The Swedish Warmblood

Part 1 - Part 2

The SWB, unlike most of the other European WB breeds was from the start bred as a riding horse, intended for the cavalry. The national stud, Flyinge  was founded in 1661 and is still in operation with some of the best stallions in Sweden and the world today.

400 years of breeding has produced a versatile horse with a very good temperament, usually 15.3-17.1H, suitable for most amateurs but also for world class competition. All solid colors except cremello/perlino are accepted, as well as tobiano pintos (there are no SWB overos). The Swedish breeders only have about 5000 broodmares and since not all are bred they produce less than 3000 foals every year but still manage to breed horses that rival most other larger breeds. The key word is quality, not quantity.

The Swedish Studbook is open, which means mares and stallions from other approved breeds are allowed to be entered. Approved breeds are, among others: TB, most German WB's, Selle Francais, Anglo Arabs, Arabians, Danish and Dutch WB. These all have to meet the strict quality requirements of the SWB of course and in general an approved stallion from another breed has to be among the top 10% at his own testing or have numerous successful offspring. This way the SWB breed has incorporated some of the world’s very best stallions. One example is Landlord who is the sire of Rodrigo Pessoa's World Champion jumper, Gandini Lianos, and Lancier who sired the Olympic jumping silver medallist Lando. 

As you might understand by what I just said, Sweden, who has mostly been famous for producing dressage horses also produces international top class jumpers. Due to the SWB’s trainability and intelligence they are popular with competitors in any discipline, even carriage driving. Swedish drivers have been most successful and have won the 4-in-hand World Championship several times in recent years.

For more information about the Swedish Warmblood and the Swedish Warmblood Association of North America, you can go to the SWANA website

I have now finished Part 2 , describing the different ways SWB's are evaluated for breeding and sport in Sweden. A great tool if you are buying a Swedish horse.