Differences between warmbloods & thoroughbreds?

[JJS]

I loaned a beautiful KWPN gelding alongside my old TB mare. When people asked the difference between them, I always defined it like this: if you rode them both in a straight line towards a wall, the warmblood would keep walking until his nose hit it, and then wait for you to tell him what to do next, whereas my Thoroughbred mare would take herself around it without being asked. Of course, it could have been no more than their individual personalities, but I know which of them I'd prefer to be riding when I needed some help getting out of a scrape!

 

[frostyfingers]

I'm not looking specifically for a warmblood, it's just that a horse has come up with that breeding that meets my requirements, is currently hunting and in my price range. I'm veering away from a full TB simply because I've had so many problems with the last two vet wise and I can't afford it or handle the worry any more. I love the hunting and the intention is to keep the TB (although he now needs 8 weeks off) and supplement him with something hopefully a bit more robust. I may even turn him away for the winter and start again in the spring, I don't know. I've also found and IDxTB and am waiting for a call back......

 

[Micropony]

Last horse was a German WB, current horse is a Dutch WB, share horse was an eventing bred TB, and over the years have regularly ridden about 3 ex-NH TBs (although 2 of them looked more like ex flat racers IYKWIM).

So not a massive sample, admittedly.

Both WBs were, without doubt, the most intelligent horses I have ridden, and have massive personalities (but then I know them better than the TBs). If you weren't a step ahead of the German one in particular, he'd be 4 steps ahead of you! Very easily bored, and then he'd find subversive ways to entertain himself...

Neither WB was what I would call sharp, but the German one could be a right thug if he was in the mood. I know the modern WB breeding is getting sharper and sharper though, especially the top dressage lines. Not sure I would want to take a Metall horse out hunting, for example...

Wouldn't have called the TBs sharp either though.

I would say there's more difference within a breed than between breeds, on the whole. But if I were going to stereotype, based on my experience I would say TBs show out more so you know what you're dealing with, whereas a WB is more likely to bottle it up in secret, which can lead to surprises...

TBs are considerably cheaper than WBs, so if you go shopping for a WB with a TB budget, you could well end up with a duff one. And the idea of buying a WB because you want something likely to be robust, well that made me chuckle!

For your job, wouldn't a TBx be the way to go? With a bit of Irish or Welsh or Connie or CB or something?

 

[Fiona]

Deep, trappy and steep country = a irish horse or a good welsh D

Perfect footing, no ditches, water or puzzles to fool the horse = a dumbblood.

Just my thoughts and everyone else will disagree.

Most definitely agree....

My hunter of a lifetime was a welshie, perfect apart fron big hedges...

Hubbys ID mare though strong has a fifth leg crossing the country

We've a TB mare who is very good too...

Fona

 

[TGM]

Just to add, my husband's horse is Irish x Anglo Arab, and he is a great hunter too, although perhaps not quite as clever as the warmblood (in his defence, his feet are a lot further from his brain). But in both cases we chose them for the horse they were, not for what breed they were.

To the OP, if the horse you are looking at is doing the job you want already and you like the horse, don't let breed stereotypes put you off.

 

[Melody Grey]

Deep, trappy and steep country = a irish horse or a good welsh D

Perfect footing, no ditches, water or puzzles to fool the horse = a dumbblood.

Just my thoughts and everyone else will disagree.

No pheasants, crisp packets or other life threatening events = TB

 

[Goldenstar]

I can't bear it when people call warmbloods dumb bloods , it's insults the memory of wonderful dead horse friends .

 

[pegasus1986]

I have a ID x WB and hes an amazing alrounder has the sturdiness of the ID lovely paces of the WB and hunts allday twice a week

 

[ozpoz]

I can't bear it when people call warmbloods dumb bloods , it's insults the memory of wonderful dead horse friends .

Yes, this.
There are so many different line in both breeds.
I love TB's ,always have, and the best and brightest horse I ever had the privilege to ride was a Belgian Warmblood.
Take your pic, choose the horse, not the breeding - it is hard enough to find a sound one of any description.

 

[Annagain]

I have a ID x WB and hes an amazing alrounder has the sturdiness of the ID lovely paces of the WB and hunts allday twice a week

A friend has a (Maesmynach) Section D x Warmblood. Another amazing allrounder who evented to intermediate. Bold, talented, incredibly clever with lovely paces....and, as you can imagine with that combination, a screw loose! Lovely to ride, just don't try to do anything with him on the ground or leave him on his own anywhere.

 

[Doormouse]

Deep, trappy and steep country = a irish horse or a good welsh D

Perfect footing, no ditches, water or puzzles to fool the horse = a dumbblood.

Just my thoughts and everyone else will disagree.

I'm right with you here!

I seem to have had every variety of horses and to be honest the pure warmbloods are not the best hunters. I do like a bit of warmblood in the breeding as they do jump very well and cleanly but for hunting I think some irish helps with toughness and self preservation and a bit of tb to provide the speed and class.

 

[Doormouse]

I can't bear it when people call warmbloods dumb bloods , it's insults the memory of wonderful dead horse friends .

I have had plenty of warmbloods and warmblood x horses and I have loved them all but I don't take the dumb blood thing as an insult, it is just a phrase that people use sometimes and in some cases it suits. TB are often called scatty, some are, some aren't.

The one thing I think I would say is that a lot of warmbloods are quite needy, they like to get it right and they like to be told they are getting it right.

 

[LilyvdM]

I'd say the main difference between TBS and WBs lies in the objectives behind their breeding. WBs have become highly specialised sport horses who are practically bred to perform whilst most TBS are bred to race and with regards to breeding for sport (if they are ever bred for it at all), they are a couple of decades behind.
This doesn't mean to say you can't get a high performing TB, but often these horses are exceptional.
But when it comes to hunting, TBs will trump warmbloods any day. You might think differently because WBs do well in modern day eventing but modern day eventing has evolved over the years almost into an outdoor jumping course of sorts. Back in the day, when courses were longer (resembling what youd get whilst out hunting) and they still had to do the flat time run, TBS were the kings of cross country. They had the stamina and guts for it.

As regards to age, not all TBs are absolute race-cars off the track. I'd suggest rather getting a more experienced TB or any other type of horse. The main problem with warmbloods is that they tend to get very hot and bored when not ridden 5-7 times a week. WBs were bred to be competition horses and might not have the required stamina for a days hunting. My mum, who used to do hunting, said that in her opinion WBs were useless for hunting and she'd have a nutty TB over them any day!

 

[Luci07]

WB can cover such a broad spectrum with the breeding so I wouldn't be definitive with the breeding. ISH often does have a large dose of WB somewhere so worth hunting for a "traditional" ID x TB. I would caveat that by saying 2 of the hottest horses I have sat on were that mix so its not a guarantee. Equally, some of the easiest and most straightforward horses I have owned were 2 ex NH horses. Bigger framed, matured slower, and quite a bit of bone.

 

[GemG]

I think most of us agree that you cannot generalise - or you can if you want :-/

Interestingly, Trakehners are known as the TB of the warmbloods and I didn't have to look too far back in the distant past in the pure bred pink papered loan mare's pedigree to find her TB ancestors.

Does height matter? A dose of native blood in a TB can help add a bit of toughness and act as an anti vet device!!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Interestingly, Trakehners are known as the TB of the warmbloods and I didn't have to look too far back in the distant past in the pure bred pink papered loan mare's pedigree to find her TB ancestors.

One of the nicest horses I have ever known was a chestnut trakehner mare by Holme Grove Solomon. Super, super horse.

 

[Tnavas]

Isn't it funny- re post above - one of the most evil horses I've ever owned was a Trakehner mare. They are descended from wild ponies (Russian) I think.

What is also interesting the UK have been breeding Warmbloods far longer than you realise - we called them 'Hunters'

 

[AdorableAlice]

I can't bear it when people call warmbloods dumb bloods , it's insults the memory of wonderful dead horse friends .

I apologise, I have no want or need and I did not intend to insult or upset anyone at all.

 

[GemG]

One of the nicest horses I have ever known was a chestnut trakehner mare by Holme Grove Solomon. Super, super horse.

That's funny, the mare I'm referring to is a HG one, she is Holme Grove Irroy (we have bred a filly from her which we are keeping) - temperament absolutely second to none and stunning.

Sorry... Off topic! HG Solomon (lovely looking boy I must add) had Shagya Arabs in his ancestors only a handful of generations back.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

That interesting GemG.

Tnavas - do you remember the breeding of the Trakehner you knew?

 

[Cortez]

I used to breed Trakehners, they have their origins from the native Schweike pony (from Prussia, in what is now Poland) crossed with Arabs and Thoroughbreds, one of the oldest WB studbooks started in 1732 with the aim of producing the ultimate military horse. I wouldn't necessarily select a Trakehner to go hunting though (too sensitive). If I was to hunt I'd choose a traditional Irish hunter (TB X ID), they do seem to have it in their blood.

 

[frostyfingers]

Viewed the IDxTB yesterday - it did not go well and I didn't even get on. So, I'm going to see the OldenburgxUnknown Irish dam I think and see how it goes. He's hunting regularly, & whipping in so he does sound of the right "type" but nothing ventured nothing gained!

 

[Cortez]

Viewed the IDxTB yesterday - it did not go well and I didn't even get on. So, I'm going to see the OldenburgxUnknown Irish dam I think and see how it goes. He's hunting regularly, & whipping in so he does sound of the right "type" but nothing ventured nothing gained!

Do tell about the viewing yesterday, sounds intriguing!

 

[The wife]

Just for my pennies worth I have had 2 of my best days hunting aboard a WB and a full TB respectively. Both incredibly different to ride but I will be honest I would take the TB any day of the week regardless. The TB was a beautiful ride across our trappy country, nimble, sure footed and as quick as lightening when needed and would stay all day. Although steadier, the WB was a fun ride but exceptionally safe but very heavy in the hand, didn't quite have the speed we required and just didn't have the same stamina - hence I will favour the TB.

My own Hanoverian is as (without being too mean) thick as pig ****, you wouldn't even get him to the meet, let alone persuading him that anything other than the finest Leicestershire turf was safe to gallop upon - that is if you could get him out of a medium canter. He has really made me dislike foreign bred horses, although I love him dearly, he has put me off buying another for anything other than show-jumping or dressage-which I suppose by all accounts is what they are mainly bred for these days.

Give me either a full TB or a IDxTB any day of the week to hunt, event or show and I will be more than happy

 

[Orca]

Viewed the IDxTB yesterday - it did not go well and I didn't even get on. So, I'm going to see the OldenburgxUnknown Irish dam I think and see how it goes. He's hunting regularly, & whipping in so he does sound of the right "type" but nothing ventured nothing gained!

I think viewing a horse that is already whipping in is a good way to go. I had been going to suggest that to find the best hunter for your country, it's worth paying attention to the type of horses your hunt yard has. They will have been chosen for their aptitude for the terrain, a certain level of energy, level headedness and they won't be delicate. Our hunt yard had horses of a similar stamp bar one or two, whose attributes gave them a special place (one who could jump like a stag from a standstill and another who could power through anything!).

 

[Auslander]

The best and bravest hunter I ever rode was a Bavarian warmblood. She was sharp, quick and clever, had about 6 extra legs, and seemed to know what the job was all about from Day 1. No brakes, and not much in the way of steering, but she made up for it in spades with how she crossed the country. I adored hunting her.

 

[frostyfingers]

Cortez - it bucked the jockey off twice then disappeared! I beat a retreat once it had been caught, not for me even if it were a one off.....

 

[AdorableAlice]

Cortez - it bucked the jockey off twice then disappeared! I beat a retreat once it had been caught, not for me even if it were a one off.....

and I bet the vendor said - it has never done that before.

 

[Tnavas]

That interesting GemG.

Tnavas - do you remember the breeding of the Trakehner you knew?

Hi - I thought I had replied to your post but it's disappeared into cyber space.

Her sire was Falkensee - through the grapevine I learnt that some of his stock were known to be difficult.

Mine was professionally broken before I got her, but when she felt like it she would explode in a bucking fit that would do a rodeo horse proud, sometimes when under saddle and sometimes when being led. One time when I was riding her she had done some lovely leg yield and I then asked her again for some more - her response "Shan't and won't" she reared and as I leant forwards she flung her head up and caught me on my cheek with her poll - my eye swelled up just as they do in cartoons, my eye went bloodshot and the side of my face blackened - next thing I'm having a CT scan as the doc thought it might be bleeding into my brain. Left me with a dent in my face just below my eye and short term memory problems.

Sent her to a stockman to be re-broken - some improvement - a little easier to work with but still at times difficult - there were times when she would decide that today "I am not having my feet trimmed" and would jump out of her yard or throw herself over if the farrier picked up a leg. Others - "Make me go in the trailer" and other days walk on like a lamb. Yet one of my riding school kids would take her to Pony Club and she'd generally be an angel.

When I finally sold her I was very careful who she went to and they were told - in full - her history. The people who bought her persevered for a year with her - then bred from her! You have to wonder at some folk! She was then PTS - which was the sensible decision.

 

[Cortez]

Cortez - it bucked the jockey off twice then disappeared! I beat a retreat once it had been caught, not for me even if it were a one off.....

LOL...........