The Warlander is a horse of Baroque type, produced by crossing

Friesian horse The Friesian (also Frizian) is a horse breed originating in Friesland, in the Netherlands. Although the conformation of the breed resembles that of a light draught horse, Friesians are graceful and nimble for their size. It is believed tha ...

s with horses of a

purebred Purebreds are " cultivated varieties" of an animal species achieved through the process of selective breeding. When the lineage of a purebred animal is recorded, that animal is said to be "pedigreed". Purebreds breed true-to-type which means the ...

registered

Iberian horse The Iberian horse is a designation given to a number of horse breeds native to the Iberian peninsula. At present, some breeds are officially recognized by the FAO,Andalusian,

Lusitano The Lusitano, also known as the Pure Blood Lusitano or PSL (''Puro Sangue Lusitano''), is a Portuguese horse breed. Horses were known to be present on the Iberian Peninsula as far back as 20,000 BC, and by 800 BC the region was renowned fo ...

, or Menorquina. The ideal Warlander combines the Iberian horse's intelligence, facility for collection, flexibility, and powerful hindquarters, with the Friesian's tractability, dramatic leg action, "bone," and strong forequarters.

History

The crossing of Iberian and Friesian-type horses to produce improved cavalry horses has a history going back to at least the sixteenth century, though the term "Warlander" was coined only in the late twentieth century by the Classical Sporthorse Stud in Western Australia who named the breed after their association with veterinarian Dr Warwick Vale.

Characteristics

Warlander breeders seek to augment the strongest and most desirable qualities of Iberian and Friesian breeds through the genetic heterosis created by combining two

lines. Another goal is to address concerns related to

inbreeding depression Inbreeding depression is the reduced biological fitness which has the potential to result from inbreeding (the breeding of related individuals). Biological fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and perpetuate its genetic material. ...

that may exist in progenitor lines as a result of having closed genetic stock. Because of this, significant debate exists over whether a Warlander will only obtain genetic benefit if it is an

F1 hybrid An F1 hybrid (also known as filial 1 hybrid) is the first filial generation of offspring of distinctly different parental types. F1 hybrids are used in genetics, and in selective breeding, where the term F1 crossbreed may be used. The term is some ...

. A crossbred animal is likely to enjoy

hybrid vigor Heterosis, hybrid vigor, or outbreeding enhancement is the improved or increased function of any biological quality in a hybrid offspring. An offspring is heterotic if its traits are enhanced as a result of mixing the genetic contributions o ...

and therefore have genetic gains over both of its parents. However, there is uncertainty over whether an F2 horse - produced by a Warlander-Warlander, Warlander-Andalusian, or Warlander-Friesian pairing - would be likely to suffer from genetic

atavism In biology, an atavism is a modification of a biological structure whereby an ancestral genetic trait reappears after having been lost through evolutionary change in previous generations. Atavisms can occur in several ways; one of which is whe ...

. The statistically tiny number of F2 and subsequent generation Warlander horses bred internationally has meant empirical resolution of this question has not yet been possible.Maharaj, Akaash (2011). A 21st Century Breeding Programme for the 21st Century Cavalry. Toronto: UNICEF Team Canada The Warlander Studbook Society acknowledges that the following genetic defects are known to come from the base breeds of the Warlander and WSS breeders must notify the society if any horses show the following - Cryptorchidism, Monorchidism, Dwarfism, Fallen Crest, Water head/crown head foals (hydrocephalus) and Mesocolic Rente.

Recognition

Although evidence of breeders utilizing an Iberian-Friesian cross dates back 400 years, the Warlander has been a distinctly organized horse breed only since the 1990s. No breed-specific Warlander organizations are affiliated to the global Universal Equine Life Number (UELN) foundation, although the Bavarian Specialist Breed Registry (''Bayerischer Zuchtverband für Kleinpferde und Spezialpferderassen,'' or BZKS), which does hold a UELN designation for its studbooks, publishes a Warlander breed standard. Warlander supporters are optimistic that this recognition opens the door to formalization of the breed within the European Union system.

References

External links

Warlander Studbook Society

International Warlander Society and Registry
is live but may move soon
Bavarian Specialist Breed Registryhistory link
{{equine Horse breeds