Te Belgian Warmblood Horse By Executive Director Chris Sallee BWP – Belgian Warmblood Paard T
he Belgian Warmblood horse is the product of decades of selective, skillful mixing of the best European blood. It began with breeding of Toroughbreds, Anglo-Arabs and
Europe’s finest Warmbloods with light agricultural horses. Today, the bloodlines of the BWP are among the best in the world, bring- ing only the top performing bloodlines into the breeding stock. Te studbook was born from the “Landelijke Ruiterij,” the rural cavalry founded in 1937 by the Canon De Mey. At the time, our predeces- sors were already convinced of the necessity to create and breed a sports horse for rural riders. In 1955 the studbook was created; its name was vzw Fokvereninging van het Landbourijpaard (National Breeding Association of the Saddle Horse). Te name Landbouri- jpaard was later replaced by Belgische Warmbloed Paard (Belgian Warmblood Horse). Te association is known worldwide as BWP. Te BWP moto is “Bred to Perform”
and the BWP logo with four horse heads, pointing to the north, south, east and west, represents the breeding philosophy of combining top bloodlines from around the world to successfully produce some of the best performing horses. Te list of ap- proved stallions and mares past and pres- ent include some of the greatest names in equestrian sport, including Darco who was named the world’s number one sire by the WBFSH (World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses) for five consecutive years. Long recognized as some of the best jumpers in the world,
Sapphire, one of the most famous jumping mares of all time. Owner Tom Grossman says, “Sapphire opened my eyes to the shear talent of Belgian Warmbloods, which is one of the reasons I breed them today.”
The BWP brand with the 4 horse heads.
Belgian Warmbloods have a remarkable record of achieve- ments both in North America and in Europe. Some of the most impressive Belgian Warmbloods in recent history include Sapphire, Big Ben, Non Stop, Tunder v/d Zuuthoeve, Parco, Toulon, Tarco van ter Moude, Cornet Obolenky (ex Windows vh Costerveld), Tauber van het Kapelhof, Vigo d’Arsouilles, Whitni Star, Winningmood, Up Chiqui, Coral Reef Via Volo, Cella, Cylana, London (ex Carembar de Muze), Emerald Van’t Ruytershof and Cortes ‘C’. Tese outstanding successes are not only taking place in the jumper ring, but in the dressage arena, on the cross-country course and in the hunter ring as well. Many world-class North American riders have discovered the merits of the Belgian Warmblood and have been winning
national championships and international events, including Olympic Games, with their BWP horses: Sapphire (Darco x Hedjaz), who became the face of BWP with two Olympic gold medals and countless other wins; Vigo d’Arsouilles (Nabab de Reve x Starter), WEG winner 2010; London (ex Carembar de Muze–Nabab x Chin Chin), who won the individual and team silver medals at the 2012 Olympic Games; Cortes ‘C’ (Randel Z x Darco), winner of the 2014 WEG individual bronze with four clear rounds; Via Volo (Clinton x Heartbreaker), who represent- ed the U.S. in the 2012 Olympics; Cylana (Skippy II x Darco), who represented the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics; Cella (Cento x Chin Chin), with numerous international Grand Prix wins; and Dixon (Vigo x Olisco), winner of the 2014 $1.5m Spruce Mead- ows Masters. In fact, four of the top ten finishers at the Masters were BWP horses. Belgian Warmbloods are making a tremendous impact on the
sport horse industry, both in North America and worldwide. Te Belgian Warmblood registry is one of the younger and smaller registries but it consistently lists as one of the top five studbooks worldwide while only breeding a fraction of foals each year compared to competing registries. BWP horses have catapulted to the top of the sport horse world by winning or placing con- sistently at every major competition, with both professional and amateur riders. v
Photo at top: Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ (Randel Z x Darco) take bronze at the 2014 WEG. Special BWP Section Warmbloods Today 39
Belgian Warmblood Association Chris Sallee
The Equine Media Project
Allen MacMillan/MacMillan Photography
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