Warmblood breeds dominate dressage at every level, from local schooling shows to the Olympics. The Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) currently holds the top spot in global studbook rankings, followed closely by the Oldenburg, Westphalian, and Hanoverian. But warmbloods aren’t the only option. Iberian breeds, Friesians, and even off-track Thoroughbreds all compete, each bringing different strengths to the arena.
Why Warmbloods Lead the Rankings
The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses tracks which studbooks produce the most successful dressage horses worldwide. As of September 2024, the top five are the KWPN (Dutch Warmblood), Oldenburg, Westphalian, Hanoverian, and Danish Warmblood, all scoring between 12,000 and 14,000 performance points. These breeds have been selectively bred for decades specifically to excel in dressage, and the results show in competition records at every level.
German-bred horses have historically won the vast majority of European dressage championships. The Hanoverian studbook has claimed the title for best dressage breeding program multiple times, and the Rhineland-Westphalian breed produced Ahlerich, who carried Dr. Reiner Klimke to victory in the 1980s. Even Holstein, better known for show jumpers, has produced European Dressage champions. Of all past European champions, only a handful rode horses bred outside Germany: one Danish-bred and one from Latvia.
What makes these breeds so well suited comes down to deliberate selection. The KWPN, for example, evaluates stallions for a pure, rhythmic, and regular walk along with a trot and canter that show good stride length, suppleness, power, and carrying ability. Stallions must also be people-friendly with a willing disposition and a clear desire to perform. That combination of athletic gaits and cooperative temperament is the formula that keeps warmbloods at the top of the sport.
What Makes a Horse Built for Dressage
Dressage demands a specific type of movement: long, elastic strides in front, powerful engagement from behind, and the ability to shift weight onto the hindquarters for collected work. That movement starts with conformation. A shoulder angle of roughly 45 degrees allows a horse to reach forward freely with its front legs, producing the smooth, flowing stride judges reward. A steeper shoulder creates a short, jarring stride that limits extension.
The hindquarters matter just as much. When a horse stands square, the ideal hind leg lets you draw a straight vertical line from the point of the buttock down through the back of the hock and fetlock. This structure lets the horse carry weight over its hindquarters and reach deeply underneath itself for maximum power. Horses with too much angle in the hock (sickle-hocked) or too little (post-legged) lose efficiency in collection and extension. A strong, well-muscled back and loin connect these two halves, transferring the engine of the hindquarters into fluid, controlled movement.
Iberian Breeds: Built for Collection
The Lusitano and the Spanish Purebred (also called the PRE or Pura Raza Española) bring a different set of strengths. The Lusitano ranks sixth in the 2024 global studbook standings with over 10,000 points, and the PRE sits at twelfth with nearly 7,000. Both breeds have climbed these rankings significantly in recent years.
Iberian horses are naturally inclined toward collection, the ability to shift weight onto the hindquarters while lightening the forehand. Research comparing the two breeds found that the Spanish Purebred tends to have a longer shoulder blade and a larger hip angle, both traits that favor dressage movement. The Lusitano showed larger scapula and pastern angles in study measurements. In practical terms, both breeds often find piaffe and passage (the elevated, slow-motion movements seen at the highest levels) more natural than many warmbloods do. Where they sometimes fall short is in the ground-covering extended gaits that also score heavily in Grand Prix tests, which is why warmbloods still hold the overall advantage in international scoring.
Friesians: Impressive but Physically Limited
Friesians are among the most visually striking dressage horses, known for their jet-black coats and dramatic, high-stepping trot. They’ve competed at the World Equestrian Games and the Olympics. But research from BMC Veterinary Research reveals a significant physiological limitation: Friesians tend to hit their anaerobic threshold during exercise that would be considered low-intensity for a warmblood. In some cases, even standard daily training exceeded what their bodies could sustain aerobically.
This appears to relate to their muscle fiber composition, which is closer to that of a draft horse than a sport horse. Cantering is particularly demanding for them. Studies found that alternating short canter episodes with trot and walk kept young Friesians in a healthy aerobic range, while sustained cantering pushed them past their limits quickly. Trainers working with Friesians typically need a more gradual, careful conditioning program. Many Friesians perform beautifully through the lower and mid levels of dressage, but the sustained physical demands of upper-level work present a real ceiling for most individuals in the breed.
Thoroughbreds and Off-Track Options
Off-track Thoroughbreds are increasingly popular in dressage, particularly at the amateur and lower levels. They’re athletic, forward-thinking, and often available at a fraction of the cost of a purpose-bred warmblood. Research published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science found that racing performance metrics, particularly longer best race distances, were significantly associated with higher levels of post-racing competition success. A Thoroughbred that raced longer distances may have the stamina and stride characteristics that translate better to dressage work.
Thoroughbreds tend to be lighter-framed and more reactive than warmbloods, which can be both an advantage and a challenge. Their natural sensitivity makes them highly responsive to subtle rider cues, but that same sensitivity can work against them in the pressured atmosphere of a competition arena. The rider-horse partnership matters enormously with this breed.
Temperament Matters as Much as Movement
A horse can have perfect conformation and spectacular gaits but still fail in the dressage ring if its mind isn’t right. Research on psychological factors in equine performance identifies three core temperament traits that vary between individuals: sensitivity to fearful stimuli, responsiveness to reward, and sociability. Dressage specifically needs a horse that scores low on the first trait and high on the second two. A “flighty” horse, one that reacts strongly to novel objects or unfamiliar environments, may excel on a racetrack where that reactivity translates into speed, but in a dressage arena it creates tension, resistance, and broken rhythm.
The ideal dressage temperament combines calmness under pressure with enough energy and eagerness to respond to the rider’s lightest aids. The horse needs to tolerate the close presence of judges, spectators, loudspeakers, and flowers lining the arena without losing focus. This is why breeding programs like the KWPN explicitly evaluate willingness and people-friendliness alongside physical traits. A brilliant mover that can’t hold itself together mentally in competition will never reach its potential.
Ponies in Competitive Dressage
FEI rules define a pony as any equine measuring 148 centimeters (about 14.2 hands) or less at the withers without shoes. Pony dressage riders compete between the ages of 12 and 16, riding horses that must be at least six years old. Common breeds in pony dressage include German Riding Ponies, Welsh Cobs, and various warmblood-pony crosses that combine the refined movement of a sport horse with a smaller frame. These ponies compete in their own tests at Continental Championships and international events, with the same judging standards for rhythm, suppleness, and collection scaled to pony-sized movement.
Outside Western Europe, children can also compete on ponies in FEI Children’s events, broadening access in regions where purpose-bred sport horses are less available. In Western Europe, Children’s championships require horses over the 148-centimeter pony cutoff.
Choosing a Breed for Your Goals
Your ideal dressage horse depends on where you want to compete. If your goal is Grand Prix or international competition, a warmblood from a top-ranked studbook gives you the best statistical odds. The KWPN, Oldenburg, Hanoverian, and Westphalian all produce horses bred specifically for the full range of dressage demands. If you’re drawn to the collected movements and want a horse with natural self-carriage, a Lusitano or PRE can be a rewarding choice, particularly if you’re less focused on extended work. For amateur riders working through the lower levels, a Thoroughbred or Friesian can be a perfectly competitive and often more affordable partner.
What ultimately separates a good dressage horse from a great one isn’t breed alone. It’s the combination of correct conformation, natural quality of movement, a trainable mind, and a rider who understands how to develop all three over time.