Belgian Warmblood - Belgian Sport Horse

Belgian Sport Horse

The linguistic and cultural division of Belgium is reflected in the use of two separate warmblood breeding associations. The Belgian Sport Horse differs from the Belgian Warmblood only by location: breeders in northern Belgium typically register with the BWP, while those in the southern part of the country registry with the sBs. Studbook sBs was originally founded in 1920 as Societe d’Encourgement pour L’Elevage du Cheval d’Armes or "Society for the Encouragement of Breeding Army Horses," and produced cavalry horses and remounts for the Belgian army, which at the time were primarily imported from France. Within 10 years, the use of cavalry horses had given way to demand for leisure horses, and the name of the registry was changed to Demi-Sang Belge or "Belgian Half-bred", reflecting the increased use of refined, Thoroughbred-influenced sires. Following World War II, breeders imported substantial numbers of riding horses from France, as well as some from England, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands. These horses were the foundation of sport horse breeding in the region. Success in breeding warranted another name change in 1967: the "Royal Belgian Sport Horse Society", better known as "Studbook sBs".