About the Belgian Warmblood
The Belgian Warmblood has been carefully developed over several decades through the selective breeding of Belgium's finest cavalry and light agricultural horses to Thoroughbreds, Anglo-Arabs and other proven European Warmbloods (Hanoverian, Holsteiner, Selle-Francais and Dutch). The resulting modern Belgian Warmblood is an ideal riding and competition sport horse of international quality.
Take a look! BWP Horses (video)
The Belgian Warmblood first entered the North American show scene in the 1970's. The North American District of the Belgian Warmblood Association was established in 1987. The first inspection by the Belgian verband of breeding horses was held in 1988. Since then, the BWP-NAD has grown, hosting annual KEURINGS from coast to coast, from north to south.
Lifetime achievement awards are based on a horse's performance in dressage, hunters, jumpers or combined training. The BWP-NAD is developing a database to track Belgian Warmbloods' performances in North America, to record offspring foaled in North America, and to track horses that are for sale. The Association is a charter member of the Federation of North American Sport Horse Organizations, participates in the all-breeds category of the United States Dressage Federation, and is currently talking with the Performance Horse Registry to further expand the data.
Many world class American riders have discovered the talents of the Belgian Warmblood. Riders such as Joe Fargis, Darlene Sandlin-McMullen, Hap Hansen, Robert Dover and the Leone brothers have been buying or competing Belgian Warmbloods for quite a number of years!
The bloodlines found in Belgian Warmbloods represent Europe and America's finest. These include Abglanz, Alcanar, Alme, Black Sky, Bold Forbesxx, Bolero, Carneval, Conquistador, Cieloxx, Cor de la Bryree, Cottage Sonxx, Duft II, Domspatz, Don Carlos, Drost, Duellant, Einblick, Firnis, Feiner Kerl, Flugel van la Roche, Furioso, Ferdinandioso, Ferdinand, Grande, Gotthard, Goldfalk, Goldspring, Hyperiorxx, Ibrahim Norm, Never Bendxx, Nimmerdor, Landgraf, Ladykillerxx, Lugano, Pik Bauer, Pik Koenig, Ramiro Z, Sudan and Wendekreis.
The Belgian Warmbloods' primary recognition and strength has been in show jumping and eventing, and they are becoming regulars in the dressage arena as well. Renzo, by Wendekreis, competed in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics in Dressage, and Whitni Star competed in the 2008 Olympics, and was named 2008 French Dressage Champion. Each year increasing numbers of BWP horses are competing in USDF and USEF sanctioned dressage competitions and winning. The Belgian Warmblood is no longer Europe 's best kept secret. They are being sought out and shown by riders all over the world!
Horses such as Big Ben, Ally Oop, Henzo, Darco, Jus De Pomme, Britt, Parco, Sapphire, Oh Star, Clinton, Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold, Coronet Obolensky and countless others have represented countries around the world in Olympic and World Cup competitions. They are very successful in the hunter ring as well, with stars such as Red Panda, Gray Slipper, Brunello and many others winning at the biggest shows in the country.
BWP competitors in the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong included:
Eventing
Southern King V (Bayard D’Elle) – Italy
Quick (First Mate xx) – Austria
Dressage
Whitini Star (Pik Solo) – France
Show Jumping
Un Blanc de Blancs (Sheyenne de Baugy) – Brazil
Tadonia (Leader M) – China
Cornet Obolensky (Clinton) – Germany
Tresor (Major de la Cour) – Hong Kong
Urban (Darco) – Hong Kong
Wido (Nabab de Reve) – Saudi Arabia
Forest (Forever) – New Zealand
Sitah (Nonstop) – New Zealand
Codar (Clinton) – Ukraine
Quintus (Pavarotti vd Helle) – Ukraine
Sapphire (Darco) – United States
The Belgian Warmbloods' primary recognition and strength has been in show jumping and eventing, and they are becoming regulars in the dressage arena as well. Renzo, by Wendekreis, competed in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics in Dressage, and Whitni Star competed in the 2008 Olympics, and was named 2008 French Dressage Champion. Each year increasing numbers of BWP horses are competing in USDF and USEF sanctioned dressage competitions and winning. The Belgian Warmblood is no longer Europe 's best kept secret. They are being sought out and shown by riders all over the world!