History of the Warlander
PHOTO CREDIT: THE SPANISH KNIGHT WARLANDER GELDING OWNED BY KATHI STEWART USA (PHOTO TEAGEN BARRETT)
The Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) was a revolt of the Seventeen Provinces of what are today the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg against Philip II of Spain, the sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands. It is believed that purebred Spanish stallions were bred to mares native to the Netherlands (Friesian) during this time. Whilst some theorise that the pure Friesian x pure Iberian horse could have been bred before this it has been difficult to find such evidence that can substantiate that definitively and until the development of the Warlander in 1990, there was no regulated breeding program. There have however been references made such as in the Dutch book titled “Het Friese Paard” by G. J. A. Bouma, 1979, and printed by Friese Pers Boekerij, b. v., in Drachten and Leeuwarden, The Netherlands where the author says, "The Friesian horse descends from the Equus robustus. During the 16th and 17th centuries, but probably also earlier, Arabian blood was introduced, especially through Andalusian horses from Spain. This has given them the high knee-action, the small head, and the craning neck".1990, saw the first purpose-bred pure Spanish Andalusian pure Friesian breeding with Karen Maree Kaye from the Classical Sporthorse Stud in Western Australia. who, with the help of top geneticists in the country (as Friesian dwarfsm came to light), developed a comprehensive breed standard and the guidelines of breeding so that there was a clear plan for future generations, the name, and then came the birth of the world's first Warlander from her stud.
The Warlander name came from "Warwick" who was Karen's veterinarian at the time and 'not' the base breed's history in battle as some have claimed.
What led to the birth of the Warlander was Karen's passion for Classical Equitation and baroque horses. Having both Friesian and Spanish purebreds in her stable, and knowing both their strengths and weaknesses she looked to 'selectively' blend both breeds to create a 'light moving and 'comfortable' to ride horse for her 'own' high school pursuits. A horse that possessed the bone, placid nature, glorious front end and extravagance of movement of the Friesian with the agility and ability to collect of the Iberian.
At that time, (30 years ago), the Friesian was different from the modern-day breed which has been purpose-bred over recent years to possess more sport aptitude plus the necessary introduction of testing for genetic defects by the KFPS. This coupled with the Iberian's increased export around the world from its native countries and the use of artificial breeding practices has seen the Warlander evolve, however, the breed standard remains the same as was originally intended - a comfortable to ride baroque horse (round with bone) with light expressive movement and a high capacity for trainability and collection.
The Warlander was created with the greatest respect for the base breeds in their pure form and the Warlander is not meant to change or replace any of them. It is a modern breed based on the baroque horses of old and there are no claims made for it to be anything other than what it was first created for 30 years ago - an individual's personal preferences.
Unsurprisingly, Warlander horses have appealed to a wide market from commercial pursuits such as trail riding where an even-tempered and calm horse is needed for beginner riders, to all types of recreational sport, movies and are/have competed at the highest FEI levels of dressage and driving.
Karen says, "The Warlander horses I have bred for myself are prized. These are the types of horses that will keep me riding into my elder years. Calm, comfortable, intelligent, with the ability and aptitude to excel in HIgh School.
A decade after its inception, Karen Maree was approached by others who embraced her idea and from that, the first mother studbook - International Warlander Society and Registry was created by Nia Ridley of Miraval Andalusians (USA).Constance Davenport of Immortal Farms went on to manage IWSR until its closure in September 2012. Both ladies were instrumental in the Warlander horse's development in North America and Constance took the Warlander past the first generation proving that Warlander to Warlander (F2) breeding 'did' produce the same type and quality as the first generation (F1). After the IWSR's closure, the Warlander Studbook Society was formed by Karen Maree Kaye with the help of others around the world and all IWSR registrations passed to the new global Mother Studbook. Special emphasis was placed on transparency and genetics (testing for genetic defects and parental verification), plus the development of a world-class assessment/judging system for Warlander horses world-wide.
The Warlander horse's genetic footprint was expanded with the three Iberian horse breeds giving a wide diversity of bloodlines to negate inbreeding.Instrumental to the breed’s development and recognition in Europe is Alexandra Green of Green-Horn Ranch (Warlander-Franken) in Bavaria.
Alexandra put her full efforts into achieving full paperwork according to European standards for the breed. This was attained in 2010 with the Bayerischer Zuchtverband fuer Kleinpferde und Spezialrassen. Alexandra also saw the importance of breeding the Warlander past F1 and worked tirelessly for many years to achieve successful Warlander to Warlander breeding; again proving that the F2 horses did not lose any size, vigor or phenotype of the first generation.
Warlander horses in Europe (and now worldwide) are judged by the European judging system, which classifies horses up to breeding approval including performance testing. Alexandra’s young stallion Anubis von Greenhorn was the first Warlander stallion in the world to achieve breeding approval status through this system in 2012.In the USA in 2011, Hummer’ became the IFSHA World Grand Champion Stallion. Used extensively for commercial work including the face for Guerlian’s men's fragrance ‘Habit Rouge’ he also appeared in the Lord of the Rings, a Chevy commercial, music video and print works.In 2015, Ray Ariss (USA) who bred the Warlander mare 'Sabrina' owned by Karen Mitchell - rode to her five World Championship wins at her first show.Some 'cow sense' was inherited as proven by F2 Warlander gelding IF Michaelangelo who at his first national USA show, won multiple half Iberian titles in various disciplines such as Reining, Western Pleasure and Open English Show Hack as well as the High Point All Round National Title and two gold medals for Movement to boot.
In 2018, WSS recognised the FPZV USA judging results for Warlander horses and the F2 Warlander stallion Taboo JRB owned and bred by Regine Brockway became the first 'first premium graded' Approved breeding stallion in USA. By the end of 2019, USA had five Warlander stallions all approved for breeding by the Warlander Studbook Society including the incomparable Hummer and his F2 son Inqueito RAM both bred by Ramiro Meija of Vaquero Ranch. Inqueito Ram is now owned by Morgan Moore. In 2019, the Australian Continental Equestrian Group - a member of World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) agreed to test Warlander horses in Australia to European standards for premiums and breeding approval based on the WSS Breed Standard and issue passports for Warlander horses in Europe (and internationally).
Whilst Warlander horses have evolved in a huge geographical area, the breed has generally remained consistent in type due to the strict regulations of the mother studbooks for the base breeds and the breeding guidelines and breed standard of the Warlander studbook.
Today, the Warlander is registered in over a dozen countries worldwide with interest and numbers increasing yearly.In late 2019, the Warlander Studbook Society started a new Open Studbook called Warlander Sport Horse to encourage the breeding of horses with more Sport Aptitude. Whilst the Warlander Studbook remains closed to outside blood the new studbook will allow 25% outside blood whilst still retaining the Warlander horse's type and temperament.
In 2022, WSS completed its third revision to the studbook registration appendixes and added an Internal Asessment System to give breeders more support in ensuring the quality of WSS bred Warlander horses will always the benchmark' of quality and adherence to the Breed Standard.
NOTE: To date, the studbook reports NO genetic issues or atavism in the Warlander due to 'testing' for defects by both WSS and KFPS and the diversity of bloodlines of all four base breeds.