Oldenburg

 History
In the early 17th century, Count Johann XVI von Oldenburg needed good calvalry horses, so he built several small breeding facilities all throughout the German provinces of Oldenburg and East Friesland. At these facilities, Count Oldeburg bred Friesians, Andalusians, Turkish horses, Danish horses, and Neapolitan(Italian) horses.

 Count Anton Gunther, who also helped to found the breeding program, want the breed to excel at dressage, and make a great carriage horse as well. While looking for suitable horses to add to the breeding program, Count Gunther searched Europe and Africa, eventually bringing back horses from Naples, Spain, Barbary(part of Africa that is now Morocco, Algeria, Tripolitania, and Tunis), and some Thoroughbreds from England. In addition, he gave some of these stallions to local farmers, who assisted in further refining the Oldenburg.

Oldenburgs commonly come in black. credit

 By June of 1820, the Oldenburg's studbook opened, and with it a law that stated all Oldenburg stallions had to be approved by government after completing a test before breeding. After passing it, the Oldenburg brand---an "O" with a crown above---would be branded on the horse's left hip, proving that he had been approved. Two breed asssociations were founded in 1897, but in 1923 they merged to form the Verband der Züchter des Oldenburger Pferdes(Oldenburg's Horse Breeders' Society) in Vechta, Germany.

 In 1950, with the use of horses in agriculture nearly obselete, additional Thoroughbred blood was added to the Oldenburg, and the original cavalry, carriage, and agriculture Oldenburg gave way to the sport horse we know today.

Breed Description and Uses
 The Oldenburg is a compact, yet refined and elegant horse that stands an average of 16 to 16.2 hands high. As a warmblood, it is built for competing, and it's long front legs and powerful hind legs prove it's talent for dressage and show jumping. Most, and the gaits are of high quality, with the trot been active and elastic and the canter being uphill. The Oldenburg's long neck is high-set over the shoulders and it's head is usually quite pretty. Common colors are bay, black, grey, and chestnut.

 According the breed association's rules, and Oldenburg must be named according to its parent's names. For example, a colt's name must begin with the same letter as its sire, and a filly's the same as its dam.

The Dutch Warmblood

 History
 After the second World War, when machines started to become more popular for farming purposes, Dutch horse breeders transitioned from breeder heavy work horses to producing warmbloods. They chose two native work horses as a base for their warmblood: the Gelderlander, a horse with graceful movement; and the Groningen, one with powerful hindquarters. Then, they added Thoroughbred to the mix, creating an even sportier horse. The resulting offspring were bred with Hanoverians, Prussian Trakehners, and Oldenburgs.

Dutch Warmbloods are elegant horses, like warmbloods generally are.
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 Shortly after the breed was made, their studbook–the Royal Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands–was created and their breeding closely monitored. Before a stallion can be registered, he must by evaluated by the association. To pass the test, he must have good conformation and should be able to jump well, both in the stadium and on a cross country course. Harness horses must be tested under harness. Mares, too, must be evaluated, though they are judged only on conformation, temperament, and movement.  Only horses that have passed the required tests can be registered.

Breed Description and Uses
 Dutch Warmbloods stand 15 to 16.2 hands high. They have strong hocks, powerful hindquarters, a deep barrel, flat shoulders, and a long, strong neck. Despite the farm horses in its, the Dutch is fairly light-boned with graceful movements. The Thoroughbred blood in the Dutch Warmblood gave it extra stamina, making it excellent for longer competitions, such as eventing.

 Since a variety of breeds has been used to create the warmblood, several different types have emerged: the sport horse type, which is most common; the harness type, used for driving; and the Gelderlander type, resembling the Gelderlander. 

Dutch Warmbloods, like any other warmblood, do well in jumping, dressage, and eventing. Due their carriage horse ancestry, some do well in competitive driving.

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