Swedish Halfbred Horse

The Swedish Half-bred horse is also known as Swedish Warmblood. This is a horse that was developed in Sweden, particularly at Flyinge and Stromsholm. This horse breed descends from an imported stock in the 17th century. The horses imported to Sweden were from Germany, Denmark, Hungary, England, Spain, France, Turkey and Russia. There was extraordinary variation among these horses but they became the Swedish Warmblood along the way.

History of Swedish Half-bred Horse

The Swedish Half-bred has its beginning 300 years ago, when Oriental, Andalusian and Friesian stallions were imported and bred to local mares with the intention of producing good saddle horses for the cavalry. The local mares were petite but rough. Since then the breed has been carefully built up. The best of Thoroughbred, East Prussian, Hanoverian, Trakehner and Holstein stallions were introduced to The Swedish Half-breds during the 19th and 20th centuries. In the development of this new breed, the decade from 1920 to 1930 was very significant. By the use of these horses huge and sturdy horses were fashioned. The breed is now fixed and strict controls are exercised over the stallions used. The result is an outstanding saddle horse, a formidable Olympic Games competitor which excels in dressage and jumping. Immediately after the Second World War Anno, Polarstern, the Trakehners Heristal and Heinfried had the foremost impact on the Swedish Half-bred horse. Hamlet, Thoroughbred Hamplemann and Tribun are the breeds that influenced this new horse bred most noticeably.

Physique of Swedish Half-bred Horse

The Swedish Half-bred horse has the quality of a good saddle horse with excellent conformation. It has a neat, attractive head with straight face, large eyes and short and pricked ears. The neck of this horse is of medium length. The shoulders are strapping and sloping. This horse breed has good withers and depth of girth. Its body is rather deep, with well-sprung ribs, straight back and good loins. It has excellent, rounded hindquarters. Its legs are hard and slender, with short cannon bones, short, sloping pasterns and hocks well let down.

Height of Swedish Half-bred Horse

On an average the Swedish Half-bred horse stands to the height of 16.2 hands high.

Body Color of Swedish Half-bred Horse

The coat of Swedish Half-bred horse is of solid colors. The colors generally seen on its body are chestnut, bay, brown or gray.

Temperament of Swedish Half-bred Horse

The Swedish Half-bred horse is intelligent, bold, good-natured, sensible and obedient.

Uses of Swedish Half-bred Horse

The Swedish Half-bred horse breed is extensively used as a riding horse. It has painless and straight paces. It is also an attractive, sound, well-mannered and unquestionably multitalented horse. It is also used as a jumper, dressage horse and in events. Swedish Half-bred horse has proved to be a very good driving horse. These horses are exported in large numbers all over Europe and United States.

The main aim of the development of the Swedish Half-bred horse was to serve the military purposes. The strict procedure of selection for the development of this horse breed has produced one of the best and purest breeds of sport horses on the planet. This is a brawny horse with athletic qualities. It has a good conformation and the action is extravagant and straight. It has attained expertise in eventing, dressage and show jumping.