What can you tell me about dutch warmbloods ?

[colettybetty]

Question is in the title really, I have a DW X (mostly DW tho ) and am currently trying to get to know what makes her tick.I've done the google searches, but the info is pretty limited.Any of you with personal experience ?

[jovi_y2k2]

big bold and beautiful!! hehe my friend had one but he was quite a looney tune but fantasic at dressage when she could calm him down

[trotter26]

laid back and easy going, and dare i say it, not overly endowed in the brain department :o big moving, and dressage orientated. Thats a big stereotype though, and alot depends whether she was imported or not :confused:

[CurlyWurlyRach]

my girls half DW and in general shes pretty chilled, its just past experiences that have made her a fruit loop.
Wouldnt hesitate to get another, beautiful.

[kunama]

I've always found the youngsters very lively , they aren't nasty, just expressive you could say!!!:p

[Lgd]

My foal is KWPN registered - although strictly she is almost half TB (her Mum is 7/8 TB but a registered WB - confused now?)

KWPN is split into three main areas - driving type, jumping type and dressage type.

They have a very stringent approvals process for the stallions - they and their stock are looked at regularly. Approval can be pulled at any time if the KWPN inspectors don't think the stallion is producing the goods. They don't get lifetime approval until they are 11yo.

All foals are presented for inspection before weaning - called a 'keuring' where the inspectors examine the foal for conformation and movement. You get a grading sheet which judges your foal against a laid down standard. You state on the registration if the foal is intended for dressage or jumping.

Yearlings and 2yo can take part in the keuring but are not graded again until they are 3yo. All are assessed loose and over a loose jumping lane and are then graded for initial stallion approval or entry into the mare book. Mares can be presented ridden at 4yo+ for higher grading or can be grade via performance. (Peri is performance graded with AES but in KWPN terms she would be a sport keur or sport pref).

OK, so that's the theory side of it. What does it mean in real terms? They tend to be highly intelligent - forget the dumb warmblood label. Movement as a general rule is of good quality - if it doesn't move, it doesn't grade. Temperament and trainabulity are usually good. Some may be quite 'hot' -sometimes called a professional ride :rolleyes: but should still have the willingness to perform. Tend to be shorter coupled than the german and danish warmblood breeds.

Minimum height for mares for studbook entry is 15.3hh, I think it is 16hh for the stallions (they certainly have to be 15.3hh when presented for their 3yo stallion licensing) Most are in the region of 16 - 17.2hh.

[colettybetty]

Thanks for your replies everyone,much of strikes a cord with my experience so far. Fox's stable name started off as Foxy, now has become 'The Fox' because she is so smart ! Fox, certainly is bold , usually laid back, except when she's mad !Woah !Although, she calms pretty quickly with either a quiet, firm, 'just get on with it, girl' or a moment of quiet reflection and a sympathetic rub, depending on what has upset her.
Lgd, thanks for the info, particularly on the grading process.I think both of her parents were graded, the stallion was I know, but I can't trace her Dam's history.My dilemma at the moment is, that I have a lovely mare that is very bright, being trained professionally (by a friend who charges very little) and I think is capable of far more than I want her for. What to do, eh ?I think she would enjoy competition, but I don't have a competitive bone in my body- or the talent !The qualitiy of her life is my motivating factor, should I apply for grading, maybe as a sports horse, (although, not sure of cost ?), or should I let her be as a well schooled happy hack ?

[Kazzie]

William and Dexter are both Dutch Warmbloods. They are both very inquisitive, intelligent, full of character, quick to learn and willing.

William is only 4 but is incredibly chilled - he does have his moments, he's not dull but if her were a human you'd say he was mature for his age.

They both move really well and Dexter has a huge jump - William is showing promise over baby jumps too.

I find them extremely handsome boys - lovely breed.

K

[coss]

i have had experience with two DW and both have canter problems. DW are good showjumpers and are very big movers. there is a lot of action when they move and generally have a big scopey jump. One of the horses i have experience with always used to canter with haunches in on the right rein. in trying to correct that she started to go disunited and there seems to be no happy medium so the owners have put her to stud and are hoping for a 17hh horse from her.

The other DW i know of has a terrible walk, very lateral but they could be her being a one off as no one else here seems to be happy with them. her canter is terrible on both reins but easily corrected. Her owner is not the best of riders and is bery nervous with the big action. she is very light off the leg but very soft in the hand so an experienced rider finds transitions easy and therefore can correct the disunited by holding the horse and not letting her hindquarters swing out etc. two weeks. unfortunately her owner is so tense in the canter he horse ends up cantering on the spot causing tension and therefore disunites etc. SO, with this second case i am very suspicious that this DW has a rider problem causing the canter problem not the other way round :(

[CurlyWurlyRach]

your right there coss, they have a lovely big movement :)
It takes quite alot to hold Curly together but when shes in the mood shes lovely.

I wouldnt worry about having to compete a DW tbh - I doubt she'll be hacking around the lanes thinking 'i wish i was a hard working showjumper...'

[Lgd]

Riders often spoil the movement because they can ride it when it gets big.

The photos in the links are Belle, my KWPN filly.

Cantering aged 4 weeks old - and bear in mind she is going down a hill in the photo so the canter is even more uphill than it looks in the piccy.

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=15573

Trotting at her keuring inspection

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=15700

http://groups.msn.com/upsaddle2/lgd.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=15701

[coss]

agree that a lot of riders make the mistake of trying to get rid of the power given by DW. its a work with to achieve not work against