Breeds
49 breedsBreed portraits with intended use, breed-typical predispositions (linked to the diseases) and, per breed, a “Latest findings” section from genetics and research. A predisposition is a risk — not a diagnosis.
Warmblood / Sport
8
Hanoverian
Lower Saxony, Germany · 160–172 cm
✦outstanding sport and dressage aptitude
Holsteiner
Schleswig-Holstein, Germany · 165-175 cm
✦world-leading show jumping breeding (WBFSH jumping ranking)
Oldenburg
Oldenburg / Lower Saxony, Germany · 165-178 cm
✦modern, expressive dressage type (Oldenburg) and powerful jumping line (OS)
KWPN (Dutch Warmblood)
Netherlands · 160-170 cm
✦consistent, performance-oriented breeding management with linear scoring
Trakehner
East Prussia / Germany · 160-173 cm
✦the noblest German warmblood type — an important refiner of warmblood breeding
Westphalian
Westphalia, Germany · 158–172 cm
✦one of the world's most successful show jumping breeding programmes
Austrian Warmblood
Austria · 158–170 cm
✦versatile — sport and leisure in one horse
Belgian Warmblood (BWP)
Belgium · 160–172 cm
✦years at the top of world show jumping breeding (WBFSH)
Thoroughbred / Oriental
6
Arabian (purebred)
Arabian Peninsula · 147–157 cm
✦exceptional endurance — dominates endurance sport
Thoroughbred
England · 157–173 cm
✦highest gallop speed of all breeds
Shagya Arabian
Bábolna, Hungary · 150–160 cm
✦Arabian endurance with more substance and a better riding-horse frame
Anglo-Arabian
France (Pompadour) / international · 155–168 cm
✦combines Thoroughbred gallop with Arabian endurance — the ideal eventing type
Akhal-Teke
Turkmenistan · 152–165 cm
✦metallic shimmering coat from a unique hair structure — found in no other breed
Barb
North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) · 145–158 cm
✦extraordinarily frugal and sure-footed in barren terrain
Draft
6
Draft horse (Noriker / Rhenish-German)
Alpine region / Germany · 158–175 cm
✦enormous pulling and carrying power
Rhenish German Draft
Rhineland, Germany · 158–170 cm
✦very heavy, compact type with high pulling power
Brabant / Belgian Draft
Brabant, Belgium · 160–175 cm
✦one of the most massive and powerful draft horses of all
Percheron
Le Perche, France · 155–185 cm
✦more elegant than most draft breeds — Arabian blood in the foundation
Shire Horse
England (Midlands) · 170–190 cm
✦the tallest horse breed in the world — heights above 190 cm are documented
Clydesdale
Clyde Valley, Scotland · 163–183 cm
✦high, ground-covering action — striking for a draught horse
Iberian / Baroque
8
Friesian
Friesland, Netherlands · 150–170 cm
✦impressive presence and majesty
PRE / Lusitano
Spain / Portugal · 155–168 cm
✦exceptional fondness for collection (piaffe/passage)
Lusitano
Portugal · 155–168 cm
✦exceptional agility and balance — a leader in Working Equitation
Lipizzaner
Lipica (Slovenia) / Habsburg court studs · 153-165 cm
✦the carrier breed of classical horsemanship (Spanish Riding School)
Knabstrupper
Denmark · Sport/baroque type 155-165 cm, pony type smaller
✦striking leopard-spotted colouring (Leopard Complex)
Murgese
Murgia, Apulia (Italy) · 150–168 cm
✦uniformly black or blue roan — a very closed breed picture
Menorquín
Menorca, Balearic Islands (Spain) · 154–168 cm
✦always black — the breed standard permits no other colour
Marismeño
Marshes of the Guadalquivir / Doñana, Andalusia · 145–155 cm
✦kept semi-feral in the marshes — extraordinarily resilient
Pony / Hardy
9
Haflinger
South Tyrol / Austria · 138–150 cm
✦very easy keeper and economical to keep
Shetland Pony
Shetland Islands, Scotland · up to 107 cm (withers)
✦very clever and quick to learn
Welsh Pony & Cob
Wales, United Kingdom · Section A up to 122 cm, Cob (D) up to ~155 cm
✦four sections (A-D) from small pony to the powerful Welsh Cob
German Riding Pony
Germany · 138–148 cm
✦warmblood quality in pony format — the sport pony for children and young riders
Connemara Pony
Connemara, Ireland · 128–148 cm
✦exceptional jumping ability for its size
New Forest Pony
New Forest, England · 137–148 cm
✦notably traffic-proof — raised among cars in the New Forest
Highland Pony
Scottish Highlands · 132–148 cm
✦carries exceptional weight for its size
Norwegian Fjord Horse
Western Norway · 135–150 cm
✦unmistakable: every animal is a dun, and the upright mane is two-toned
Irish Cob / Tinker
Ireland / United Kingdom · 135-160 cm
✦balanced, calm temperament — beginner- and family-friendly
Gaited
6
Icelandic Horse
Iceland · 130–145 cm
✦additional, comfortable gaits: tölt and pace
Missouri Fox Trotter
Ozarks, Missouri (USA) · 142–163 cm
✦the fox trot is exceptionally smooth — the rider sits virtually still
Paso Fino
Puerto Rico / Colombia · 137–155 cm
✦the fastest fine four-beat of all gaited breeds — high step frequency with little reach
Peruvian Paso
Peru · 142–154 cm
✦the paso llano counts among the smoothest gaits of all
Rocky Mountain Horse
Kentucky (USA) · 142–160 cm
✦the single-foot is smooth and comfortable over hours
Standardbred
USA · 145–165 cm
✦the highest speed at trot and pace — unmatched over the racing distance
Western / Stock
6
Quarter Horse
USA · 145–163 cm
✦explosive sprint acceleration (quarter mile)
American Paint Horse
USA · 145–163 cm
✦Quarter Horse qualities with pinto colouring — sport and appearance in one
Appaloosa
North-western USA (Nez Perce) · 142–163 cm
✦unmistakable leopard complex patterning in great variety
Mustang
Western USA · 132–155 cm
✦exceptionally hard hooves — barefoot keeping is the norm
Criollo
Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil · 138–152 cm
✦considered one of the most enduring horses of all — the marcha test runs over 750 km
Australian Stock Horse
Australia · 150–163 cm
✦exceptional endurance in great heat — bred for the Australian outback