Horse
Breed Description:
The term German Warmblood may be used generally to refer to any of the various warmblood horses of Germany or more specifically to a warmblood registered with the nation-wide German Horse Breeding Society (ZfDP). Under the former umbrella term, the German warmblood breed of horse includes the Oldenburg, the Hanoverian, and the Holsteiner. The Holsteiner has high knee action and remarkable presence, and were widely used as army horses. They come in all solid colors, with bay and brown with black points being the most common. They have attractive, proportionate heads, long slightly arched necks, strong muscular backs and hindquarters, and good hard feet. They are used in all disciplines, with a special emphasis on competitive driving. The Oldenburg is a heavier and larger German Warmblood breed of horse, as it was based on the Friesian and developed as a coach horse. Today, it is used more frequently in the competitive disciplines. It is black, brown, or bay with a rather plain but proportionate head, a muscular neck and shoulder, deep body and strong quarters, and short heavy-boned legs. The Oldenburg is an intelligent and bold horse used particularly in competitive driving. The third type of German Warmblood breed of horse is the Hanoverian. It comes in all solid colors, has a medium-sized head with large kind eyes, a fine neck, prominent wither, muscular quarters and limbs, and good hard feet. The Hanoverian excels in dressage and show jumping. These three (and other) regional variations on a singular standard are not necessarily considered separate breeds, as they have an open stud book and freely exchange genetic material. On the other hand, some observers do consider these distinctive types of the German Warmblood to be individual breeds.
Temperament:
The German Warmblood breed of horse is tractable and gentle.
Height:
The German Warmblood breed of horse stands 15.3 to 17 hands high.
Health Problems:
The German Warmblood breed of horse is not known for any specific health problems, and is considered to be a hardy and resilient breed.
Grooming:
The German Warmblood breed of horse has routine grooming requirements. Routine grooming includes cleaning the horse's coat, combing out its mane and tail, picking out its hooves, and keeping its dock, eyes, muzzle, and nostrils clean with damp sponges. It should be shod, and its hooves must be trimmed every few months.
Origin:
The German Warmblood breed of horse originated in Germany, with its roots (particularly for the Hanoverian type) in the state stud at Celle, which was founded in 1735 to provide local people with the services of good stallions at affordable fees. Originally, most of the horses were bred for agricultural and carriage use. Later on, more thoroughbred blood was introduced to produce a riding horse. Today, the state continues to take an active role in ensuring the quality of breeding stallions by requiring veterinary inspections and performance tests before licensing. 