Popular Olympic Jumper Horse Breeds
Some breeds are better suited to jumping competition than others, here I’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular breeds used in olympics equestrian jumping this year.
For more information about the equestrian games in Hong Kong see the 2008 cheatsheet.
The Belgians have long been known for their draft horses, however the Belgian Warmblood sport horse has become increasingly popular due to their affinity for big fences and charming personality.
The Dutch Warmblood was bred specifically for looks and action in competition. This is done through a rigorous selection process using science and technology alongside traditional breeding practices to create a superior animal.
300 years of organized breeding has created an bloodline that not only excels in equestrian sports but has influenced many of the other breeds used in sport competitions today. The World Breed Federation for Sport Horses has named the Hanoverian the “Best of All” award every year since they opened their doors.
Their rangy frame and a sensible intellect is not an accident, the Holsteiner horse has been moulded by centuries of breeding. The result is an animal notable for their bright, elastic movement; lean, athletic build; and intelligent, bold personality.
The Oldenburg horse holds one of the largest studbooks in Germany, a country known for their their eventing horses. Each autumn in Vechta, Oldenberg “Stallion Days” licensing evaluation is held which includes an auction and parades.
Also called the French Saddle Horse, this is a modern warmblood and a proven sport horse. There were more Selle Français horses competiting in the 2002 olympics than any other breed and they helped to win 5 of the 7 medals won by the French equestrians that year.
Traces of domesticated horse ancestry in Sweden dates back as far as 4,000 BC, and since then the development of the Swedish Warmblood has been shaped by difficult conditions and the conflicts of war into a strong and reliable animal with a ground-eating gait.
Originally bred as working and farm animals, the Westphalian horse was created to improve German horse stocks in the 18th century. Many records of the bloodlines were destroyed throughout the turmoil in Germany during the early 20th century, however the breed persisted as a popular sporting horse anyway.
Note the similarities in their confirmation and which breeds are versatile enough to cross competition lines and work well in eventing and dressage 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.
What about the Swiss warm bloods arent they good jumpers!!!! I have one myself and came first place last year in a dutch organised jumping show!!
I love jumping this year im going to italy to compete with some of the best jumpers wel i hope evryone wishes me luck lol
Swiss warmbloods seem to be more popular at the olympics as eventing horses.
Good luck in Italy!
i have a selle francias called sienna but have you noticed how that the oldenburger has such prominent nostrills wierd?
Hi Nicole,
Do you mean the oldenburger in the pic or oldenburgs in general?
I’d love to see a picture of Sienna.
Holsteiners tend to be extremly good jumpers, i recently went to a high end jumping show and there were, dutch, belgian, selle francais and holsteiners. they seem to be extremly popular
hy….I come from Croatia…and I have Lipizzan horses…..they are my favourite because of theyr temperament and beauty….!! love the pics……
i love horses. i don’t have my own, though, yet…
anyway, i personally prefer thouroughbreds, arabians, and trakkeners.
Same but, I would like an oldenburg or a dutch warmblood. I hope i can win a lottery some day!
I have a selle francais myself and I absolutely love her!!!
I’m new to English for 5-6 years I have been riding Western. For, about 1 year I have been riding English and I can jump 2 feet I personally prefer FOR jumping Arabians and crossbreds
I’ve been riding for nine years, and i’m barely starting to jump. A good breed that has a lot of natural talent is welsh mountain ponies. I have one even though she’s too small. They’re tidy jumpers though
I’m deciding to get a Dutch Warmblood that’s 13 years old im in love and he’s only ten thousand
ten thousand is expensive, especially for a thirteen year old. how much do you think you’ll be able to get out of him?
nevermind about the danish i was at a clinic yesterday and it ran and through me of 2 times!
tell me if you now of any barns or websites to check out for a horse about 16 hands and at least 9 years old and a gelding!
What about Trakehners? They have a super-selective studbook, and to get in both the horse’s parents have to be Trakehners or one parent has to be a Trakehner and the other has to be either a TB or an Arab. The horse can’t just look like a Trakehner (unlike other warmblood breeds) it has to have the blood. Trakehners make excellent jumpers, dressage, or eventing mounts. They are the most refined of the warmblood breeds, with elastic gaits and high intelligence.
I have a Holsteiner and he is a great Jumper. He finds Dressage really boring and loves hacks. Same as my moms Swedish Warmblood enjoys Jumping a lot more
… We always had Holsteiners, this is our first Swedish Horse. She’s great.
I love the Dutch warmblood,but then the Holsteiner and then the Hanoverian,it really is confusing!!LOL!But my trainer says to look at obedience 1st then at what you would like to do with him/her.i have a Dutch warmblood gelding and im 11 and his names apollo but i chose him cus he did show jumping and a little dressage.
Dutches, Hanos, Holsteiners, & Oldenburgs are mainly the top jumpers. I have read about these breeds for years & still debating what I want. If you want a horse for eventing I suggest the Hano. For show jumping I also suggest Oldenburgs & Holsteins. And lastly, Dutches for dressage…
I might be looking for a future sports horse, so if you see any sells that are under 20K, just tell me! The horse can be a stallion, gelding, or mare. I ridden some of the badest horses at my near by EC. Once likes to try to bite me, another tries to lunges me around the arena and tries to make me fall off. Oh, why did my instructor had to put me on that stubburn horse! LOL!
i have a TB/warblood cross. he’s really well built and is 17.2 and i love him! he jumps like he’s got wings. i do prefer the warmblood in him more than the TB. my parents both have swedish warmbloods that are amazing jumpers and have the best disposition.
i sold apollo!!!DX to my trainer!!!XD THANK GOODNESS!!!i got another Dutch Warmblood though!whoo-hoo!his name is Jester,hes 16.1,hes as gentle as a lamb and is really good at shoeing,grooming,etc.I FREAKIN LOVE THE Dutch Warmblood!!!ok,deep breath callie,deep breath!whooo,ok im good.Yeah and he does mainly jumping but does a little eveting and im starting to teach him little dressage i know.So yeah hes really a gr8 horse
I have a beauiful Bay Hanoverian Gelding named Chance we do eventing and show,his show name is Lucky Chance but we all call him Chance.He is an amazing jumper and LOVES going on trails and splashing through water,lol,bye
Hey Rebekah! im lookng to buy a horse,perhaps a warmblood. But idk which breed and since it seems u have alot of experience,not tht i dont but im stuck on which breed to go with.I want to do Show Jumping competievely and dressage for fun and go on trails alot,so which breed fits in with those things?Anyone tht would help would be my hero!!lol thanks=D
Have a horse myself, his name is Shot-Gun Blues, he is a BEAUTIFUL, large cheastnut thoroughbred and loves jumping…he often excites himself but loves doing cross country:-) hehe
thanks
does anyone know a really great show jumping horse breed?cus tht basically what i want to do,show jumping,show jumping and lastly show jumping.so if anyone knew an amazing jumper horse breed tht would be awesome!thanks
Hanoverians are perfect for jumping if your looking for a A-Rated show horse. But, I would consider Thoroughbreds to be one of the best jumpers. They have stamina, speed, and the long powerful legs, I would consider them a cheaper version of a warmblood or Hanoverian. lol. I have a thoroughbred and she is pretty good, she is only 15.3 hands and she jumps like a frog! I also rid a bigger Thoroughbred and he is aboput 16.2 he jumper 4ft+
i ve great fan of hanovarian breed.they ve great gait ,supple cool temperament
i love hanovarian breed.easy to handle,cool in nature,and very bold.
Well… we are going to be getting a warmblood in 30 days, and I am soo excited! I have my own horse, but she isn’t any kind of these in the pictures… she is actually a Andalusion, and she is absoloutly gourgous! I have only ridden Western on her so far, but I HAVE ridden English to, and I like riding both, I am going to be training soon with her so I can do jumping! I absoulutly LOVE it!:D
We have a gorgeous Belgium Warmblood Hanoverian Filly 5 months old “Phoenix” for sale . She is conformational beauty in motion. Her saddle seat is perfect. Her shoulder slope is awesome. Her top line is terrific. She has powerful hindquarters and perfect straight legs. She has just the cutest head…best of all she is sweet to boot. She is super intelligent. We have already taught her to clip, lead and load. You can touch her anywhere, stomach, legs all over. She even lets you hug her neck, stomach…anywhere really. At 3 months she jumped 2 feet all on her own. My daughter was hugging her as she was lying down. She is very trusting and sweet…but she is VERY BOLD and Courageous. I really want to find a perons that will take her all the way. She is so perfect for someone who wants to jump, hunt or dressage. She was bred for that exact purpose. We bought her mama “Utah” this last year already bred by Hans Lengers Stud “Rasmataz”. (Hans was one of the orginal hanoverian association board members and current breeder). Everyone that has seen this big filly has commented on her incredible conformation. She will reach almost 17 hands. My trainer was extremely impressed commenting that his yearlings are not nearly as far along in ability and “training”. She is handled daily and loved by children and adults alike. We are only asking $6,000. Please contact me if you are interested. I can garauntee you won’t be disappointed. We have not advertised her for sale yet. It is hard to let go because she is just so darn cute and so very easy to care for. I am not really in any hurry. I just want to find the right person. I especially would love to find a young girl who wants to hunt and jump, but will love her as much as my 12 year old loves the horse she is raising. The bond between the two is incredible and I know how much she loves her horse. I hope I will find someone who will love Phoenix as much. If you want to raise, train and compete with filly bred for grand prix competition please call me or email me. (704-847-3424) bluewavestable@gmail.com
I have an Anglo-Arab who is a fantastic natural jumper, effortless too.
Hey I love the pics they’re great.. I must say my family and I have had our fair share of horses and I have just imported a Hanoverian from Germany of course! I must say he is worth his weight in gold 17.3hh and he can jump anything and just as good on the flat. If youre looking for a warmblood then get a Hanoverian you’ll not go far wrong!!
and what about the palomino I have one and she is a wonderful jumper and I have recently bred her with a gorgious dutch wormblood my old friend imported him from in farm in spain… and I know that palomino isn’t an importent breed but I think that its the inside that counts.
All breeds are important Leah. Palomino is a color breed & registered based on their coloring rather than their bloodlines. There are a lot of breeds that can be palomino and plenty of them are great jumpers.
Thanks so much to everyone sharing their favorite jumping breeds. There are so many of them out there! I’m guilty of liking the big, bulky warmblood breeds the best – there is something so strong and solid about them.