several French riding breeds were merged to form a single stud book. The goal was to create a breed that would be a unified sport horse during a time when horses were transitioning from being used for work to being used primarily for leisure and sport.

This breed became quite the sport horse, indeed! They’ve proven successful at everything from trail riding to vaulting to show jumping. In fact, this breed has won several medals at both the World Equestrian Games and the Summer Olympics!

19. Silesian Horse

This Polish horse breed was initially developed in historic Silesia, which now lies mostly within Poland. The Silesian is the heaviest Polish warmblood breed and features the Oldenburg, the Thoroughbred, the German half-bred, and the East Friesian in its bloodline. The Oldenburg, in particular, heavily influenced this breed, as this breed came in after World War II to keep the Silesian breed from going extinct.

When it comes to the Silesian breed, there are actually two types of horses recognized—the old and the new. What’s the difference between the two? The new is a bit taller and lighter than the old. The new version of the Silesian is particularly good at carriage driving!

20. Swedish Warmblood

The Swedish Warmblood is an older breed that dates back to the 17th century. At this time, the most well-known stud farm in the country was the National Stud at Flyinge, which became a Royal stud in 1661. At this time, horses were imported from a variety of countries, including Spain, England, Germany, and France. These horses were crossbred with native horses, and the Swedish Warmblood was one of the results. Later, Hanoverian, Arabian, Trakehener, and Thoroughbred were introduced into the bloodline.

Though less popular than some other warmblood breeds, the Swedish Warmblood performs exceptionally well as a harness horse and in show jumping, dressage, and three-day eventing.

21. Swiss Warmblood

You might remember our previous mention of the Swiss Warmblood, a descendant of the Einsiedler breed. The Swiss Warmblood is a more modern sport horse developed in the mid-20th century by mixing the Einsiedler with traditional native breeds and the Swiss Halfblood. This breed is most often trained for show jumping and dressage but also does well being driven in harness.

22. Trakehner

The Trakehner breed is an older one that dates back to the days of Prussia. While the ancestors of this breed can be traced as far back as the 13^th century, the Trakehner known today wasn’t developed until 1732, when the main Trakehner stud was founded by the Prussian King. The initial purpose of this breed was to work as carriage horses, but as the need for military horses increased, the breed’s purpose was switched to that. At this point, the bloodline was introduced to English Thoroughbreds and Arabians.

This breed is considered among the lightest warmbloods and is often used as a “refiner” of other breeds. These horses are also prized as dressage mounts and participate in nearly all equestrian disciplines.

23. Westphalien Horse

This German horse breed first appeared in the early 1800s when Germans were trying to develop cavalry horses. However, the Trakehner eventually became the Prussian army’s favored cavalry horse, rendering this breed useless. In the Rhein area, though, there was a need for heavy horses who could do farm work. As such, breeders decided to cross the Westphalian with cold-blooded breeds, resulting in a draught horse who was lighter than the norm.

By the 20th century, needs had changed again, so breeders once again altered the development of the breed to focus on making them suitable for riding. The result was a horse suitable for both amateur and professional riders, who does extremely well in show-jumping and dressage and can be used in driving and show hunting.

24. Württemberger

This breed originated in the 17th century but is much different from the one today. Back then, the Württemberger was bred to be hardy enough to do agricultural work but handsome enough for riding. Eventually, these horses were crossbred with the Friesian, Trakehner, Arabian, and more as the focus turned more towards riding. The breed was officially recognized in 1895, and a registry was created.

Since the 1950s, this horse has been bred to be even more athletic and lighter, making the breed more than suited for equine competition. They are most often used for show jumping and dressage.

25. Zweibrücker

The Zweibrücker is an older breed dating back to the 16^th century. Originally bred in stud facilities that were state-owned, they were moved to being bred under the Horse Breeders’ Association of Rhineland-Palatinate-Saar in 1977. The Zweibrücker is highly prized for its lineage and versatility. While these horses are strong, they are also graceful, and due to their athleticism and powerful gaits, the breed has excelled at everything from eventing to dressage to combined driving.

Conclusion

As you can see, warmblood horse breeds have been around for a while and are a breed resulting from the mix of hotblood and coldblood breeds. Most of these horses are utilized for riding and competition, as they tend to be lighter than other breeds and have gaits well-suited to this sort of thing. And these horse breeds are fantastic at their jobs, as many have medaled at the Olympics and other places!

Featured Image Credit: Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock