| The American Warmblood, like many of the European | | | | competition warmblood types in Europe, such as being |
| Warmbloods, is generally thought to be any horse that | | | | powerful and balanced with elastic gaits. Its head is |
| fits into the warmblood type that is used primarily for | | | | similar to the Thoroughbred, as well as having the |
| jumping or dressage competition. It originated in the | | | | sloping shoulders with powerful, well-muscles |
| United States, and an American Warmblood must | | | | hindquarters, which are much needed in jumping |
| have been born in the United States, Canada, or | | | | competition. Its short back makes it an excellent horse |
| Mexico to be registered in the American Warmblood | | | | for all riding events. All colors are accepted, but the |
| Registry. It has also been called the Sport Horse, the | | | | solid colors and Bay are the most common. |
| American Warmblood Sporthorse, or simply | | | | There are two main gaits of the American |
| Warmblood. | | | | Warmblood. The Quality Walk is four even beats in |
| American Warmbloods often excel in dressage, show | | | | length as well as height. When stepping forward from |
| jumping and eventing, which is what they are being | | | | behind in a generous & athletic way, it creates a |
| bred for. | | | | swinging momentum throughout the body. The horse |
| The American Warmblood is a result of breeding | | | | should be freely reaching forward through the |
| hot-blooded horses (Thoroughbreds) with cold-blooded | | | | shoulders down to the hooves showing articulation in all |
| horses (drafts) to produce an athletic, well-rounded | | | | the joints which results in a harmonious and balanced |
| "warm-blooded" mount. Many American breeders | | | | walk with a marching tempo. The Quality Trot is two |
| claim that all the various European Warmbloods are | | | | even beats in length as well as height. When stepping |
| highly intermingled and do not represent distinct breeds, | | | | clearly forward from behind with there is an "uphill" |
| but rather various types of Warmbloods. So, rather | | | | profile with suspension off the ground. The head |
| than splitting up the various types in the United States, | | | | reflects the balanced self-carriage of the horse being |
| the American Warmbloods have been grouped into a | | | | nearly vertical. |
| single registry. Out of this desire to combine all imports, | | | | The American Warmblood is a noble, well mannered |
| the American Warmblood Registry has been | | | | and attentive horse with an alert presence. It |
| registering European imports and their American | | | | possesses a willing, yet calm, attitude and is attentive, |
| offspring on an equal basis. The combining of all | | | | obedient, tractable, and eager to please to its handler |
| European Warmbloods into one American Warmblood | | | | or rider. The energetic way that the horse approaches |
| Registry is believed to be a way to save the | | | | its work, and the concentration and focus it has, |
| Warmblood from being ruined by too many splinter | | | | shows an inner drive that indicates a propensity |
| groups trying to control small numbers of horses. | | | | towards performance. |
| The American Warmblood has been influenced by | | | | There are two registering bodies for the American |
| Thoroughbreds for speed, Arabians for stamina and | | | | Warmblood, neither of which is affiliated with the other. |
| has also added other European Warmbloods to | | | | The American Warmblood Registry (AWR) was |
| further enhance the American breed. The European | | | | established in 1981 and is the one most people consider |
| Warmbloods also have draft horses in their | | | | to be the main registry. The American Warmblood |
| backgrounds. Horses of nearly all bloodlines are | | | | Registry has a goal to develop the American |
| acceptable for registration as long as they are of a | | | | Warmblood Sporthorse to the highest possible |
| sport horse or warmblood type, and are able to meet | | | | standard in North America through careful |
| the appropriate studbook selection or performance | | | | maintenance of their registries, studbooks, and annual |
| criteria. Yet the American Warmblood breeders | | | | breeding stock approvals. They have chosen a distinct |
| consider them to be a more distinct breed than the | | | | and unique brand to identify these American-bred |
| European Warmbloods, even though they are mixed | | | | Warmblood Sporthorses. |
| with the Europeans and thus share the same | | | | There is also the American Warmblood Society |
| backgrounds. Even though they are still selecting | | | | (AWS), which is an International, non-profit |
| breeding specimens to very high standards, the | | | | Performance horse corporation founded in 1983, that is |
| American Warmblood type is a work in progress at | | | | dedicated to the development of Sport horses from |
| this time. Since the stud books are still open to | | | | grass roots through the Olympic levels. As one of the |
| outcrossing, they are not yet a pure breed. | | | | Associate Members of the World Breeding Federation |
| American Warmbloods come in all shapes, colors and | | | | for Sport Horses (WBFSH), the AWS promotes, |
| sizes, but average between 16 to 18 hands. They have | | | | represents, nominates, records and registers horses |
| many of the quality characteristics found in other | | | | for the Olympic sports and for combined driving. |