The Canadian Warmblood Horse Breeders Association (CWHBA), incorporated under the Canadian Live Stock Pedigree Act in 1991, is modelled after successful European warmblood associations. It unites breeders and owners for the purpose of furthering warmblood horse breeding in Canada, to maintain a studbook of approved horses and maintain a uniform breeding program.

Noteworthy Canadian Warmbloods competing at the FEI level include advanced eventers Kyra, ridden by Boyd Martin, and Playtime, ridden by Lindsay Mahon; Riva, who competed in the grand prix show jumping ring with Jay Hayes and now with Ireland’s Sarah Fitzgerald, and grand prix jumpers HFO Corvette, ridden by Alejandro Karolyi (VEN), and Pironella, the mount of Petronella Andersson of Sweden. In the grand prix dressage arena, Lindor’s Finest competed until 2013 with Jaimey Irwin with excellent results.

Go to any show across the country and you will find a high proportion of our grassroots competitors riding Canadian Warmbloods.

Foreseeable Future

Here’s what the CWHBA sees for the future, provided by communications chair Chris Gould. “The horse industry endured a long recovery after the crash in 2008, but all signs are that breeding activity is finally on the increase worldwide. In this context, the CWHBA has three major goals. The first is to implement linear profiling as our standard inspection process for mares and stallions. It is important for us to give our breeders the tools to manage their breeding programs to international standards and to meet the unique requirements of the North American market. Secondly, stallion approvals and performance testing systems are evolving. The CWHBA has been examining alternative systems and embarked on a consultation process with our stakeholders two years ago. We will try to bring the consultation process to a conclusion with a new approval process to launch in 2021. Thirdly, CWHBA strives to work closely with Equestrian Canada as it launches a new national horse ID database to ensure that breed associations and the Universal Equine Life Number are at the centre of accurate horse identification in Canada. At the same time, the CWHBA will seek to join with other World Breeding Federations for Sport Horses members to implement effective international data sharing.”

Mission Possible

“In 10 years or sooner, I think the CWHBA will be in a position to send Canadian Warmbloods to compete at the World Championships for Young Horses. We already have the horses. For this to be a reality, our breeders will need to continue to work together for a strong national studbook. The CWHBA will be even more central to the Canadian scene than it is now.”