Intro
Also called Cheval de Sport Belge, the Belgian Sport Horse is a breed solely developed for use as a sport animal in competition.
Origins
The Royal Halfblood Society was founded in 1920 and until WWII the breed was mainly bred by the army. Bloodlines were a specific cross between the Belgian Draft, English Thoroughbred and Selle Francais (with a notable amount of Thoroughbred blood).
After WWII, Belgian breeders focused their attention on breeding an adaptable sport horse by combining their finest bloodlines with those of neighboring countries. That included Selle Francais, Hanoverians, Dutch Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds with proven ability.
Modern Belgian Sport Horse
The Belgian Sport horse is registered with the Royal Belgian Sport Horse Society (Studbook sBs) and is similar in lineage to the Belgian Warmblood, which registered with the Belgian Warmblood Studbook (BWP). The goal of both studbooks is the same, developing a superior sport horse. These handsome, athletic animals have increasingly grown in popularity among eventing circles. According to the DAD-IS, of 2013 their numbers were between 12000-19000.
Features
Average height 16 hands
Highly athletic
Traditional Colors
Solid colors
Temperament
Willing
High energy
Use
Eventing horses
Show horses
Pleasure mounts