What do you know about warmblood temperaments?

My belgian warmblood was a total bombproof gent but needed a good 30 mins to get him going forward as v lazy. Best horse ive ever had
 
I have a holstein (german wb) and I would say he has a far trickier temperament than my previous tb, or other irish sports horses I know. Very affectionate and happy but also very nappy, opinionated and so so intelligent, but he is learning self control step by step.

My friend has a dutch wb who is very laid back in general and isn't tricky however is quite sharp and very spooky.
 
Ive had my warmblood gelding since he was 3 and a half, now 8

although bought for pure dressage he hasnt the temperment, has done up to elementary and can do the 'fancy movements' but grinds his teeth, swishes his tail and requires a lot of leg!
have just taken up BS with him, he loves it and is very talented!
he's impeccable in the stable and field and at shows, and a fantastic character to have around and would never part with him, bombproof everywhere and is very beautiful! lucky me! :)


would definately recommend them but if i was looking for another i would buy something more hot-blooded!
 
You will find certain bloodlines are known for certain traits. Animo is not known for being easy!! We have had two by him
And both have been very quirky and a bit nappy. Nimmerdor horses are known to be sharp, more pro rides. Samber known for very kind and even temper. Heartbreaker also sharp. Generally if you know the bloodlines you will know what your getting! Funny enough the only stallion I try and avoid is master imp, who's Irish, talented horses but oh so complicated for an irish horse! I think most warmbloods are actually laid back and easy going, but they do thrive on work so you won't get the full result from them unless you put 100% commitment in.
 
I had branded Danish WB on loan, not sure about how he was bred as I didn’t have his paper work but he was shall we say quite dumb, typical of the saying dumb blood but a lovely character never the less, quite laid back at times but other times quite forward, really depended on whether he could be bothered or not, bit of a Kevin, did have a cheeky trait and would try his luck at times but no malice in it, wasn’t clever enough to get the better of you.
My lad is crossed with a Dutch WB (sire) and he’s a different kettle of fish, complete opposite, he’s very intelligent (which is not always a good thing!) with a big character but he’s a tryer, I don’t know enough about his breeding to comment on if it’s something that’s passed down because he’s also crossed with ID.
 
I have several warmbloods and tbh they are all different in their attitudes and temperments

Belgium WB- Short backed , very powerful and has the attitude to match. (Mare) very talented but boy knows how to stand her corner if need be ! likes you to be around but not fussing - defo not a kissable horse !

Dutch WB - Big rangy leggy mare, with the softest temperment that you could wish for, works excellent in the school and has a jump to die for. Loves attention. So geniune.

Hanovarian - Strong attitude but bit childlike until she turned 7, soft temperment and really tries hard.
Like a bit of fuss but not over board !

Swedish WB - Sharp but soft in the head ! Tries hard and will give 100% at all times but is a little sharp off the leg and can be a a bit grumpy at season time.

Like any horse the temperments and their attitude to work will always be different - be boring if they were all the same. Different types or breeds are designed with a particular work load in mind, be it dressage, jumping or endurance the style and shape for most of us pleasure riders as opposed to the person that make their livings from their horses is, a personal choice. I do not personally like TB, I prefer something with a shoulder in front of me - hence the warmbloods and Lusto and PRE's that I have, saying that I love Arabs.
 
I have a Bavarian WB. Got him as a 5 yo and he turned 20 yesterday. He's quirky, can be a bugger to ride, but when he's being good, he's a dream to ride, bold as anything and has/had a fair pop on him, but when he throws the towel in he throws it big style. On the ground he's an angel, even my son (who's 110 can handle him).
Must say all the WBs I've ridden/handled are quirky, more so than the TBs and natives I've had the same dealings with.
 
Damnation said:
My mare is an imported Dutch Warmblood, KWPN registered. Her father was an international SJ, and he was full TB! She is basically a TB X
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Exactly - TB blood was introduced into all the top WB lines to produce a finer, faster sport type horse. My Westphalian's grandsire is 'lauries Crusador' who is TB.

It's a BIG urban myth MagicMelon to say all WBs are dumb. You get different levels of trainability in all breeds and different riders bring out the best in different horses.
 
Agree every horse is different, but horses of particular breeding can exhibit certain traits more often than not, which is why they get a certain reputation. For instance, no-one would look for an Arab as a plod for a beginner, yet some Arabs are complete saints and wonderful with beginners!

We have an Animo mare at our yard and she's very sharp and very quirky. Not her fault - she's sensitive and bad handling in her past is definitely to blame for a lot of her quirks. But my goodness, can she jump!

As a generalisation - and it IS a generalisation - I've found that warmbloods are less forgiving of rider error than the average horse, so not the ideal type for a novice rider. They are often sensitive, and you have to get it right or they can panic. And they can be schizophrenic. One moment lazy, the next massive spook, buck, spin, rear, gallop off etc etc. And it happens at the drop of a hat.

But that's just my observation based on the warmbloods I've ridden, owned or come across at livery yards.
 
MagicMelon said:
Stubborn definately sums them up for me! I've owned a warmblood and currently ride one for a friend - Very nappy, lazy, stroppy horses! I'm afraid I do refer to them as dumbloods... they just aren't nearly as sharp and intelligent IMO as something with TB in it! I'd never buy a warmblood again.
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My mare is a TB X
 
I have 2 a Kwpn and a Hann, both so very different, the dutch is lazy, perfect gent, temperament to die for, born good in traffic to handle, box etc etc absolutely adorable. but terribly accident prone, think there too much distance between hoof and brain:D

The hann is sharp, miserable, keen to work, human hater. never ill.

Wouldn't have either of them any other way, would always have WB.
 
I had a Warmblood and he had a nice easy temperament but he was lazy and a little dim! I ended up selling him as he was difficult to school as he was so big and lazy. He liked hacking out and jumping so he was happy that he ended up going to a hunting home.
I much prefer TB's but I've only had one Warmblood so I can't judge them on only one horse!
 
Hmmm what I would give to be in front of my warmblood at a fence for a change!!!

I think the breeding does tell you something about general tendencies and natural abilities, however breaking and early education is a good 50% on how they will go later and habits/tendencies they will have.

Mine is a KWPN bred out of Lincoln (Concorde, Narcos) lines x Caletta (Cor De La Breyer through Calleto I, and Ahorn). He is totally solid with things that have horses around him freaking out - he stands his ground. I have had a lesson on bonfire night with a display going on next door and he did not blink. On the ground he is calm, friendly and very easy to handle. Ridden on the flat he has a tendency to be a bit lazy unless he knows you can ride. To jump he is VERY sharp, and completely obsessed.

The one trait I would say is akin to the warmbloods more than other breeds I have come across, is that they can be a completely different horse depending upon the rider and even the riders individual mood. He can go from laid back to hot if I am even slightly tense and nervous. However in the same way he can assess your mood, he can assess peoples riding and will tone himself down to a school horse standard if he has an inexperienced rider on board. He was a BSJA jumper with professional prior to me buying him, yet he taught my husband to ride and was trustworthy to do the job. Yet he will give an experienced rider what they need so is far from dull/basic.

From my experience of the warmbloods on the yard I am on they are generally kind people pleasers who are accommodating and will change their way of going to work with their rider. Whilst they can get hot, they usually have no intention of deliberately unseating a rider. I know very few that buck above a few feet or rear above 30 degrees, they love to back chat (if you make a mistake they'll compensate & forgive, but still find a way to let you know, small buck/leg kick or tail swirl!), but they don't take it too far.

I would always have a WB. My husband has an ID x TB who needs at least 5min to work out something mine works out as I start to ask...
 
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Having rode a few warmbloods I personally don't like riding them as much as TB, native or irish horses. They seem to me a lot of hard work! Mostly seemed to be very lazy and as others have said only give what you put in. Give me an honest horse that tries hard over a flashy sod any day! The ones I've ridden were all dressage bred. Apart from one jumping bred youngster who I absolutely fell in love with. It does depend on the horse but unless you want to do upper level dressage I wouldn't buy one personally.
 
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