About BWP

BWP (Belgian Warmblood, in Dutch Belgisch Warmbloedpaard) is the Belgian studbook for warmblood sport horses. Founded in 1955, it consistently ranks among the top 5 studbooks worldwide. BWP horses and BWP stallions perform in all equestrian disciplines (show jumping, dressage and eventing) at the biggest international competitions.

The Belgian Warmblood is unique in Europe. It is the smallest of the major studbooks, but by no means the least influential.

Who is BWP?

BWP is the studbook and the community of Belgian breeders working together towards one goal: breeding top sport horses. Breeders, riders, stallion owners and enthusiasts all find a home here. In show jumping, BWP stallions at the top level sire more successful horses than those of any other studbook. Stallions bred by BWP or approved by BWP also perform exceptionally well on the international stage.

Our history

1937: the beginning in Boezinge
The story begins with the Landelijke Ruiterij (rural riding association), founded in Boezinge in 1937 by Canon De Mey. Even then, there was a need for a suitable sport horse for rural riders.

Until 1954: a ban
The first competitions were ridden on ordinary draught horses. In Belgium, it was forbidden until 1954 to breed agricultural riding horses that were also ridden at weekends.

1955: the studbook is born
Once the ban was lifted, the way was open for a true recreational horse. The studbook was founded as the non-profit association Nationale Fokvereniging van het Landbouwrijpaard (National Breeding Association of the Agricultural Riding Horse). The name “agricultural riding horse” disappeared and was replaced by Belgisch Warmbloedpaard, known worldwide today as the Belgian Warmblood – BWP.

Breeding with the best genes

The first BWP breeders had to start from scratch. There was no tradition of breeding a typical warmblood riding horse. Perhaps that is the key to BWP’s success: breeders looked beyond their borders for the best genes.

  • Gelderland and Normandy: the first search for new blood.
  • Hanover: the Deuss brothers brought in Flügel first, then Lugano.
  • Holstein: Marcel Van Dijck imported the 3-year-old Holsteiner stallion Codex.

This created a melting pot of the most important European bloodlines, with a population of just a few thousand broodmares. For decades, this combination has produced horses that riders dream of.

BWP today

In the rankings of the World Breeding Federation for Sporthorses (WBFSH), BWP has always been among the leaders. Many world-class horses have come from BWP lines, confirming the reputation of the Belgian Warmblood at the biggest competitions time and again. Long after their competition careers end, these top horses pass on their genes to new generations of BWP horses.