The Danish Warmblood is a highly bred competitive horse that has been designed and developed for show jumping, dressage and other equestrian events.
The Danish Warmblood registry is maintained in Denmark by the Dansk Varmblod and in the United States and Canada by the North American Danish Warmblood Association.
Each Danish Warmblood must be inspected before they can be registered, branded and used for breeding purposes. This inspection process ensures that only the most ideal Danish Warmblood mares and stallions are used in future and current breeding programs.
Some Danish Warmblood horses are given a brand in the shape of a triangle on their left thigh. This brand signifies that the owner has taken out insurance on the horse in the event that the horse may become inapplicable for riding, and the insurance company has paid out on the claim.
Many Danish Warmbloods are used in various equestrian events in the Olympics. In the 2006 World Equestrian Games a German dressage rider, Catherine Haddad and her horse, Maximus JSS, actually competed for the United States Equestrian Team after completing a variety of requirements to join the team.
Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark is the Patroness of the Danish Warmblood breed, and also owns several horses herself, two which are medal winners and champions in their own right.
The studbook for the Danish Warmblood horses was not developed until 1960; however, breeders had been working for many years to perfect this magnificent competitive horse.
The official brand for either the Dansk Varmblod and the North American Danish Warmblood Association is a crown shape floating over a wave. All horses that have been inspected and passed will have the brand, plus they will also have a "horse passport" which is internationally recognized as an identification and registry confirmation. Since the 1980s the foals last three numbers of their registration have also been included in the brand. The North American Danish Warmblood brand has a capital A in the center of the crown.
Since many of the most prestigious Danish Warmblood stallions are located in Denmark, breeders in other country often import semen and artificially inseminate mares to obtain the best possible offspring. These foals are eligible for all levels of entry into the registry but must complete the inspections just as every other Danish Warmblood horse.
There are over 5000 members in the Dansk Varmblod Association, making it the largest horse and breeding association in the country. The increasing promotion of the breed through the World Breeding Federation for Sports Horses has highlighted the breed and allowed international riders, trainers and breeders to see the horses in action.
Not only do Danish Warmbloods have to pass a difficult and challenging inspection that is based on movement, physical appearance and conformation, they also have exhibit the right temperament. The Danish Warmblood must be calm and even-tempered but they must also show drive, intelligence and spirit when being put through their paces.
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