Popular Olympic Eventing Horse Breeds
Some breeds are better suited to eventing competition than others, here I’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular breeds used in olympics equestrian eventing this year.
For more information about the equestrian games in Hong Kong see the 2008 cheatsheet.
Combines attractive traits from both the Arabian (refinement and stamina) and Thoroughbreds (size and speed) bloodlines.
A rather new breed the Belgian Warmblood’s bloodlines have been carefully orchestrated to produce a superior eventing and show horse which is both intelligent and fearless.
A mix of Gelderlander, Groningen and Thoroughbred blood, the Dutch Warmblood or KWPN was bred specifically to create a bold competition horse.
Another breed descendant from mounts of war, the Hanoverian blood comes from the tough horses of the middle ages.
Their ancestors bloodlines date back to the 14th century and the Holsteiner was originally developed as a war horse. Their blood runs through the veins of many of the horse breeds used in eventing and show jumping today.
Bred originally by Irish farmers to create a mount for farmers more versatile than the draft work horses who worked the land, the Irish Sport Horse proved versatile enough to rule the show ring too.
France’s answer to the perfect eventing horse, the Selle Français has been aggressively bred for the show ring crossing native French horses with Thoroughbreds and adding a dash of French Trotter for flash.
Also called the Einsiedeln, the Swiss Warmblood was founded in the 10th century as a cavalry troop horse.
One of the first Thoroughbreds brought to America in 1757 (Janus) was the founder of the Quarter Horse breed.
Note the similarities in their confirmation and which breeds are versatile enough to cross competition lines and work well in dressage and stadium jumping too.
Take a moment to meet the horses of the US olympic teams, jumpers, eventing, and dressage.
Interested in learning about more equine breeds? Be sure to checkout our horse breeds section.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:53 am
me and kate feel that either the irish sport horse or the dutch warmblood makes the best event horse !
September 19th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
My personal favorite is the Holsteiner, but it is hard to pick one breed as better than the rest. I think most people pick their favorite based on what they’ve ridden and enjoyed.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I believe that my arabian welsh is a WONDERFUL improvement to the eventing world! some are amazed when tell them his breed.