The rise of Dutch Warmbloods

The Dutch Warmblood has become a familiar sight at high-level equestrian events. Dr Mac looks at the breed’s fascinating history.

- Dr Mac

Until the 1970s, Dutch Warmblood breeding methods focused mainly on conformation, movement, and specific bloodlines. By 1980, scientists and the Dutch government started using advanced genetic selection methods to improve performance in sport horse disciplines such as showjumping, dressage, eventing, and driving. The result was the formation of the Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland (KWPN). Registered KWPN Dutch Warmbloods have shown their quality at the Olympics and the International Federation for Equestrian Sports events since 2007, and are popular in South Africa. Perhaps this is due to the high level of selection based on performance, rather than just conformation, used when breeding Dutch Warmbloods.

WAR HORSES

In the Netherlands, tractors slowly began to replace horses in agriculture after World War II. While the Netherlands remained neutral during WWI, in 1914 farm labourers and horses were incorporated into the Dutch Army. Some were also repurposed for pulling army munitions and supply wagons through sticky mud while under fire, and many did not survive.