ASKHQ: HOT-BLOODED VS COLD-BLOODED VS WARM-BLOODED HORSE?

Q: What is the difference between a hot-blooded, cold-blooded and warm-blooded horse?

A: These terms are used to group the different breeds of horses (loosely) according to their temperament (NOT the temperature of their blood!).Arabian and Thoroughbred horses are considered to be hot-blooded, as they tend to be a bit sharper and have more energy than some other equines.

Cold-blooded horses, on the other hand, include draft horses like Percherons, Clydesdales and Shire horses. These large-boned and heavy horses were developed for use in the field and tend to have a calm temperament and be slower-moving.

Warm-blooded horse breeds were produced by crossing hot-blooded and cold-blooded horses. Belgian Warmbloods, Hanoverians and Holsteiners, for example, tend to be calmer than Thoroughbreds, but have the ability to move more than the heavier draft breeds.

The categories are, of course, very general and there will be exceptions to these ‘rules’ in each category.