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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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