If you are interested in horses and warmblood horse breeds in particular, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this post, we will see some incredible Danish, French, and Dutch Horse Breeds.
The 6 most incredible warmblood horse breeds are Frederiksborg Horse, Knabstrup Warmblood Danish Horse, Charollais Half Breed Horse, Limousin Half breed Warmblood Horse, Friesian Horse, and the Groningen Horse Breed.
These breeds have their own origin story, unique characteristics and are used for specific purposes.
Keep on reading to know all about these wonderful breeds.
Table of Contents (Horspedia)
Frederiksborg Horse Breed | Full Overview
Frederiksborg bears an old and noble name.
It has its roots in the Royal Frederiksborg Stud, which was founded in 1562 by King Frederick II and was at the time the leading establishment for the provision of school horses to European royal stables.
The stock was largely Andalusian and Neapolitan – were trained in the high school Airs and performed brilliantly both under saddle and as carriage horses.
Demand for the newly-created. Frederiksborg to improve other breeds was high for several centuries – so much so that the stud was dissolved in 1839 because there were not enough horses left to breed.
The modern Frederiksborg’s connection with the old breed is tenuous.
Fortunately, there were enough Frederiksborgs left in Denmark after the short-sighted closure of 1839 for the breed to be continued, but much outside blood was needed to build up the numbers.
In 1923 the breed began to be registered again, and since then it has flourished and is now widespread throughout Denmark.
It is an excellent light draught/harness horse and is also in use under saddles.
It has a Deep girth with a rounded barrel and broad back; loins and quarters strong and muscled. Good legs with plenty of bone and hocks well let down.
Characteristics and Origin of Frederiksborg Horses
- Origin: Denmark.
- Height: 15.2-16.1hh.
- Colour: Usually chestnut.
- Character: Active, tractable, willing, a hard worker.
- Physique: Strong harness horse type. Head somewhat plain, often with a convex face, but eye intelligence and general expression alert. Head carried well on the strong neck; huge, extremely powerful shoulder and big chest.
Knabstrup Warmblood Danish Horse Breed
The Knabstrup dates from the Napoleonic Wars, when a Spanish army officer acquired a spotted mare named Flaebehoppen.
Put to a Frederiksborg stallion, she became the foundation mare of a breed that became extremely popular.
Unfortunately, Knabstrups have been carelessly crossed recently, with efforts being extended towards good spotted patterns only and little regard paid to the conformity of type.
The breed now is mainly used for general riding, show jumping, and circus.
It is therefore doubtful whether it can any longer be called a breed. At its best, it was, and one hopes still is – a horse very similar to the Frederiksborg, though lighter in build.
Characteristics and Origin of Knabstrup Warmblood Danish Horses
- Origin: Denmark.
- Height: About 15.3hh.
- Colour: Exclusively a spotted horse, marked in the usual Appaloosa patterns on a roan base.
- Character: Energetic, friendly and willing to work.
- Physique: Small-eared, Strong, well-built neck, sturdy back and well-defined limbs.
Charollais Half Breed Horse
The Charollais Halfbred owes its quality to Thoroughbred and Anglo-Norman blood.
It is bred along almost identical lines with the Nivernais and Bourbonnais Half Breeds.
These three types are so similar that they are usually known collectively as the Demi-Sang Charolais.
Nowadays, it is used as a hunter, for which function it is greatly praised; but it was popular previously as a cavalry remount and artillery horse.
This breed has an attractive, strongly-built lightweight with a kind, intelligent disposition.
Characteristics and Origin of Charollais Half Breed Horses
- Origin: France.
- Height: 15-16.2hh.
- Colour: Solid Colours.
- Character: Intelligent.
- Physique: Short and sharp neck, bold ears with strong legs.
Limousin Half-breed Warmblood Horse
The Limousin Halfbred is one of the many good half-bred horses which have become a speciality of France.
Collectively, they are known under the rather loose title of Cheval de Selle Français (not to be confused with the Anglo-Norman).
However, they are subdivided into groups according to their location.
The Limousin and Charollais, for instance, are part of the group known as the Demi-Sang du Centre.
The modern aim behind these half-breeds is the production of good, all-purpose saddle horses.
The Limousin Halfbred is a quality horse of Anglo-Arab type, with a definite oriental cast.
It originates from a foundation stock of the best Limousin mares mingled with Thoroughbred, Arab and Anglo-Arab stallions for some hundred years.
Some modern Limousins possess Anglo-Norman blood.
Characteristics and Origin of Limousin Half breed Warmblood Horses
- Origin: France.
- Height: Average 16hh.
- Colour: Solid Colours- chestnut and bay are the most common.
- Character: High-Spirited, Intelligent.
- Physique: Tail is high set, short curved ears.
Friesian Warmblood Horse Breed Overview
Keeping in mind that the horses of yesterday bear scant resemblance to today’s favored breeds, the Friesian is one of the oldest and most consistently popular horses in Europe.
There is evidence in Friesland of a prehistoric cold-blood used as a domestic animal as long as 3.000 years ago.
Later descendants (presumably) of this heavy native animal were valued as saddle horses by the medieval nobility and portrayed by many Dutch Old Masters.
The Friesian had probably been strongly enriched with Andalusian blood by this time, and Oriental influences are also likely.
Nowadays, the Friesian is popular in harness (often in the show ring, where it sometimes causes a kind of patriotic nostalgia), in the circus (because of its striking carriage and willingness to adapt itself), and under the saddle; but its first function remains supreme- it is a “cheerful, loyal, and very sensitive” all-round working horse.
Mind-boggling Tale About Friesian Warmblood Horses
The 19th-century craze for trotting seems to have influenced breeders of the Friesian towards a lighter, faster type of horse which, while full of promise for the racetrack, would have declined inability as an agricultural worker, and it is possibly because of this that the breed came very close to extinction just before World War 1.
At that time, numbers were so much reduced that only three Friesian stallions were left, and it is only because a few Dutch farmers spotted the emergency in the nick of time and took prompt and clever action that the Friesian survives today.
Oldenburg stallions were imported to help build up the depleted stock.
A strong revival of the Friesian occurred during World War II when motorized vehicles fell into short supply, and fuel was strictly rationed.
The demand for horses in agriculture rose sharply: Friesians were particularly suited to adapt to any work required of them, so their numbers quickly increased.
In 1954 Queen Juliana of the Netherlands honored the Friesian breed society with the title “Royal.”
The breed has rather short, sturdy legs with colossal bone and feathers on heels—Hard, open hooves.
The exceptional growth of mane and tail-mane is sometimes said to reach the ground. The action is active and somewhat flamboyant, and the horse bears itself with pride.
Characteristics and Origin of Friesian Warmblood Horses
- Origin: Holland Province of Friesland.
- Height: About 15hh.
- Colour: Black – no other Colour is permitted, and even white markings are considered undesirable.
- Character: Exceptionally pleasant temperament – sweet-natured, willing and hardworking. Has excited comments such as “cheerful”, “loyal”, and “very sensitive.”
- Physique: Fine, rather long, alert head with small ears, carried high on a crested neck—body very strong and compact, with a prominent shoulder, rounded barrel and hindquarters.
Groningen Warmblood Horse Breed | Holland Horse
The kind nature of the Groningen makes it an excellent animal for any type of farm work and for riding.
The breed is developed from the heavier Friesian crossed with East Friesian and Oldenburg horses.
Unfortunately, it has now become rare.
Its Legs are strong and clean, with short cannon bones. An attractive light draught/heavy saddlebred, a frugal horse to keep, having a sound constitution and ability to work well on a meager diet. Action stylish, suitable to a good carriage horse.
- Origin: Holland – Groningen..
- Height: 15.2-16hh. It can be taller.
- Colour: Usually black, bay, dark brown, often with white markings.
- Character: Gentle, obedient, willing, enduring.
- Physique: Handsome head with a straight face, intelligent eye, and rather long ears. Powerful, deep body with a broad chest and strong shoulders and hindquarters. Tail set high and carried well.
