- Danish Warmblood -

Although Denmark has a long history of horse breeding that dates back to the 14th century, only fairly recently have they come to the forefront of the international market for breeding first-class competition horses. The early monastic studs at Holstein, and later the Royal Stud of Frederiksborg, which produced the Holsteiner and Frederiksborg breeds respectively, are for the most part responsible for the base breeding of the Danish Warmblood horse.  This horse, formerly known as the Danish Sports Horse, evolved through careful, open-minded, selective breeding. This enabled its breeders to employ many different breeds until the right combination was achieved for the new breed.

The Danish Warmblood studbook was opened during the 1960s, and even now the Danish Warmblood Society carefully promotes and maintains the breed. The Frederiksborg breed, when crossed with the Thoroughbred, produced a good quality, slightly heavyweight riding horse. This was then improved further by infusions of Trakehner, Wielkopolski, Selle Francais, and additional Thoroughbred blood. Through selective breeding, a distinct type emerged. This became the Danish Warmblood of today's society. The absence of Hanoverian blood in the breed may account for its particular characteristics when compared to other warmblood breeds. The Danish Warmblood stallions have to undergo rigorous testing called the "100 day test", and then they are carefully selected before they are approved. This standard helps maintain the extraordinarily high standards of the breed.

 Typically the Danish Warmblood is a horse of great quality with a Thoroughbred look, but with more weight and substance than the Thoroughbred. Danish Warmbloods have good stamina, speed, and jumping ability, as well as usually having excellent natural elevation through the paces. This breed excels at both dressage and jumping, and has forged a name for itself in both genres.

These horses have finely made, attractive heads, a muscular, well-set neck with good length of rein, and a deep, broad chest. Their shoulders should be sloping and the back compact and strong, the tail well set, and the legs muscular and clean. The joints are strong and the hock joints are particularly well-made and the hooves perfectly formed. They have an exceptional temperament, are very amiable, tough, bold, and exhibit beautiful free-flowing movement. The Danish Warmblood can be any solid color, although they are usually bay. They stand approximately 16.2 hands high.

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