The history of the Westphalian horse is linked with the State Stud of Warendorf, which was founded in 1826 to serve both the Prussian provinces of Westphalia and Rheinland.

As the human population between the Rhine and Weser rivers grew, the demand shifted to a medium-heavy all-purpose farm horse to cope with the increase in agriculture.

These horses were better able to pull heavy plows and artillery, and so while they were principally bred around the Wickrath State Stud, warmblood sires at Warendorf were gradually replaced by cold bloods.

[dubious – discuss][3]The stock of warmblood horses was replenished with mares and stallions from nearby Hannover, on which the modern Westphalian is based.

It is the site of the training and examination of nationally licensed professional riders and instructors, and is also home to the German Equestrian Olympic Committee.

These performance tests meant that stallions had now to not only fit a conformational model to be used for breeding, but also had to prove their worth under saddle and in front of the plow.

Within 30 years, this new aim was coming to fruition: the 100-day test was implemented in 1982, and a Westphalian, Ahlerich, took gold in dressage at the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984.

While over the past decade, other registries have split their breeding stock into jumper-type and dressage-type, the Westphalian verband resists specialization.

Instead, Westphalians are bred to be good movers with high rideability and jumping ability for a market of mostly amateurs who appreciate versatile, pleasant horses.

[5] Westphalians are bred to the same standard as the other German warmbloods and in particular exchange a great deal of genetic material with the nearby Rhinelander and Hanoverian.

As of September 2010, the studbook was ranked #6 worldwide in show jumping, #5 in dressage and #12 in eventing by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses.

Young stallion prospects – koraspirants – are presented at a number of preselection events at Wickrath in Rhineland and Muenster-Handorf in Westphalia.

There are no scores, but those colts which appear to fit the standard and be of breeding quality are invited to the main stallion licensing – hauptkorung – at Warendorf.

The strict selection procedure applied to breeding stock ensures that Westphalians are generally free of congenital diseases.