Table of Contents
Belgian Warmblood – Important data at a glance
- Origin: Belgium
- Height: 62 to 64 in
- Weight: around 1322 lbs
- Type: Warmblood
- Appearance: Sporty and elegant
- Colours: Brown, dark bay, black and chestnut
- Disciplines: Show jumping & leisure riding
- Character: friendly and insensitive with an even temperament and a lot of joy in movement
How old does a Belgian Warmblood get?
The age that a horse can reach naturally always depends on the individual animal, its state of health and how it is kept. However, on average, Belgian Warmbloods are among the horse breeds that can reach an advanced age and live to be 20 years old or even older.
Breeding history of the Belgian Warmblood
The Belgian Warmblood is a very young horse breed and the first warmblood to be bred in Belgium. The first efforts before the actual breeding began after World War I. It was at this time that plans were first made to breed a separate Belgian warmblood breed. The aim of the new breed was to establish equestrian sport in Belgium. However, despite the plans, targeted breeding and promotion didn’t begin until 1950, partly due to the fact that all horses had to go to the front during World War II and there was no funding for the breeding project.
The decisive factor for the start and progress of the breed was primarily the priest Andre de Mey, who was a supporter and promoter of equestrian sport throughout Belgium. The breed was started with animals from the Netherlands, especially the Gelderland horses, and from Germany with the Hanoverians. However, the offspring from these matings did not yet show all the desired characteristics and traits that the breed fathers wanted from the new breed. The horses were therefore crossed, mostly with Holsteiners and thoroughbreds, but also with Hanoverians again.
To ensure that only horses that met the high standards of the sporty warmblood were used in breeding, a performance test was carried out on all animals used for breeding. This selection enabled the breeding of the Belgian Warmblood to be advanced quickly. The entire breeding programme was supervised by the Belgian breeding association Belgisch Warmbloed Paard, which still oversees breeding today. The actual name of the horse breed was given quite late. It was not until 1988 that the name Belgian Warmblood was established. The abbreviation BWP is also known.
How tall does a Belgian Warmblood grow?
The Belgian Warmblood is considered a strong, modern sport horse with very good suitability as a show jumper. It reaches a height of 62 to 64 in and is therefore not a giant, but can also carry heavier people due to its strong yet athletic build.
Belgian Warmblood – Description of the appearance
The Belgian Warmblood is between 62 and 64 inches tall and weighs around 1322 lbs. This makes it ideal for equestrian sport and enables it to be ridden by adults and young people without any problems. The physique of the Belgian Warmblood clearly shows its sporting talent. It is a large-framed, modern sport horse with a strong foundation.
The head of the Belgian Warmblood is straight and very expressive – due to the animal’s intelligent large eyes. The neck is strong and curved and ends in a sloping shoulder section. The withers are pronounced to match. The back is of medium length and strong in stature. This means that the horse can also carry heavier riders without any problems. Its croup is slightly sloping and the horse’s legs are of medium length with large hooves and joints. Brown, dark brown, black and chestnut coat colours are permitted in the standard. Other colour variants are born in rare cases and are not approved for further breeding.
Impressions of the breed
Description of the Belgian Warmblood’s character traits
The Belgian Warmblood is considered to be intelligent and people orientated. As it is a sport horse that is willing to work, it has an even temperament whereby it is important to give the animal sufficient exercise. In addition to its suitability as a competition horse and show jumper, it also has a good basic gait and is not easily flustered. This makes it a very reliable horse, which is also suitable for beginners, as it forgives small mistakes and uncertainties on behalf of the rider and compensates for them with its friendly and confident manner.
It is not only suitable as a sport horse, but also as a leisure horse and family horse if it gets enough exercise. Due to its strong nerves and calm nature, it is also a favourite show horse in Belgium. However, its temperament can sometimes come through, especially if the animal does not get enough exercise or is left alone for too long without contact with other horses of the same species.
What is a Belgian Warmblood suitable for?
The Belgian Warmblood was bred as a modern sport horse and has the best characteristics for a successful show horse or show jumper. Thanks to its stable gaits and good character, it is also suitable as a leisure horse and can even be ridden by beginners with sporting potential. As it has very strong nerves, it is also popular in Belgium for shows and performances. This powerful animal is also well suited for long rides in the countryside.
Special characteristics of the Belgian Warmblood
The Belgian Warmblood is still a young horse breed and also the first warmblood breed from Belgium. It paves the way for all Belgian riders to take part in competitions with a horse from their home country and promotes equestrian sport in the country and the popularity of riders, competitions and the horses themselves. Another special feature of the Belgian riding horse is its somewhat powerful build, which nevertheless does not contradict its sporting use. As a result, the Belgian Warmblood is a very surefooted horse and can also be ridden by somewhat heavier riders.
Known horses of the breed
As the Belgian Warmblood is a relatively young horse breed, the animals have not yet appeared in film and television. However, in equestrian sport, some animals have achieved great fame, which even extends worldwide in the equestrian world. Two animals deserve special mention here. The Belgian Warmblood Big Ben, which lived from 1976 to 1999. He was one of the first animals of the breed and was a successful sport horse. It was ridden by Ian Millar and achieved numerous victories with his rider, particularly in the jumping discipline.
Another very well-known and successful Belgian Warmblood was the horse Darco. This stallion was the successful horse of Ludo Philippaerts and, after his sporting successes, was used significantly in breeding and was influential for the following generations of Belgian Warmblood horses.
How heavy does a Belgian Warmblood get?
With a weight of around 1322 lbs, the Belgian Warmblood is a rather strong sport horse - but without appearing heavy or bulky.
