| The Westphalian or Westfalen horse is a breed of | | | | papers at a foal show. |
| German warmblood that is similar in physique to the | | | | The Westphalian Warmblood was based on |
| Hanoverian Warmblood on which it has been based | | | | Oldenburg blood and also on Anglo-Normandy stallions |
| since 1920. The Westphalian stands 15.2 to 17.2 hands | | | | starting in 1900 when the noble East Prussian |
| high, but averages 16.1 hands and like most | | | | Trakehners stallions were replaced with the heavy |
| warmbloods, is always presented in a solid color such | | | | warmbloods from Oldenburg and East Frisia. In 1905 |
| as brown, black, gray, chestnut, or bay. Other colors | | | | the first performance tests were held, and now |
| exist, but they are rare, though not discriminated | | | | stallions had to not only fit a conformation model, but |
| against. They weigh between 1000 and 1300 pounds. | | | | also had to prove themselves under saddle and in |
| The Westphalian horse is probably one of the most | | | | front of a plow before being allowed to breed. |
| well-known warmblood breeds, next to the Hanoverian | | | | But those breeding efforts ended with World War I, |
| Warmblood. Its studbook population is second only to | | | | since those breeds were not suitable for the |
| that of the Hanoverians in size, and like the Hanoverian, | | | | Westphalian soil. After the war, in 1920, warmblood |
| it features only those horses which meet its exacting | | | | breeding was started again and the Westphalian |
| standards. After Hanover, the region of Westphalia | | | | Warmblood became based on the Hanoverian |
| has the largest number of registered broodmares in | | | | Warmblood with some Thoroughbred and Trakehner |
| Germany. Second to Lower Saxony, Westphalia is the | | | | influence. This turned out to be very successful, but |
| second most important horse breeding region in | | | | sadly, many of the old breeding records that had been |
| Germany with 10,000 broodmares, approximately 120 | | | | kept so carefully were destroyed in the political turmoil |
| state stallions and many private stallions available. Also, | | | | in Germany during World War II. Today, the exterior of |
| like its bordering state of Hanover, Westphalia has a | | | | the Westphalian Warmblood is very similar to the |
| jumping horse on its coat of arms, and in both states, | | | | Hanoverian. |
| horse breeding has been a long-standing tradition. | | | | They are large horses, and typically have long necks, |
| The roots of the Westphalian go back to the 1700s, | | | | high muscular withers, long sloping shoulders, and noble, |
| when the German nobility, most notably, King Frederick | | | | intelligent heads. Their legs are strong with massive |
| Wilhelm I established several breeding programs under | | | | joints. Like other German warmbloods, Westphalians |
| the Prussian Stud Administration in 1713 to improve | | | | are very calm and quiet tempered and do well in |
| Germany's horse stocks, while creating several | | | | training. They perform dependably under saddle and |
| state-owned studs which were maintained for the | | | | are well known for having a naturally bold, expansive |
| benefit of Germany's citizens. | | | | and elastic springing gait. The breed has evolved from |
| Many random attempts by breeders were made to | | | | a working animal into a sport horse, with finer boning |
| create a new breed, and these wasted efforts to | | | | than its predecessors, and is bred to be naturally |
| form a unique or stable breed lasted until the turn of | | | | friendly and athletic. |
| the 19th Century. It was not until the founding of the | | | | In the United States, Rhinelander Warmbloods are |
| state stud that a planned breeding program actually | | | | sometimes misrepresented as Westphalian |
| began. The state stud at Warendorf, "Landgestuet | | | | Warmbloods to buyers. While the two studbooks have |
| Warendorf" was founded in 1826 to serve the North | | | | the same standard, the same approval process, and |
| Rhine-Westphalian region. The first stallions to stand at | | | | share a state stud facility, they remain as two distinct |
| Warendorf were from East Prussia, and were similar | | | | studbooks, and the brand on the left hip should help to |
| to the Trakehners of the time. This was when the | | | | distinguish the difference between them. |
| form of the modern Westphalian began to emerge in | | | | The Westphalian Warmblood is an outstanding |
| the stud at Warendorf, in western Germany. They | | | | general-purpose sport horse that excels at driving and |
| were originally bred as working animals, testing under | | | | riding, both for pleasure and for competition. They are |
| saddle and in agricultural pursuits. The annual stallion | | | | well suited to equestrian sports, especially dressage |
| parade at Warendorf has since become a traditional | | | | and jumping, three-day eventing, hunt field, and the |
| gathering point for thousands of horse enthusiasts. | | | | Westphalian horses have shown their high quality with |
| By 1888, the first studbook for the horses in | | | | many of the breed's members competing in Olympic |
| Westphalia was founded, and the following year the | | | | events. |
| first evaluations of stallions and mares were carried | | | | A well trained Westphalian Warmblood is suitable for |
| out. Horses which met the strict breed standard were | | | | riders at all skill levels and for young riders who are |
| branded as foals with the Westphalian crest: a | | | | considering the pursuit of equestrian sports as a |
| crowned shield containing the letter "W" which they | | | | career; a Westphalian can be a valuable and |
| receive when they are awarded their registration | | | | dependable companion. |