Warmblood sport horses have specific health predispositions that affect welfare. Understanding breed-specific risks enables better prevention and management.
Warmblood sport horses carry inherited health predispositions that, without awareness and management, lead to preventable welfare problems. WFFS — Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome — is particularly important: carrier parents can produce foals with fragile, easily torn skin that requires euthanasia at birth or shortly after. Genetic testing that identifies carriers and avoids carrier-to-carrier matings could eliminate this condition. OCD lesions cause pain in developing foals and, if not identified and treated, can cause permanent joint damage. The prevalence of kissing spines means that many performance Warmbloods may have chronic back pain that affects both welfare and rideability. Breed-specific health testing and management protocols represent welfare investments that benefit both horses and riders.