| The Belgian Warmblood or BWP has achieved | | | | veterinary evaluation and finally the horse is |
| legendary status in the equine sport world in a very | | | | evaluated under the saddle. Horses that do not pass |
| short period of time. Up until the 1950's it was illegal in | | | | this test are not eligible for breeding. Mares are also |
| Belgium to breed light weight horses as the | | | | evaluated but are not required to undergo an |
| government wanted to concentrate on the purity of | | | | evaluation under the saddle. |
| its famous Brabant bloodlines. The BWP was born in | | | | The goal of the BWP registry is to produce horses |
| 1953 after the Minister of Agriculture gave his | | | | that are easy to ride, that have pleasant personalities |
| approval and a rigorous breeding programme involving | | | | and can be used as riding horses as well as for |
| imported mares and stallions from all over Europe | | | | participation in international sports events. Health and |
| began. | | | | confirmation are important aspects of the breed. |
| The result was a highly successful sport horse of | | | | The BWP comes in a wide range of colours such as |
| sturdy conformation and robust health. The BWP has | | | | chestnut, grey, black, bay and brown with a few |
| a compact, well built body with broad hindquarters | | | | pintos. |
| and strong hind legs. The average height of the BWP | | | | The BWP has proven itself to be a highly successful |
| is 16 to 17 hh and the breed has proven its worth in | | | | dressage horse, show jumper and all round sport |
| many different disciplines such as dressage and show | | | | horse and the breed has gained worldwide popularity |
| jumping. | | | | due to its versatility and good health. It is a force to |
| The breeding programme is strictly regulated and only | | | | be reckoned with in virtually all the equestrian |
| horses that fall under the stringent requirements of | | | | disciplines. |
| the breed are allowed to be bred. This has resulted in | | | | The versatility of the Belgian Warmblood has enabled |
| a strong bloodline that boasts the likes of Big Ben, | | | | the breed to become one of the world's most |
| Darco and Sapphire. | | | | successful and sought after sport horse breeds in a |
| At the age of 3 or 4 BWP stallions are subjected to | | | | very short period of time. The BWP has taken the |
| a "Hengstenkeuring" (stallion evaluation test) which | | | | equestrian world by storm in almost every discipline |
| involves an inspection of the horses' confirmation and | | | | and the future is very bright for the breed. |
| loose jumping ability. The horse also undergoes a | | | | |