Breeding News 293 - May 2021

BN #293

MAY 2021

Breeder interviews

Stallion profiles

Bloodline analysis

ISSUE # 293 – MAY 2021

C O NT EN TS 10 – GFE CANDY DE NANTUEL: A RISING STAR FOR SELLE FRANÇAIS

Two years ago I wrote a report about the showjumping FEI-WBFSH World Breeding Championship for Young Horses. During this event Candy de Nantuel (Luidam - Thara Nantuel x Diamant de Semilly, bred by Claire Gouin) was the talk of a great many people.

16 – RANKING STALLIONS BY THE CAREFULNESS OF THEIR OFFSPRING

Over a period of several months, Gemma Alexander – a statistics guru extraordinaire – has been creating a unique stallion ranking based on the ‘carefulness’ of their offspring. The results provide some never-before-calculated insights into a highly sought-after quality that today’s sires are passing to their offspring.

2020 WBFSH SIRE RANKING BY OFFSPRING CAREFULNESS RANKING 1 2 3 4 5 6

Cornet Obolensky Eldorado vd Zeshoek Conthargos For Pleasure Mylord Carthago Casall ASK

48.39% 48.21% 46.97% 43.46% 43.23% 43.11%

23 – BWP APPROVES 29 JUMPING AND THREE DRESSAGE STALLIONS

The BWP stallion approval has ended, one month later than expected and with an adjusted program.

Stefaan De Smet, Herman Van Den Broeck and Tim Van Tricht approved 29 showjumping stallions. We interviewed the breeders of the champion stallions as well as members of the BWP studbook commission.

30 – HORALAS: AN EXTRORDINARY TRAKEHNER AMBASSADOR

Horalas belongs to a very select group of stallions who were born outside Germany but approved by the Trakehner Verband on the basis of their performance records. Horalas competed against the best horse and rider combinations in the world at the highest level like no other Trakehner since the days of Abdullah.

CORRESPONDENTS IN THIS ISSUE: GEMMA ALEXANDER SALLY REID

| CHRISTOPHER HECTOR | JO DE ROO | ADRIANA VAN TILBURG | ELENA ZOBOVA Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

3

IN THIS ISSUE...

20 27 35 36 39 40 42 46 50

Dodgy statistics when ranking the world’s greatest mares!

Danish Warmblood 10-day test passes 18 young stallions / DWB KWPN starts pilot project on biomechanics / KWPN CWHBA Alberta awards ‘Elite Ambassador’ status / CWHBA Reproductive technologies: Opening the door to crime?

Brazilian Showjumping Horse Festival 16th edition surprises / ABCCH La Quinara wins as NZ VDL-Equibreed mare of the year The ISH studbook breeding program delivers! / HSI New Zealand North Island young eventing horses

DEPARTMENTS 5 7 9 52 56 58

Editorial: About art and product...

WBFSH Tribune: Science as a breeding tool Briefs and last-minute news Health & Vet: Dietary supplements: Part 1 – Macro- and trace minerals WBFSH update Calendar of events

PHOTOGRAPHS (COVER AND PG. 3) COVER PHOTO – CANDY DE NANTUEL (COURTESY GFE) CONTENTS PHOTOS – PG 3 (TOP TO BOTTOM): CANDY DE NANTUEL (COURTESY GFE); STALLION RANKING BY OFFSPRING CAREFULNESS; L-R FREDDY DE VOS, SOCRATES VAN DEN BOSDAM, ERIC DE WINTER (JO DE ROO); HORALAS RIDDEN BY REMUS RIMKUS (COURTESY NEMUNO HORSE STUD)

Timeo hominem unius libri

WWW.BREEDINGNEWS.COM PUBLISHER Breeding International Ltd. ADVERTISING Tel: +33 (0)6 80 14 41 83 (English and French) EDITORIAL OFFICE E-mail: editor@breedingnews.com Internet: www.breedingnews.com EDITORIAL BOARD Xavier Libbrecht Jean Llewellyn Alban Poudret LAY-OUT AND DESIGN Jean Llewellyn WEBSITE AND ONLINE DATABASE Peter Llewellyn

4

May 2021

Launched as Breeding News for Sport Horses in January 1977, WORLD BREEDING NEWS is published every month by Breeding International Ltd., and is available exclusively online. From January 1, 2019, the publication’s official title was changed to WORLD BREEDING NEWS FOR SPORT HORSES to reflect the new partnership between the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses and Breeding News.

Twelve issues each year are uploaded to our website before the last day of every month.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, by any means, without written permission, is strictly prohibited.

Copyright: The editorial policy of Breeding News seeks to publish a wide variety of views, although publication does not imply endorsement by the publisher, or any individual associated with the publication in any way.

While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher and editor cannot accept liability for any errors which may occur.

Unsolicited articles, photographs and letters on any suitable subject may be submitted on-spec by email to editor@breedingnews.com.

It is implicit that digital images accompanying articles are either copyright free, or that permission for publication has been granted by the photographer.

BREEDING NEWS FOR SPORT HORSES publishes the BN WORLDWIDE SPORT HORSE STALLION DIRECTORY: A digitial version with a stallion database is uploaded onto the BN website in March every year.

Timeo hominem unius libri

E DI TOR IAL ABOUT ART AND PRODUCT...!

E

questrian ‘art’ still has good days to come. The ability to produce from our chosen horse – one that we’ve educated and trained slowly, with whom we’ve established a relationship of trust to achieve academic or sporting objectives that are increasingly ambitious – has infinite possibilities. The limitless investment, both mental and physical, working one for the other, by another, to appreciate the beauty of a welldone gesture... Yes, without doubt, riding is art!

And there lies the difference between one rider and another, evoking the manner, the style, between one champion and another. Talent, merit, and reputation are at stake. No debate! Achieving results are living proof that riders practice their own art, competing rigorously within a set framework, under the same conditions, the same rules.

Nonetheless, if we sought a deficiency in this reasoning in order to remain objective, it would be that they are not all riding the same horse, and that only this ‘norm’ could render a judgment that would be relevant and acceptable concerning their ‘art’. In this case we would need to invoke the purity of a different sport...

Vehicle racing (F1, Indycar, Rally), motorcycling, or sailing (America’s Cup) where the equipment is strictly defined and normalized to a higher degree.

But is that true? Would riders compete so differently? In another 60 years, would we see horses, whatever the discipline and according to its demands, becoming less diverse?

The variety of horses that were familiar decades ago – from the pony Stroller (Marion Coakes) to the imposing Hanoverian Warwick Rex, (Alwin Schockemöhle) via the Thoroughbred Snow Bound (William Steinkraus) – are no longer relevant. And, in dressage, what commonality was there between Pepel, ridden by Elena Petuschkova, who was seen off by the strong Piaff (Liselott Linsenhoff) during the 1972 Munich Olympic final. And don’t dream of asking for any eventing examples!

And what about breeding now? Through the prism of selection, genetic research, the evolution of production techniques, marketing, horses are becom-

ing more and more alike. Their characters, their characteristics, specific to their practiced disciplines. Refining! Standardizing! The market decides; supply meets demand. No more time to accommodate diversity, exceptions, bold fantasies; where the buyer had to demonstrate knowledge, but also anticipation, intuition, instinct, the rest being left to diligence, the talent, and the art of the rider as mentioned above.

Breeders ‘back in the day’ were still researchers, drawing from the breadth of supply, creating experimental crossings in order to meet demand and contribute to the development of the sport.

In summary, the heavy trend being observed across the board – from small-scale breeders to the major ‘houses’, and to the studbooks with which they’re affiliated – is their subscription to the same credo, the ‘open sesame’ of breeding: ‘Let’s cross the best with best’ and the trick will work. Is this always so true?

The other question arising at this stage is quite simply to wonder what has become of the small breeder in this new deal? What is his/her role? Similar to one of cattle or poultry breeders? Let’s go ahead and open this catalogue: Prim’Holstein vs. Normande?

Is the thrust of leisure and sport breeding still able to showcase inventiveness, creativity? Otherwise, what part of that dream defines which ingredients to use?

What about the creative dimension with its ‘artistic’ component?

The breeding of sport horses could become a production line like any other. A product serving simple leisure consumers with the emotional charge that riding provides. Would it be further justified and justifiable in the eyes of a society increasingly attentive to animal use and abuse? Until now, a breeder could claim to be attentive, even concerned by his ‘creation’, by its use, by the development of the sport for which it’s intended, esteemed, associated and, therefore, naturally be an unstoppable defender as only an artist can be. If this isn’t possible, there is a serious risk! Will a breeder become a mere producer, used by those who have mastered the trade of genetics and the mysteries of marketing.... As for the studbooks? Will they become a simple union of banal producers?

Xavier Libbrecht Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

5

Breed in Selle Français !

Register your foal at birth and join the story of a winning Stud-Book!

Registration couldn't be simpler !

Contact us, our international team will be happy to explain the process : info@sellefrancais.fr +33 (0)6 58 77 27 68

www.sellefrancais.fr Stud-Book Selle Français @sellefrancaisofficiel

W B F S H TRIBU N E SCIENCE AS A BREEDING TOOL

T

he title World Breeding Federation for Sports Horses does not cover the role of breeding in disease eradication and control. DNA provides an insight into how a disease has travelled down the bloodlines, but many breeders will not wish to know that their beloved stallion may be one of the culprits.

For example, the work done on navicular syndrome by the KWPN over the years and the difficult situation the knowledge poses for the studbook administrators on how to implement a policy away from a particular bloodline is typical.

At a recent General Assembly, Roly Ewers from World Horse Welfare also did a presentation on the social licence to operate, the purpose of which is to make the industry aware of how their actions are seen by the minority of the public who think horses were never meant to be ridden, and what their attitude is to eating horses is another issue. We have seen how minority pressure groups have used the internet to bring pressure on getting their views across to the general public out of all proportion to the issue.

The recent outbreak of West Nile Disease in the EU and its transmission to humans is a warning, and also the EVA-hit FEI competition circuit. The outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK in 2000 spread quickly because we had a generation of veterinarians who had never seen it, older generations of vets would have spotted it immediately when it was quite common.

The presentation by Alan Guthrie from Pretoria University on African Horse Sickness explained the measures individual owners can take, like rugs, fly screens, and sprays, leaving movement control to the Governmenty – but the use of zebra might be going a bit far in the UK.

But how many people know the donkey is a contaminated vector too? The recent outbreak of West Nile Disease in the EU and the deaths of horses and human beings from this disease may show how climate change is also impacting the geographical spread of diseases. The transmission of EVA at an FEI competition is also a warning to animals of a higher health status.

My advice is therefore never to miss an opportunity to attend a lecture on horse locomotion by Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, DACVSMR, MRCVS, as she served for almost 17 years as the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and is a great presenter. Another great presenter is Kathrin Friederike Stock, currently working at VIT (IT Solutions for Animal Production), who conducts research into new traits/refined phenotyping, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, and, most importantly, the genetic parameters of new, comprehensive performance traits for dressage and showjumping competition performance of German riding horses.

These genetic parameters have been estimated using 4,582,191 observations from 221,132 horses in dressage and 9,997,439 observations from 253,945 horses in showjumping results.

This was achieved based on competition results from the German National Equine Federation and horses from the 18 German studbooks held

by VIT. I would like to thank Jan, Karen, Klaus and Nadine for giving us the opportunity to expand our knowledge, not only from the perspective of other countries, but the science of breeding in the future, particularly directed at horse health.

John Shenfield WBFSH Audit Committee Member Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

7

TODT UN PRINCE ASK ✓ Danish champion & EM-finalist 2019

THE BEST BREEDING STALLIONS

FIND MORE INFORMATION ON WWW. STUTTERIASK.DK

B RI E F S Last month, the stallion selection committee of NRPS selected 25 dressage stallions and eight ponies to present themselves at their stallion show on Saturday, April 3 in Lunteren.

The committee included Bert Teunissen (chair), Jan van Beek, Dick Groenewoud, as well as newly chosen member Joyce Lenaerts as a dressage specialist who, for the past two years, has served as an adviser. As a breeder herself, she is the owner of the KWPN-approved Iconic B (Bon Bravour x Jazz) and is a Grand Prix rider herself. The committee was very happy with the interesting group of 63 stallions presented, from which 33 surpassed the selection criteria. This final selection still needs to be validated through the usual veterinary tests and an examination of the dam to be definitively welcomed to April's stallion show. Thereafter, their first year of covering is assured. As the spotlight fell on dressage-oriented stallions, one of the favourites of Lenaerts was the four-year-old Montgomery C (Johnson - Vinea elite Montgomery C (S. Nieuwendijk) prestatie D-OC x Ferreo x Silvano), bred and owned by one of BN's long-time correspondents, Claartje van Andel, and is co-owned by Stal van Vliet). Following Montgomery's presentation on the lunge and under saddle with Femke de Laat, Lenaerts said; “This stallion was very convincing in everything, a beautiful long line with a lot of presence, wonderful correct movement technique in his legs, with the right balance and posture.” Another breeder and owner, Anne-Claire Bongers, was over the moon with her selected home-bred three-year-old Next One ACB (Hero ACB x Dream Boy), by her own approved stallion. In showjumping, the four-year-old Bokito van de Woestenheide (Brantzau VDL x Dexter R, bred and owned by D. Schaper, co-owned by Corcovado) was also convincing. Find the complete list of selected stallions at the NRPS-website: https://nrps.nl/u/files/aangewezen-hengsten-nrps-hengstenkeuring-2021.pdf C.v.A. With the recent clarification by the KWPN allowing offspring of a Lusitano stallion and a KWPN mare to be included in the 'B' register of the KWPN Stud Book, the door has been opened to allow breeders aiming for Grand Prix dressage to benefit. As a consequence, Monte Velho has reached an agreement with Van Olst Horses regarding semen promotion and distribution in this specific market for Equador MVL. Equador MVL (Quo Vadis - Que Há x Hostil) is a modern, sporty type Lusitano who has now been competing for a little over two years in GP dressage. According to his proud owner, Diogo Lima Mayer; "It is our firm belief that Equador MVL has some qualities that can be of huge benefit to the KWPN breed, particularly his most amazing generosity and rideability as well as his ability for the collected movements. Those are the qualities that really make the difference in Grand Prix today. Equador MVL has competed head-to-head against horses from all other breeds, constantly being placed at the top spots. He has been awarded with marks for Iberian horses which would be unthinkable a few years ago, rewarded by the best judges in the world. From his start I really believed in him. Born, raised and trained here at Monte Velho, he is the pride of me and my family.” n 2019 during EC Rotterdam, Equador Equador MVL with João Torrão Ph: C.v.A. was in the Portuguese dressage team that secured a team spot for Portugal for the Olympic Games, postponed due to Covid-19 as we all know. Equador MVL holds three records for Iberian horses in Grand Prix: GP 77.348%, GPS 79.042% and GP Kür 83.875%, all under the saddle of by João Torrão.

C.v.A. The 35th Holstein Spring Auction ended with an average price of almost €20,000 and a sales quota of over 80%. The collection of 38 horses included Holsteiners from all disciplines, and the longest bidding duel was for a daughter of Casall out of a Nekton x Lord dam. A renowned showjumping stable in Canada finally secured Chimchimeny, the talented five-year-old mare, bred by HansJoachim Gerken, exhibited by b-Horses GmbH, who finally went under the virtual hammer at €57,500. The second most expensive horse in the online auction also came from b-Horses GmbH. This is Quilea (Quibery x Clarimo) bred by Lasse Ohlsen. The fouryear-old mare comes from the direct damline of the former Holstein champion stallion Quveè Prestige, the also licensed Casquido and, thus, the famous line 18A2. This young talent was worth €43,500 to international showjumper Holger Wulschner. “We have a fruitful partnership with b-Horses GmbH, which is a win-win situation for both the Holsteiner Verband and b-Horses,” said Managing Director Roland Metz after the auction. A further four horses were sold for €30,000+, including Jamira, who has already been placed in jumping competitions. An exclusive trading stable from the USA, active in the field of hunting, purchased the Diarado x Calato daughter, bred by Hans-Nico Petersen, for €32,500. The only dressage offer Sullivan, a three-year-old son of Secret x Lorentin was sold for €25,000 to a Hamburg ddressage stable. Concluding, Metz said; “All in all, we achieved a very homogeneous auction result, which shows that we were able to satisfy many exhibitors and customers – including many sport stables abroad.”

Correction: An informational error occurred on page 59 of our April 2021 issue, under the title ‘Record entries for AES stallion grading in Poland.’ The stallion Genesis SP (Zulus x Trawant) was reported as being ‘bred by Pawel Gaszka and owned by Luiza Piotrowska’. However, Genesis SP was both owned and bred by Luiza Piotrowska so we would like to thank her for drawing this to our notice.

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

9

GFE CANDY DE NANTUEL (SF)

Timeo hominem unius libri

GFE Candy de Nantuel: A rising star for Selle Français

BY ADRIANA VAN TILBURG PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY GFE Two years ago I wrote a report about the showjumping FEI-WBFSH World Breeding Championship for Young Horses. During this event Candy de Nantuel (Luidam - Thara Nantuel x Diamant de Semilly, bred by Claire Gouin) was the talk of a great many people. I wrote: “Also this SF-bred stallion had some very good performances during this championship.

H

is mother, Thara Nantuel, is jumping at 1m45 under the saddle of Arthur Deuquet and her full sister, Oceane de Nantuel, jumped 1m60 under the saddle of Michel Hecart and Alexandra Paillot. Eventually Candy’s motherline traces back to a Thoroughbred mareline, TB-5.

He is now nine and has moved to the stables of Pénélope Leprévost, but what is the story behind this rising-star stallion?

Thoroughbred mare family 5 The motherline of Candy de Nantuel descends from three generations of Selle Français registered Warmbloods.

His fourth generation, Alikamé x (Alize x - Kambas xx x Basil xx, breeder: S.C.E.A. Du Bois du Cher) is Anglo Arab, while the fifth generation is Thoroughbred. According to the IFCE (French institute for horses and riding), Kambas xx (Basil xx - Kamakias xx x King Legend xx, bred by Mrs. I.M.A. Todd) was born in Ireland.

Alikamé is the full sister of the maternal grandmother of the excellent Tatchou AA (Faristan - Taizka de Jurigny X x Ela Aid X, bred by Peter Fehlmann), who has an outstanding evaluated index of ICC 183. Winner of the world championship for seven year olds at the eventing WBCYH in Le Lion d'Angers, Tatchou finished second in the CCI 5*-L in Pau in 2008 under the saddle of Nicolas Touzaint.

The foundation of Thoroughbred mareline 5 is also interesting. I quote from page 22 of the book Genetic Heritage, written by Ken McLean: “Massy’s Black Barb mare, by Massy’s Black Barb from an Arabian mare imported from Egypt, is believed to be almost pure Arabian and is sometimes referred to as the Massey Mare. She produced Old Ebony (by Bastro) which produced Ebony (by Flying Childers).” On the website Thoroughbred Heritage the line can be traced from the foundation mare up to the mare Trieste (Plum Pudding) born in 1868. Old Ebony was born in 1714, and is the foundation of Candy de Nantuel’s mareline.

This line has a great many branches, but what we know s that the legendary Thoroughbred Djebel xx, bred by Marcel Boussac, also came from this family, just like Sadler’s Wells xx, Seabiscuit xx, and Son-in-Law xx.

The breeder: Claire Gouin Marie-Laure Deuquet, the daughter of Claire and Jacques Gouin, who lives on the family farm in Courquoy, bought Royaltie III (Kaolin de Lyre - Alikame X x Alize X) and recalls: “We bought Royaltie III as a three-year-old in 1986 to compete, but she had an accident and was never able to compete. She had her first foal at the age of four or five, not when she was nine, an ‘A’ who died at birth. Her second foal was Boston de Nantuel by Fury de la Cense, who was sold at six months to the rider Jacques Bourven. This horse had a good index in showjumping. Royaltie’s third foal, Cachou de Nantuel, is also by Fury de la Cense. She then produced: • Dandy de Nantuel (O'Malley) sold to Switzerland at the age of seve, and won the Swiss championship before he died; • Esquisse de Nantuel (I Love You), well indicated, then produced several foals including Shiva de Nantuel (Baloubet du Rouet) who gave Boreal de Nantuel – whose name was changed to Oak Grove’s Darshan – who jumped five-star Grand Prix and became an approved stallion; • Funny de Nantuel (Lubumbashi), sold at the Poitiers sale and exported to Italy; • Girandole de Nantuel (I Love You), who produced Rahmannshof’s Cumana/ex Nature Menardiere, by Cumano, who jumped at 1m55 under the saddle of Sören von Rönne. She also gave Riga Menrdiere (Quaprice du Bois Margot) who jumped at 1m55 under the saddle of Isabelle Robin; • Hugo de Nantuel (Olisco), [five-year-old showjumping finalist in Fontainebleau (ISO 137)]; • Jiky de Nantuel (Papillon Rouge), [six-year-old showjumping finalist in Fontainebleau], a good winner of several six-bar classes, exported to the USA, then returned to France where he jumped at 1m50 level with various riders, and is an approved stallion for SF; • Karma de Nantuel (Quidam de Revel), the dam of Thara Nantuel, a good showjumper. She competed in the European Junior Championship and jumped at 1m50 under the saddle of Emanuele Fiorelli. Karma was a very good showjumping winner, and we sold her to Italy. She produced Thara de Nantuel, Ophée de Nantuel – bought by the Haras Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

11

CANDY DE NANTUEL

Nationaux at the age of three, and Océane de Nantuel, all by Diamant de Semilly, himself a good international winner.

Thara produced: • Candy de Nantuel (Luidam), sold at the Fences sales at the age of three, bought by GFE; • Cobalt de Nantuel (Tobago Chevrier), a good show jumping winner recently sold to Danielle Lambert, a Canadian rider based with Philippe Rozier; • Gandy de Nantuel (Luidam) sold at Fences and exported to Belgium, then Switzerland to Martin Fuchs; • Folie de Nantuel (Luidam) sold to Elevage de Kreisker and Marc Dilasser; • Gaya de Nantuel (Luidam) is starting as a five-year-old with us. Gaya has given a filly by Chilli Willi.

“The mareline is Anglo-Arabic which comes from an old Limousin strain with a lot of blood. My father has always favored blood in his crosses and has always had great success with Quidam de Revel and his sons, which is why he has used him a lot. He wanted to bring strength back to his broodmares which were very close to the blood by choosing Diamant de Semilly. The Diamant de Semilly/Quidam de Revel cross has worked well at the Nantuel stud but also at other studs.

“Karma de Nantuel also proved to be an excellent broodmare. The dam of only three horses, all of them are by the legendary stallion Diamant de Semilly. These horses were born with the help of embryo transfer. Her daughter, Océane de Nantuel had an excellent career in sport. She was purchased as a two-year-old filly by the Hécart family who own the breeding and sport stable Haras de la Roque. She started her career under the saddle of Michel Hecart, and has since jumped 1m60 under the saddle of Conor Swail and Alexandre Paillot. She was an exceptional mare to jump at high level with different riders.

“As a broodmare she produced some very interesting offspring for Haras de la Roque. These include Uthope de la Roque who jumped at 1m50, Viceversa de la Roque who jumped at 1m60 under the saddle of Roberto Previtali, and Atlantic de la Roque who jumped at 1m45. Both Océane and

GUIDAM

LUIDAM KWPN (1993)

SF (1988)

ELJENOHVE KWPN (1986)

THARA NANTUEL SF (2007)

DIAMANT DE SEMILLY SF (1991)

KARMA DE NANTUEL SF (1998)

12 May 2021

Thara de Nantuel were good mares in sport. They really got these characteristics from the motherline.

“Thara de Nantuel was a really good mare, who was excellent in jumping. She was very reactive and has a lot of energy. She did not have great scope, but a lot of energy.

Candy de Nantuel is not as hot as his mother. His mother was always very hot when she entered the ring to start jumping.

She competed at 1m40 with my husband Christophe, who passed away, and at 1m50 with my son Arthur. My father used Luidam (Guidam - Eljenhoeve x Akteur) because he is a son of Guidam who is again a son of Quidam de Revel. We’d already had very good results with Quidam de Revel blood.

“Candy de Nantuel is cooler and is also more flexible with his body. He has a very good character and a good canter that is also very supple. He is a very modern stallion.

So far we are very happy with Candy de Nantuel’s offspring, which look very promising.

“I think it is a good thing for Candy de Nantuel to continue his career under the saddle of Pénélope Leprévost.

He will follow the footsteps from many of his family members who have jumped at high level, they are all good competitors.”

Candy de Nantual: The sport horse and the sire As a three-year-old Candy de Nantuel was discovered by GFE during the selection for the Fences auction, which started the next chapter in his life. According to Brice Elvezi: “We had a crush on Candy de Nantuel when we saw him for the first time. So we decided to try to buy him at the Fences auction. He was the first stallion we purchased who cost more than €100,000, but we had to do it because we really wanted to get him. However, with GFE we are eight people on the board, and usually we need to have the approval of everyone in order to buy a horse. Candy de Nantuel was one of the only stallions who made everybody on the board enthusiastic, saying ‘we want that horse’. We immediately made the decision to buy him, and in the end it was a bidding duel between a French, an Irish owner, and us, and finally we won.

QUIDAM

DE REVEL (SF/1982)

JALISCO B (SF/1975) DIRKA (SF/1969)

ALMÉ (SF) - TANAGRA (SF) NANKIN (SF) - ONDINE DE BAUGY (SF)

FOUGERE (SF/1971)

VENUTARD (SF/1965) BAGATELLE (SF/1967)

RANTZAU XX - ROSEE (SF) SAID PACHA (SF) - FLICKMA (SF)

AKTEUR (NWP/1964)

AMOR (HOLST/1959) JONKVROUW (NWP/1959)

HERRSCHER (SWB) - BARBA (HOLST) SINAEDA (NWP) - RITTA (NWP)

POLINE (KWPN/1974)

LUCKY BOY XX (1966) KOLINE (KWPN/1969)

COMPROMISE XX - SEJANE XX LE FAQUIN XX - WOLINE

GRAND VENEUR (SF/1972) VENUE DU THOT (SF/1965)

AMOUR DU BOIS (SF) - TANAGRA G (SF) JURISTE (SF) - RELIQUE (SF)

LE TOT

DE SEMILLY (SF/1977)

VENISE

DES CRESLES (SF/1987)

QUIDAM

DE REVEL (SF/1982)

ROYALTIE III (SF/1983)

Timeo hominem unius libri

MISS

ELF III (SF/1970) DES CRESLES (SF/1978)

JALISCO B (SF/1975) DIRKA (SF/1969) KAOLIN DE LYRE (SF/1976) ALIKAME X (AA/1971)

IBRAHIM (SF) - OSYRIS (SF) AMARPOUIR XX - URLURETTE (SF)

ALMÉ (SF) - TANAGRA (SF) NANKIN (SF) - ONDINE DE BAUGY (SF)

NIGHT

DAY XX - URGANDE DE LYRE (SF) ALIZE X (AA) - KAMBAS XX

AND

Candy de Nantuel jumping in Lanaken under the saddle of Thomas Rousseau (FRA) “Candy de Nantuel was very interesting for us, in the first place because of his pedigree; we really liked Luidam – Guidam. It was in a way new blood, but also not so new. He is a good grandson of Quidam de Revel but it is a change in blood from what we have in France. On the damside we also had different blood, coming from another part of France and coming from a Thoroughbred line. We knew that the mix between Quidam de Revel and that line was working very well because the cross between Quidam de Revel and those kind of mares was well known. The family has proven itself in producing top jumpers.

“Secondly Candy de Nantuel convinced us completely. It is really rare to see a horse so elastic; really supple in his body, and so elastic in his hindquarters. Candy de Nantuel is a really modern type of stallion, uses his hindleg very well in movement, and has a lot of elasticity in his topline. When we are looking for a stallion we look for no major conformation faults but one who has strong qualities. An average horse or a good sport horse doesn’t mean he will be a good horse for breeding. A top horse for breeding needs strong characteristics and verification that his pedigree has these strong characteristics, which is exactly what Candy de Nantuel has.

“During his stallion approvals he received the best notes for being presented under saddle, reaching more than 17 points. When he did his first competition in Saint Lô he was very hot and jumped unbelievably well. He was so proud of himself.

“His oldest offspring are four now. He started to breed when he was four years old and he is now nine. He covered over 200 mares the first year and always around 200 since then. For the last two years Mylord Carthago has covered the most mares in France, and Candy de Nantuel was last year the runner-up.

“It is really a crazy story, and we think we have a really special stallion with Candy de Nantuel. It normally takes a long time to see how the offspring are, and to check them when they are a bit older. When his offspring were two years old they already showed really good quality, at three they

showed that again, and now they are starting in competition.

We need to wait because four-year-olds will only do a few shows, but for now we can observe that he is passing on all his jumping qualities. All of them are good jumpers, looking like they have a good canter with good balance and a really good hindleg. Plus his also passes his elasticity to his offspring. They have blood, but not too much, so he suits different types of mare. He is not producing heavy but also not small. So far his four-year-old offspring look easy to ride.

“Candy de Nantuel has had 10 offspring at different auctions, like Fences and NASH, but selling for crazy prices, but a good average of €32,000. We have never seen that because the offspring of Diamant de Semilly, Kannan, Mylord Carthago, and other good stallions from Belgium or Germany have not reached this same success.

“There were four offspring of Candy de Nantuel doing the stallion performance test for the Selle Français Studbook, and three of them belonged to the top 10 of three-year-old stallions. Then this year the champion was again by Candy de Nantuel. So yes, he is a really special stallion that we have here in France.

“The plan with Pénélope Leprévost is to see what level they can reach together. He is really popular so everybody has an opinion about what he can do. He has already done the four-, the five-, the six-year-old championships, and was a finalist in Lanaken at the age of seven, when people – Norbert Boley, for example, from the Holsteiner Verband – started to come to me and say that we have a very good horse. His bloodlines and his way of jumping are very appreciated outside France, with Henk Nijhof using Candy de Nantuel two years ago, Hubert Hamerlinck used him for some of his mares, Tom de Craene (Van de Bisschop) has used him, and VDL Stud has started with Candy de Nantuel this year. So the best breeders are starting to use him.

“His first generation came from good average-quality mares, but the mares going to a four-year-old stallion are different to the ones who are going to a top stallion who is 20 with a proven record. I am proud to now see his first foal

Hot Savoie (2017: Candy de Nantuel - Rafale Savoie x C-Indoctro II) Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

13

BREEDINGS & SERVICES • THE PAX : BREEDING ADVICE PROGRAM The PAX: Breeding Advice Program is a pioneer in this 昀eld and contributes to developing this approach by helping breeders characterize their mares and use these characteristics to make the best use of GFE stallions. Our teams are at your disposal to help you characterize your mares and use the Program as e ciently as possible.

It can be done thanks to the characterization tutorial on our website or you can send to the address: contact@gfeweb.com two pictures of the mare and we will get back to you.

• YOUNG GENETICS PROGRAM The aim of the Young Genetics Program o昀er is to encourage you to use these young and talented bloodlines. To that end, GFE o昀ers the following incentive: upon reservation of a 昀rst contract, our clients are given the opportunity to reserve a second contract and bene昀t from the Young Genetics program with a discount on the stud fees of our young stallions.

• BREEDER’S PREMIUM GFE has a genuine desire to reward breeders who have placed their trust in our stallions and used them on their mares. We have decided to speci昀cally reward breeders who are successful in the Breeding Championships.

DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT US FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Timeo hominem unius libri

WWWW.GFEWEB.COM

crop under saddle, and we are starting to see he is also getting the best mares, for example Mic Mac du Tillard. For BWP he’s already produced this year the approved stallion Casper du Cache Pot Z. Egbert Schep has a son who was invited to the stallion performance test of the KWPN stud-book, but was injured so couldn’t go.

“When he was four he was available with fresh semen, but after that we’ve always offered him frozen and that works very well.

We really would like to see what he can achieve in sport, but it’s hard for stallions to do breeding and sport. With Pénélope they did a few classes at a show in Spain earlier this year, but n rhino [EHV-1] broke out. Eventually he came home and now they are starting again Itoki de Riverland (2018: Candy de Nantuel - Dirka de Riverland x Action and were immediately double clear in their Breaker) first 1m45 Grand Prix. We will see how things go as the breeding life and a sporting career are very “I think that the strength of his bloodline is the classical different from each other. But we know already from his foundation of the Anglo Normand horse. He has Diamant breeding life that he is something special.” de Semilly and two times Quidam de Revel combined with an Anglo Arab damline. His line has already produced a lot Arnaud Evain talks about Candy de Nantuel of good jumpers. There are a few combinations where you find an old Anglo Arab damline combined with Warmblood.

“He has a tremendous looseness in himself. His first crop For example the family of Mylord Carthago with Morgat and is now four years old and it looks very much like he passes on Nifrane and all those lines in combination you see the his elasticity and looseness. He needs mares that are not too Thoroughbred, and with Candy de Nantuel you have the short in the topline. Candy de Nantuel has special qualities Anglo Arab. You see also Anglo Arab in the motherline of Jus that are useful for sport which he passes to his progeny – the de Pomme. I think the combination of Anglo Normand and special qualities that are already helping him in sport. It is a Anglo Arab is very good working combination. sort of combination between elasticity and electricity in the “If we look at the sireline of Luidam I can see that I air. He is very very supple in all his movements and has this remember Guidam very well because I sold him as a yearling ability to use his back in an outstanding way over the jump. to Jan Greve. So it’s really come full circle for me getting It seems that he is passing this energy and elasticity on to his Candy de Nantuel back in our breeding. Guidam has progeny, including his balance. His offspring have been well elasticity and passed this elasticity to his offspring, plus marked in free-jumping competitions and also in sales Luidam also has this elasticity in the gaits. Luidam hasn’t because of that. This makes him very special in our been used that much in France as he was KWPN-bred and expectations, because he is passing his qualities on. Candy de stood in Ireland, so I don’t have much background Nantuel appears to be cool in his mind. information for Luidam offspring in combination with French mares, although he’s now becoming better known in France. Guidam served his whole career outside France, even though he was Selle Français, so he wasn’t well known in France. I truly believe that the electric part of Candy de Nantuel comes from his Anglo Arab heritage.

“There are two things I would like to say to breeders.

First we hope he is starting a new chapter under the saddle of Pénélope Leprévost and I think she agrees with me that he can do great things in the future. Furthermore, Candy de Nantuel comes out of the generation of young stallions of GFE where we only sell breedings. The breeder needs to pay when the mare is in foal. No one else can claim that they own one single straw of Candy de Nantuel. So be careful if someone is offering you a straw of Candy de Nantuel, it is a stolen straw.”

■

Heltic de Bethune (Candy de Nantuel - Narnia x Cassini I) Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

15

Ranking stallions by the ‘carefulness’ of their offspring

BY GEMMA ALEXANDER GRAPHICS: GEMMA ALEXANDER Over a period of several months, Gemma Alexander – a statistics guru extraordinaire – has been creating a unique stallion ranking based on the ‘carefulness’ of their offspring. The results – which can be seen in the graphic below and the table on the following page – provide some never-before-calculated insights into a highly sought-after quality that today’s sires are passing to their offspring, shaping sport horses who are and will be competing at the highest levels.

Methodology

T

he carefulness score for each stallion was collated by looking at the results of the top 10 offspring of each of the top 50 WBFSH Sire Rankings stallions from 2020; the list of these offspring is also provided by the WBFSH. (http:// www.wbfsh.org/files/WBFSH_Top_50_Jumping_Sires_with_P

16 May 2021

rogeny_-_2020.pdf) Results were taken from FEI-endorsed classes at a minimum height of 1m50, and consistently applying the following rules: • Results taken from first round of competition only • Table C and Accumulator classes not included • Puissance and Six-Bar classes not included

Timeo hominem unius libri

• Time faults in first round ignored for purposes of carefulness ranking • Rankings calculated by dividing the number of clear rounds (within parameters above) by the total number of 1m50+ classes entered to generate a % score The stallion Prince van de Wolfsakker was excluded from the carefulness rankings as only three offspring were presented in the rankings; such a small number of offspring significantly skewed the results for this stallion, making them too unreliable to include.

The stallions were ranked into four categories based on their carefulness ranking: • Very High (carefulness ranking >40%) • High (30% to 39.99%) • Average (20% to 29.99%) • Low (<20%).

Results Topping the carefulness ranking is Cornet Obolensky (Clinton x Heartbreaker), coming in at just under 50% with a massive 48.39%. This means that his top 10 offspring produced a clear first showjumping round 48.39% of the time when

competing in an FEI class at 1m50 or higher.

Coming in a very close second in the upcoming sire Eldorado van de Zeshoek (Clinton x Toulon) at 48.21%.

Interestingly, Toulon is by Heartbreaker; the classic cross of Clinton x Heartbreaker not only produces results, it also (unsurprisingly) breeds carefulness!

Third goes to a relative newcomer to the rankings, Conthargos (Converter x Carthago) with 46.97%, followed by For Pleasure (Furioso II x Grannus) at 43.46% and Mylord Carthago (Carthago x Jalisco B) at 43.23%. Carthago (Capitol I x Calando I) appears twice in these stallions’ parentage, again indicating a high heredity of carefulness from this bloodline.

Two more stallions scored higher than 40%, placing them in the Very High category: Casall ASK (Caretino x Lavall I) at 43.11%, and Zirocco Blue (Mr Blue x Voltaire) with 42.29%.

The category with the largest volume of horses in this carefulness ranking is ‘High’: 27 of the stallions generate a carefulness ranking between 30% and 39.99%.

The highest scoring in this category is Emerald van’t Ruytershof (Diamant de Semilly x Carthago) at 39.37%; again we see that Carthago blood producing carefulness.

Next in line in Toulon (Heartbreaker x Jokinal de Bornival) with 39.30%; we have already seen Toulon

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

17

Timeo hominem unius libri

grandson Eldorado van de Zeshoek, and now Toulon himself; further endorsement of the carefulness of the Heartbreaker line.

The next five placings go to some of the grand patriarchs of modern jumping breeding: Kashmir van Schuttershof (Nabab de Reve x Tenor Manciais; 38.70%), Quaprice Bois Margot (Quidam de Revel x Lord; 38.51%), Quidam de Revel (Jalisco B x Nankin; 38.43%), Cassini I (Capitol I x Caletto II; 38.09%) and Diamant de Semilly (Le Tot de Semilly x Elf III; 36.65%). Again, we see names repeating in these pedigrees: Quidam de Revel and Diamant de Semilly are sires proving to stamp their progeny – and their progeny’s progeny – with heightened carefulness.

It is not until we move down to 18th place on the carefulness ranking that we find the 2020 WBFSH number one sire Chacco-Blue (Chambertin x Contender). A carefulness ranking of 35.54% sees him sit around the middle of the High category of sires. Chacco-Blue has between 1,700 and 2,000 recorded offspring, depending on which database you consult, which is rather a lot of progeny, although not as high as the likes of Kannan and Diamant de Semilly. But due to his endurance at the top of the sire rankings, and the fact that the vast majority of his semen is only available via ICSI, it would be safe to assume that he is only being used on the highest quality of mare. Therefore, is he really as prepotent as we are all led to believe? Just a question, which I am in no way qualified to answer.

Interestingly, all of the WBFSH 2020 Sire Ranking top-10 stallions rank in either the Very High or High carefulness ranking category, with the exception of number six, Berlin (Cassini I x Caretino). A carefulness ranking of just 27.99% sees him sit midfield in the Average category.

Some other ‘big name’ sires also find themselves languishing in the Average carefulness category: Cassini II (Capitol I x Caletto II; 29.63%), Canturo (Cantus x Calando I; 28.90%), Mr Blue (Couperus x Oldenburg; 28.05%), Verdi (Quidam de Revel x Landgraf I; 26.53%), Kannan (Voltaire x Nimmerdor; 26.46%), and Quick Star (Galoubet A x Nithard X; 20.37%).

Only one of the top-50 Sire Ranking stallions scores lower than 20% to rank in the Low carefulness category: Ugano Sitte (Clinton x Avontuur) with a carefulness rank of 19.82%. That this stallion is one of the ‘lesser known’ of the top-50 ranked sires is probably no surprise, with only around 350 offspring recorded.

So how important is this carefulness ranking? Really, how important is any ranking? In my opinion, they are there to help breeders make more informed decisions. They are not the be-all and end-all, but they do give solid insights on what has been working for other breeders. If you plan on breeding a mare in whom you wish to improve the carefulness, then yes this could very well be the ranking you have been waiting for! Is it a guarantee that if you follow this ranking to the letter, you will breed a 1m60 champion?

I will let you all answer that for yourselves...

■

2020 WBFSH SIRE RANKING BY OFFSPRING CAREFULNESS RANKING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

Cornet Obolensky Eldorado van de Zeshoek Conthargos For Pleasure Mylord Carthago Casall ASK Zirocco Blue Emerald van't Ruytershof Toulon Kashmir van Schuttershof Quaprice Bois Margot Quidam de Revel Cassini I Diamant de Semilly Ogano Sitte Lord Pezi Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve Chacco-Blue Numero Uno Thunder van de Zuuthoeve Nabab de Rêve Contendro I Lord Z Luidam Cardento Namelus R Diarado Darco Clinton Baloubet du Rouet Larino Balou du Rouet Contact van de Heffinck Calvaro Douglas Catoki Cassini II Stolzenberg Winningmood van de Arenberg Canturo Arko III Mr Blue Berlin Cicero Z van Paemel Ustinov Verdi Quidam's Rubin Kannan Quintender Quick Star Ugano Sitte

48.39% 48.21% 46.97% 43.46% 43.23% 43.11% 42.29% 39.37% 39.30% 38.70% 38.51% 38.43% 38.09% 36.65% 36.25% 36.16% 35.74% 35.54% 35.04% 34.77% 34.72% 33.17% 33.17% 33.16% 32.69% 32.63% 32.52% 32.26% 31.68% 31.46% 31.45% 31.42% 30.27% 30.23% 29.94% 29.77% 29.63% 29.28% 29.07% 28.90% 28.54% 28.05% 27.99% 26.60% 26.53% 26.53% 26.49% 26.46% 23.95% 20.37% 19.82%

*Note: Prince van de Wolfsakker excluded from ranking, as only three offspring to calculate result skewed the numbers

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

19

Dodgy statistics when ranking the world’s greatest mares!

BY CHRISTOPHER HECTOR PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER LLEWELLYN Recently Hippomundo set out to find the world's greatest mares, looking at all international competitors thus far in 2021, but all this really did was highlight just how dodgy any stats from the covid period are going to be.

Their number one mare was Urquelle Deux vh Polderhof by Tenor Manciais (damsire of Kashmir van't Schuttershof) out of a mare by the Trakehner, Schönberg.

But it would seem that Urquelle's success is largely due to the efforts of Freddy Demuynck and his family. Mr Demuynck not only bred Urquelle's most successful competitor, Armageddon vh Leeuwerikenhof (by Amour He vh Leeuwerikenhof), but Freddy and his daughter, Joy, also competed the gelding up to 1m45 level. Indeed all seven offspring have been competed by members of the Demuynck family.

No doubt Armageddon is a pleasant chap, and since he is by the home-bred son of VDL Silverstone, out of a mare by the Ahorn Z son, Dreamstreet, has probably more than paid the way with his earnings on €4,683 – but...

The 1m35 competitor, Joy's Dreamgirl, Urquelle's daughter by Kashmir van Schuttershof, has won slightly more, €5,979 but the rest of Urquelle's brood would be struggling to pay their feed costs: Hanne, another by Kashmir, has won €2,661; Merryweather, by Emerald, has earned €1,312 while Nashville (Nabab de Rêve) has won €260, Nougat, another Nabab, has won €240 and Kaffeeaulait (Kashmir) brought home €170, so far.

The other 'great' mare on the Hippomundo list, also with seven international competitors, is Cafe Creme, by a somewhat obscure son of Carthago, Creve Coeur (out of a Calypso II mare), but she is well-bred on the dam line, Athlet

Ratina Z in the hands of Ludger Beerbaum (GER) 20 May 2021

Z over Lord. Cafe Creme appears to have a greater claim on our attention... but 'great'?

Cafe Creme, herself, competed up to 1m45 with Phillip Lejeune. Her most successful offspring so far this year, is Blueberry de Hus by HH Conrad (Con Air x Locato), competing 1m60 in the USA with Nicholas Dello Joio, and with winnings of €25,944.

Another product of Haras de Hus, Copacabana de Hus

by Cosinhus (Cornet Obolensky x Gamblers Cup xx) competes at 1m50 level in Mexico with Arturo Parada Vallejo, winnings, €5,850.

The five others are Classical de Kreisker (by the Diamant de Sémilly son Ugobak des Baleines, out of a Heartbreaker mare) who has won €1,244; Excaliber de Hus (by Eldorado de Hus, by Diarado out of a Balou de Rouet mare, €226; Dubai de Hus (by the l'Arc de Triomphe son, Tsunami de Hus, dam by Argentinus) who has won €1,010 at 1m40 level; Constantin de Hus (Ugobak) €478; and Broadway de Hus by the Quidam de Revel son, Seigneur du Grand Pré, jumping 1m35 but with no recorded winnings.

Probably the most interesting thing in this list of 'great' mares is that it records a product of a clone, that has actually sired something. The mare, Karolympe Plardiere (Diamant de Sémilly x Glamorgan) is the dam of six international competitors, including Eliot Brimbelles Z who Titouan Schumacher has taken to 1m60 level, earning €25,881 along the way. The stallion is by ET Cryozootech Z (Espri x Garibaldi II). The clone has recently returned to his stable at the European Horse Center in Mont-le-Soie, but even the press release could only add Ethanol Vert Z (Calvaro x Jalisco), 1m45/€5,234, and Ethic Z (Clown du Chesnay x Almé) 1m35/€5,456; Etourdi Z (Diamant de Sémilly) €1,073 and Etcetera Z (Jabad) €775, to his list of winners. It would seem that the 15-year-old stallion has not been a star in the breeding barn let alone the competition arena.

So let's not look at the current very weird season but at winnings overall to date, and then we find a really great mare heading the list, Whoopie C (Mr Blue x Feinschnitt I van de Richter). Whoopie was moderately successful at 1m60 level, her best international result a fourth at Duisberg, CSN. She comes from one of the most successful mare lines in the world. Her dam, Rapsodie C is by Feinschnitt I van de Richter, who jumped 1m60 and is classic old Hanoverian, Timeo hominem unius libri

Butterfly Flip with Malin Baryard-Johnsson (SWE) by the Ferdinand son Wendekreis out of a Walfried x Duellant mare, out of a mare by Furioso Z, a son of Furioso II. Whoopie C is half sister to a string of GP stars: HH Donatella (Toulon), Tobago Z (Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve); Beijing Z (Bamako de Muze), and Aga-Khan-C (Kannan).

Right now Whoopie C is represented by three international competitors who between them have won €237,057.

The other mare with current progeny earnings of more that €200k is Derly Chin de Muze (For Pleasure x Nabab de Rêve) very much the product of master breeder Joris de Brabander. She was herself a star competitor, with earnings of €84,295, placing second at Spruce Meadows in Calgary with Eric Lamaze, and fifth in the London 2012 Olympic Games. She too comes from a megastar family. Her dam is Werly Chin de Muze by Nabab, out of the famous Qerly Chin

by Chin Chin. As with Whoopie C, every generation on her pedigree is studded with jumping stars.

Thanks to Joris’s skill as a vet, Derly had every opportunity to star as a broodmare, producing 30 foals between 2003 and 2017 – the most famous of which is another of Daniel Deuser's frontliners, Killer Queen VDM (Eldorado van Zeshoek) who has won €750,745 thus far.

It is an ongoing debate in the world of jumping breeding, do the great competitors come from mares who themselves were competitors or, as the highly successful Dutch breeder (and vet) Jan Greve believes: “I’m not sure why this happens but it seems to me that you cannot use the

animal’s body twice – to have it as a showjumper until it is 14 or 15 years old, and then into te breeding, it hardly ever works. Ratina didn’t work. It might just be that it is too much to expect from the body. It’s funny but everybody has a certain age when you produce the best, with a milking cow, it is the third to the fifth calf that gives more milk. I cannot explain why it happens with horses but it does seem that you can’t use the body twice, to be a good sporthorse and then to be a good mother.”

I would think that Comme il Faut (by Cornet Obolensky) shows that Ratina can produce a really first-class jumper, but she and her clones had so many opportunities with so many stallions that the result is still disappointing.

Another great breeder – one of the most successful the world has seen – Joris Brabander takes the opposing view: “The better they are, the better they can jump, the better the foal. It is true that very good jumping horses normally don’t have good chances, they are too old to breed, or they are in the hands of rich people, or they are in countries where they don’t have a breeding culture, and very often when a guy has a very good competition mare, he uses his own stallion which is very often not good enough. If you breed to very, very good mares, it is always better than breeding to the others.”

Not surprisingly, Joris was delighted to add Butterfly Flip (Robin I Z x Moderene) to his broodmare band. In 2004, the mare was 13th on the WBFSH standings with Malin BaryardJohnsson. They competed five times at World Cup finals, making the top 10 three times. In 2003 they were third behind Marcus Ehning/Anka, and Rodgrigo Pessoa/ Baloubet du Rouet.

Joris acquired Butterfly Flip in 2011 and she died in February 2021. In that decade of breeding how successful has she been as a brood mare? Butterfly Flip produced five foals for Joris in 2012, by Vigo d’Arsouilles, Nabab de Reve, Norton d’Eole, and Elvis ter Putte. The most successful has been Elle Flip de Muze by Elvis ter Putte (Diamant de Sémilly x Darco) whose most recent placing was 15th in a 1m35 at Liege, Belgium, in September 2020. I guess her competition opportunities have been limited this year.

Ninja Flip Z, by Nabab de Rêve, has jumped at 1m35, while Butterfly Flip has even produced the eventer Vigo’s Flip de Muze Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles) – though given her Thoroughbred heritage this should be no surprise. Ridden

by Belgian Jarno Verwimp she placed 12th at Arville CCI***S in August 2020.

Still Butterfly Flip’s most successful foal has been Flip’s Little Sparrow (by Cardento), who competed up to 1m65 level with Stephanie Holman and Peder Fredricson. Flip’s Fairy Tale, by Click and Cash, competed up to 1m40 level, her last start in February 2017 for 13th in a 1m30 class.

Was the great jumper a great broodmare - we'll have to wait a little while, but the picture is not looking super bright.

It is a debate that will continue, but I hope one thing we have learnt from this brief look at 'great' and great mares, is that any stats that emerge from 2020 and 2021 should be treated with extreme caution.

■ Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

21

Timeo hominem unius libri

BWP approves 29 jumping and two dressage stallions

BY JO DE ROO PHOTOGRAPHY: JO DE ROO The BWP stallion approval has ended, one month later than expected and with an adjusted program. Stefaan De Smet, Herman Van Den Broeck and Tim Van Tricht approved 29 showjumping stallions. We interviewed De Smet, president of the showjumping selection committee, as well as Freddy De Vos, breeder of the BWP champion showjumping Socrates van den Bosdam, also Eddy Schuurmans, president of BWP’s dressage studbook commission and Marc Dries, breeder of BWP dressage champion, Sunnyboy van de Kempenhoeve.

R

ecalling the event, Stefaan De Smet said: ‘We are pleased that the third phase of the stallion expertise was able to continue because it was not so evident. This year’s inspection was rather different to usual, with an adjusted program. I am satisfied, especially with the three-year-olds. I had a good feeling after the approval as it was difficult enough for these stallions, but not impossible. The fact that the third phase had to take place a month later will not immediately have benefited certain stallions.

“Talking about the three-year-olds, some presenters have been preparing and training since August or September last year, and that is certainly a long time. I can imagine that certain three-year-olds were finished. But many stallions have been able to show their showjumping qualities under the saddle and that’s a good thing. We have been a little more selective, but at the same time also quite consistent. I had a less good feeling about the quality of the four-year-olds. We may have judged a little too broadly in this group. “‘During the judgement we paid a lot of attention to rideability, and natural balance and canter. This was generally good. Some stallions with showjumping qualities nevertheless were dropped on basis of these criteria. Those who succeeded were stallions with more than average athletic ability, easy to ride, coupled with a good canter.”

de Muze has two approved sons. All the other approved stallions have a different sire, with a number of offspring of relatively young BWP approved stallions.”

Socrates van den Bosdam (Eras Ste Hermelle Bethsabee van de Maltahoeve x Darco) was crowned BWP champion in the option showjumping. What fed the jury’s decision? “I think we can say that the champion, the reserve champion, and the first reserve champion were well matched. They are promising showjumpers, belonging to

What were the points of attention? “I have the impression that it is getting more difficult to offer ‘complete horses’, especially when we talk about the walk and trot, and also a number of negatives in conformation did not benefit a good ridden test. The top three stallions were complete in our opinion, which means good conformation combined with good movements and showjumping qualities.”

Is not being complete a disaster? “I don’t think so. We will have to learn to live with the fact that we have had to give up on a number of points. As long as a stallion has a functional, correct conformation and a good canter, and of course jumps well, there are no problems. In term of the sire lines, there was a good spread, which is good. Only Bamako

Sunnyboy van de Kempenhoeve, BWP dressage champion Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

23

The judgment of an independent test rider is always very valuable. It confirms or qualifies your own judgment. In a number of cases, it is just the opposite, but that is of course also good to know.

Ultimately, the feeling is still more important than sight.”

BWP champion The BWP champion Socrates van den Bosdam is a son of Eras Ste Hermelle, an international sport stallion with whom Jérôme Guéry finished ninth last year at the Belgian showjumping championship for seniors. He was also successful on the four- and five-star circuit.

The dam of Socrates is the BWP elite dam Bethsabee van de Maltahoeve, bred by Georgette Naudts-De Backer. As a young horse Bethsabee was ridden by Stefaan De Smet, then sold to Stephan l-r Freddy de Vos, Socrates van den Bosdam, Erik de Winter, Conter when she was six, performing in Mrs. de Vos international showjumping classes up to five-star strong performance dam lines. Socrates has just a fraction level in partnership with Keean White. more stallion appearance and a slightly better conformation.

Freddy De Vos, the breeder of Socrates, had this to say He realized a very good riding test during the third phase, about Bethsabee: “She was definitely special, and a good one just like the other two. During the first two days of the at the same time. Under the saddle of Stefaan De Smet, second phase he gave us a very good impression, only on the Bethsabee almost always jumped without fault and, more third day was he briefly lost.” importantly, she always jumped in a correct way. She had a good career in international showjumping, and after she You could not rely on test riders this year... “The main returned to Belgium I was able to buy her. Since then she has reason was that we did not want to have the stallions stabled actually given me everything I wanted from her.” on site because of the risk of rhino [EHV-1] transmission. If Bethsabee’s offspring also proved themselves in the BWP we wanted to judge an age category in one day, we couldn’t foal championship. In 2019 her Pegase van t Ruytershof filly make use of test riders and we could certainly only let the Thiam van den Bosdam (co-bred by Stefaan De Smet) three-year-olds do one riding test anyway. So we were forced triumphed, and in 2020 her Kasanova de la Pomme filly Una to make choices and we opted to have the stallions ridden by their own rider. In the context of Covid-19, trying to avoid contacts between people as much as possible has of course also played a role.”

To what extent was the inability to employ test riders a loss in terms of judging? “I think we can speak of a successful approval, but I would still very much like to return to the pre-corona situation, with test riders. It is logical that one can make a more substantiated judgment if one sees a stallion two or three times instead of once. It also allows a stallion to recover after a possibly lighter first day.

24 May 2021

l-r: Diede van de Put, Mrs. Dries, Mieke Dries, Sunnyboy van de Kempenhoeve, Davy Gielis, Marc Dries Timeo hominem unius libri

van de Bosdam was victorious. “We are still the owners of Thiam and Una. Out of Bethsabee we also have two daughters by Hunters Scendro and a five-year-old daughter by Denzel van’t Meulenhof, named Querida van den Bosdam. Out of Querida we have a very promising descendant by Diamant de Semilly.” Stallion keeper Erik De Winter and Freddy De Vos each own a 50% share in Socrates.

Bred by Leo Vermeiren, Spitfire V, a son of Chacoon Blue out of Kulana V (BWP performance line 72) was confirmed as reserve champion. Several showjumpers on the 1m60 circuit belong to Spitfire’s dam line, including Melody vd Smidshoeve, Excenel V, Charisma V, and Karoline of Ballmore. Spitfire’s granddam, Varoline (Cash), produced Sunday JM – 1st reserve showjumping champion showjumping with Creatuur V (1m45), Indezz V (1m50), Joris van Dijck and Kulana V (1m45). According to Vermeiren, the horses belonging to this line have scope, a have a promising full sister to Spitfire and expect a lot from good mentality, good character, and big hearts. her as she has a lot of scope. Kulana was herself a For this year there will be no Kulana V offspring as phenomenon at a young age. As far as I’m concerned, according to Vermeiren, “She’s staying with Stephex Stables Spitfire is complete.” Spitfire V has been sold to Gerfried and sport comes first.” Kulana is now 11 and is participating Puck and Leo’s son Gert Vermeiren. in two- and three-star international showjumping classes with Sunday JM (Ermitage Kalone - Unschuld x Chicago Z) Lorenzo de Luca. She has already produced two approved became first reserve BWP showjumping champion, and is a stallions (Spitfire V and Revell V) and is a BWP elite dam. half-brother to international performers Cashpaid and Cordial. Joris Van Dijck, who bred and presented Sunday JM, A once in a lifetime dam? Vermeiren: “I think so, yes. I was quite satisfied afterwards, saying; “We know that Sunday is a very youthful horse. I think he will change very much in the future. He never disappointed us, not even during the preparations. We are satisfied with his performance.”

‘Sunny’ dressage champion

l-r Leo Vermeiren, Spitfire V (reserve showjumping champion stallion), Gert Vermeiren

The BWP dressage champion Sunnyboy van de Kempenhoeve is by Don Deluxe out of Prettywoman van de Kempenhoeve (Quaterback - Bonnita van de Kempenhoeve x Stedinger), bred by the Dries family, founders of studfarm De Kempenhoeve. Mieke Dries, Marc’s daughter, rode Sunnyboy during the third phase, after which he said; “I was present at the stallion approval when it was announced that Sunnyboy was champion. It confirmed my suspicion. If I compare it to a card game, I have to say that in the past few years I have never had cards as good as now. From the first day I was convinced that Sunnyboy would succeed. He always cooperated well, even during the training. I have already said many times: the character determines 95% of a horse.

Sunnyboy always cooperates, he never counteracts. Of course, he also has other qualities. The championship title is good, after 40 years of dedication. It’s the icing on the cake.”

Sunnyboy’s dam claimed third place in 2015 at the championship for dressage foals in Gesves.

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

25

What else can you say about her? “She has performed very well. In partnership with our daughter Mieke she has been VOR champion. She is a good dam with a top character. She is only six years old and has 10 descendants.

At the age of three she gave birth to Sunnyboy, her first foal.

The following year I flushed two embryos, one of whom became champion. In 2020 we had five embryos from Prettywoman, of whom one was the auction topper in Borculo. This year Prettywoman has a foal by Bon Coeur, who was only two days old when he was sold. Prettywoman passes on extra chic and very good movements.”

Mieke Dries explained how she prepared Sunnyboy van de Kempenhoeve for the third phase: “It was mainly my friend who prepared him, as I had two accidents one after the other: An indentation fracture in my back and a brain haemorrhage. As soon as I got home again, I started working hard and took over from my friend. We lunged Sunnyboy and after the second phase he was broken in. As soon as I was allowed to, I started riding him.” Full of enthusiasm: “He gives me a great feeling under the saddle. Lots of power and impulsion. Really blissful. He also has a super good character. Everything is fine, so I hope we can keep him and achieve a lot with him.’

What are the plans for the future? (Marc sighed deeply): “If possible we will try to keep him. We have already received many offers during the past few days. I would like to keep him as a stallion in Belgium, but if I sell him abroad he will cover 10 times more than in our country. I would like to give the Belgian breeders the opportunity to breed with such a champion stallion, but they must of course still want to do it.

I have experienced this several times in the past, with for instance Pavarotti and Don Renoir. They were top stallions who had proven themselves, but were not used often by breeders. We will soon have to make a choice. We cannot recoup the amount offered by standing Sunnyboy as a breeding stallion.”

Dates and Covid-19 Eddy Schuurmans, president of the BWP dressage committee declared: “We had a good collection of dressage stallions. We were unlucky at the last minute due to the KWPN stallion approval and coronavirus, so had four candidates absent during the second phase. The candidates from KWPN were approved in their own studbook and selected to participate at the KWPN performance test. They were probably interesting stallions so we could have had a bigger collection, and the general picture could also have been better. In the end we were able to approve two good stallions.”

Of the six stallions presented in the third phase, two were finally approved. “Yes, we were relatively strict and there was, of course, a comment about that, but we looked back on the past years and tried to maintain a certain line. We were

26 May 2021

not strict enough for some, too strict for others. That is always a bit tricky. We looked at everything in good conscience and weighed up all the pros and cons.

“I did miss the valuable impressions of the test riders this year. Normally we call on two test riders, but we had to rely on how each horse was presented. It was one rider, 10 minutes and that was it. If we assess stallions over several days, we see them change. Their performance on days two and three can sometimes be different from day one. Readers should also know that we considered everything in the final decision. We not only included the tests but also the pedigree, the things we saw in the second phase, the dams of the stallions we saw, etc. So, we did not rely solely on the 10minute performance. Anyone who is considering buying a horse will want to test the horse, which is important. Due to rhino and Covid-19, we could not rely on test riders this year.

There were also other limitations, such as the fact that the stallions could not remain in the stables, which meant that we started with a disadvantage this year.”

Do you worry that someone who presented a stallion who wasn’t approved will seek refuge in another studbook?

“Of course, we understand the disappointment of those people. Their expectations were high as they have worked intensively with their stallions in recent months and have seen the progress in their training process. Based on the inspection report, we tried to provide the necessary feedback on the findings of the jury. Of course, it remains a difficult discussion. Where do people draw the line between approved and not approved? This also involves looking at the competition abroad. The range of approved stallions abroad is enormous.

“We know that two winning colts from the BWP dressage foal championship were later approved as stallions abroad, and that dressage stallions bred in Belgium are registered and approved abroad, so we have bred good horses. The issue is that we must be able to offer breeders something with regard to inspecting and marketing. That is why we will try, for example, to continue organising the auction and to give shape to it – no matter how difficult this may be. It will still have to grow in various areas, but it is ultimately our intention to make Belgium a dressage-horse country. If Denmark can do it then we should be able to do that, too.

Denmark may have two major sponsors, Helgstrand and Blue Hors, but we have top breeders.”

How would you describe the champion stallion? “Like a very modern, beautiful, long-legged horse. He is very pleasant to deal with and in terms of character he worked very well. That also played a role in the final judgement. He belongs to a very good dam line and is still youthful. In his walk he could have a little more suppleness and be more spacious, but I think that a young horse should not be judged too hard on one part.”

■

Timeo hominem unius libri

Danish Warmblood 10-day test passes 18 young stallions

BY THOMAS BACH JENSEN / DWB PHOTOGRAPHY: RIDEHESTEN.COM Following the Danish Warmblood stallion licensing, 18 young stallions were tested at the equestrian centre in Tørring managed by Torben Frandsen. Nine newly approved dressage stallions and nine newly approved jumping stallions have passed the Danish Warmblood 10day test and are now ready to serve mares.

T

he stallions are only lightly ridden and are judged for their rideability and functionality under a rider and, are observed for their temperament and manners to identify undesirable vices.

The group included 17 stallions from the main licensing and one who was approved at the late licensing – the Danish Trakehner Hallifax Lyng (Schwarzgold x Millennium).

Danish Warmblood does not score the stallions during the 10-day test as they find it makes very little sense. Instead, the judges produce a description about the horse’s behaviour, rideability, and paces, as well as free jumping manners for those tested as jumpers. All 18 stallions passed the test and are now available for breeding in Danish Warmblood. View all pedigrees etc. in the catalogue: http://www.dwbstallions2021.dk/index.php/katalog

Dressage stallions • Midt-West Evolution (Revolution x Jazz), bred and presented by Stutteri Midt-West/Poul Erik Nielsen, Spjald.

• Hesselhøj Donkey Boss (Hesselhøj Donkey Boy x Blue Hors Zack), bred and presented by Hesselhøj/Anders Hoeck, Asperup.

• Sønderskovens Don Avicii (Hesselhøj Donkey Boy x Blue Hors Don Romantic), bred by Johanne and Lars Juul, Bælum, presented by Skovrider International ApS, Flemming • Gørklintgårds Millíon (Millennium x Sunny-Boy), bred and presented by Jørgen Ravn, Holsted.

• MSJ Q (Quantensprung x Bordeaux), bred in the UK and owned by HP Horses, Hillerød.

Premium stallion Hesselhøj Donkey Boss (Hesselhøj Donkey Boy x Blue Hors Zack) Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

27

G

M HARAS DE CLARBEC

Timeo hominem unius libri

• Renomé(Revolution x Sieger Hit), bred by Minna Petersen and Thorkild Karger, Sommersted, presented by Priess Horses, Nykøbing Mors • Blue Hors Spectrum (Sezuan x Sandro Hit), bred by Stutteri Pax I/S, Smørum, presented by Blue hors ApS, Randbøl • Veyron Hena (Vitalis x L’Espoir), bred and presented by Alexandra and Søren Buchreitz, Kolding • Hallifax Lyng (Schwarzgold x Millennium), bred and presented by Anne Lyngbye Melsen, Kokkedal.

Jumping stallions • Genesis P (Bøgegårdens Gladiola x Cassini II), bred and presented by LP Springheste/ Lars N. Pedersen, Vejle • Las Vegas H DWB (Comme Il Faut x Louvre S), bred by Bodil Kruse Hellmers, Aalborg, presented by Tallin Farm- Danish Sports Horses LLC, USA • Casalensky (Cornet Obolensky x Casall), bred in Germany, presented

by HH Horses and Stald Cajus, Solrød Strand • Senator (Der Senaat x Quiet Please), bred by Jeannette, presented by Nordentoft Equestrian, Thisted • Emeralds Boy Ask Z (Emerald van’t Ruytershof x Cornet Obolensky) bred in the Netherlands, presented by

Stutteri Ask A/S, Martofte • Hallas Ask (Harley VDL x Nurzeuz), bred in the Netherlands, presented by Stutteri Ask A/S, Martofte • Nørremøllehøjs Silver Light (Silvaner DC x Candillo), bred by Christina Møller and Uwe Thomsen, BylderupBov, presented by Ulrik Stadelhofter and Uwe Thomsen, Bylderup-Bov • Gadgaards Convoy (Volstrups Cash x Godsend du Reverdy), bred and presented by Lene Gadgaard and Hans Chr. Jensen, Spjald • Teglovnens Zir-Oculus (Zirocco Blue x Cornet Obolensky), bred in Germany, presented by Stutteri Teglovnen, Dybvad.

Four foal auctions Danish Warmbloods preliminary plan for foal auctions numbers four, so far, which will take place on the following dates:

www.stutteriask.dk

www.bluehors.dk

Clos des Cordeliers - Domaine Ratron -

Vins du Val de Loire

ifce institut français du cheval et de l’équitation

• Saturday, June 26 – Blue Hors • Saturday, September 4 – Elite Foal Auction at Vilhelmsborg • Saturday, September 11 – Regional Foal Auction South • Saturday, September 18 – Regional Foal Auction North ■

Hotel La Mascotte *** LA BAULE The right place for horse lovers Email : hotel.la.mascotte@orange.fr www.la-baule-hotel.com

Top auction foal from 2020 Jestis La Liga Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

29

Horalas: An extraordinary Trakehner ambassador

BY ELENA ZOBOVA PHOTOGRAPHY: ELENA ZOBOVA, NEMUNO HORSE STUD, PETER LLEWELLYN Horalas belongs to a very select group of stallions who were born outside Germany but approved by the Trakehner Verband on the basis of their performance records. Horalas competed against the best horse and rider combinations in the world at the highest level like no other Trakehner since the days of Abdullah.

H

oralas was retired almost at the peak of his jumping career with no health or injury issues, but following the death of his owner, Diane Ruishing. The stallion possessed great power and willingness to perform. Some breed experts were quoted as saying his technique was not great, but he fully compensated for this deficiency with an excellent competition mentality. There is no doubt that Horalas passed on his jumping ability to all of his offspring.

His story, however, began on March 17, 1992, at the famous Nemuno horse stud in Lithuania. The earth here is sandy, the sun is warm, and the skies are wide. Ties between the Nemuno horse stud and the main Trakehner stud reach

back to the early days of the 20th century, when the foundation Trakehner stallion Dampfross (1916, Dingo Laura x Passvan) was born there, and the pedigree of Horalas is a great example of this connection. His heritage includes many of Trakehner’s most famous foundation sires like Pilger, Pythagoras (the son of the above-mentioned Dampfross), Tempelhüter, and Kupferhammer.

Trakehner horses were bred for many years in the windy meadows of the Nemunas river, and a number competed successfully in jumping arenas outside Lithuania. To name a few: Steps Helsinki/ex Helsinkis (1989, Forpost - Higiena x Hromogen) ridden by Britain’s John Whitaker; Traxdata Mulligan/ex Esopas (1988, Cheopsas - Ellada x Privet) for Ireland with Peter Charles; and the stallions Hamanas (1984, Gret - Habanera x Hromogen) and Hepatitas (1987, Forpost - Habanera x Hromogen) who both jumped under the Norwegian flag.

Not a typical Trakehner Horalas was the very first son of Hipogeja and Veimaras.

He was not special or somehow different from other colts of his age. His head was a bit longer than normal, legs were not completely straight. Large-boned, narrow, a bit skinny, but already showing an elegant and impressive disposition. At that time it never occurred to anyone that this bay stallion would influence Trakehner breeding throughout the whole world.

Three years flew by very quickly and Horalas was put under saddle, but due to his untypical Trakehner conformation he wasn’t included in the young breeding stallions’ group. According to the Ramune Jasiene, the breeding manager of the Nemuno stud; “Many times, going through the stable we stopped at Horalas’s box and discussed the future of the stallion. Already at his young age Horalas had very powerful jump, and his pedigree was very interesting, but at that time our horse stud manager and the Trakehner breeder with the most say, Dobilas Obelenis told us all the time, ‘let’s wait a while’.”

Horalas competing at Spruce Meadows, Calgary with Hap Hansen (USA) 30 May 2021

Timeo hominem unius libri

Two sides of the same coin On the flip side of the coin, Horalas’s trainer was the talented rider and horseman Rimas Rimkus, who had been riding horses since the age of 12 and had his own opinion. “It is necessary for Horalas to cover as many mares as possible.

From this outstanding stallion with such power over the fence, who never refuses to jump, who is eager to work The results of Horalas and Rimas Rimkus in the showjumping ring were remarkable; twice winning the national championship title, then victory in the World Cup qualifying Grand Prix of Vilnius in 2001.

Finally, at the age of five, it was decided that Horalas would cover 13 mares, then 20 the following year. But in March 1998 Lars Gehrmann from the Trakehner Verband arrived at the Nemuno horse stud and his decision was rather heartbreaking: “Horalas has to be used very carefully and only with a limited number of mares whose jumping abilities have to be improved.” He was granted up to five mares in the first year, reduced to just three the following year.

Approved sons The young Horalas was never allowed to be turned out at the same time as any mares, or he would jump out of any paddock in which he was put. Luckily, ahead of his trip to the United States, Horalas produced more than 30 offspring, including six approved stallions and seven broodmares. These included the Trakehner-approved 2005 Lithuanian champion Vikis (2000, Vaiguva x Elektronas); the chestnut Fiatas (2000, Fauna x Liteksas) – a four-star Grand Prix jumper under the saddle of Rimas Rimkus and a breeding stallion in Russia at the present time; the dark chestnut Chromas (2001, Chocha x Topazas) – a five-star Grand Prix showjumper with Danielius Gutkauskas and Kostas Gaigalas.

According to Gutkauskas; “Chromas is intelligent, powerful, and a very careful stallion with good reflexes and canter.

These are the basic qualities needed for any horse to survive the war of attrition, otherwise known as ‘the show jumping sport’.”

The winner of the 2016 Trakehner Bundesturnier in Hannover was the grey mare Hete (2010, by Pyramus), whose dam Helianta (2004, by Vojazas) is also the daughter of Hipe.

Remarkably, all these Horalas daughters descend from the same dam line of the East Prussian mare Huryska/ ex Husarenbraut (1935, Hostau - Quaste x Humanist), bred at Liski horse stud in Poland. Her son Wielki Wezyr (1949, by Grossvisier) served at the Kirow stud for four years and was later sold to the Dnepropetrovsk horse stud in Ukraine.

Time to say ‘goodbye’ Rimas Rimkus and Horalas were a consistent partnership for 10 years. On Sundays Rimkus took his bicycle and rode 10 kms to the Nemuno stud stables to walk Horalas in hand or to put him in a paddock, and always carried carrots or treats for him. Even during the difficult period of Perestroika, when people were not paid for their work for many months, Rimkus and Horalas remained together as the stallion wasn’t for sale.

However, it also prevented the Nemuno stud from presenting this unique stallion to the showjumping world. So, when Diane Rushing wanted to not only see him excel in sport, but also to spread the genes of this beautiful stallion and Trakehner sport horse worldwide, the decision to sell him was taken. At the time, although Rimas Rimkus had other S-class jumping horses, it was very hard for him to say goodbye to Horalas as he was a unique character.

When leading sires breed leading sires Horalas’s sire Veimaras was bred to be a jumper, being a descendant of the enormously influential Topki. Bred at Kirow horse stud in 1972, Topki became one of the most important Russian Trakehner sires after the second World War in terms of type, interior, rideability, and heritability.

In 1979 at CHIO Aachen this imposing, silky black stallion won one of the world’s most difficult jumping

Maternal power Among the daughters of Horalas it’s necessary to mention Hela (2000, Hiperbole x Veterok), who is the dam of breeding stallion Araratas (2007, Abdullah); Harbina (1998, Hemolise x Gret) – the dam of Hafelis (2011, Eruditas), the promising jumper of young Lithuanian rider Evita Vismeryte; and Hipe (1998, Hipnoze by Lefeber xx). Hipe is the dam of three internationally successful horses: the stallions: Hipoidas (2006,

by Heleris) and Hektoras (2011, by Piligrim), both located in the north of Poland, owned and ridden by Robert Hestkowski, as well as the black gelding Hometas (2007, by Heleris), who jumped 1m40 classes.

Top: Hipogeja; Below: Veimaras Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

31

events – the Grand Prix of North Rhine Westphalia at the age of only seven years. “Topki was a real sport horse, he was able to draw whispers, thunderous applause, and astonishment from crowds. He had great rideability, always being active and attentive,” recalled his rider Viktor Poganovsky. At the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, Poganovsky and Topki earned the gold medal for the Russian team and were placed fifth individually.

Veimaras was one of the most prominent stallions at the Nemuno horse stud. Besides Horalas he sired EtiudasEskado (1995, Erotika x Forpost), an international S-level jumping stallion sold to Norway in 2006. Veimaras himself was the Lithuanian national champion and jumped successfully in Norway himself.

His sire, Portas/ex Pritok, gained the champion of the USSR title twice, in 1986 and 1988, under the saddle of Zigmantas Šarka. Veimaras’s dam, Volga, was also the dam of Verdenas, approved by the Trakehner Verband and served at Gorlo stud for a few seasons in the 1990s. “Portas and Veimaras were showjumping horses of the highest level; always attentive to the rider and focused around the course,” said Zigmantas Šarka, who used to ride both stallions. “Veimaras never behaved like a stallion, he could be around a group of children and would act like the true gentleman that he was.”

A very versatile lady

HORALAS (1992)

Horalas’s dam Hipogeja was a remarkably versatile mare at Nemuno, showing excellent jumping technique that was evaluated with 9.00 points during her performance test at the age of two-and-a-half. Among her 14 foals there are various daughters, who remained with the Nemuno stud breeding herd, as well as the licensed stallion Helespontas (2001, Etiudas-Eskado) – a 1m60 jumper himself – and three full brothers of Horalas: Hilsas, born in 1997, who was a successful dressage horse in Russia; Hipokratas, born in 2009; and Henrikas, born in 2010 – both competitive in showjumping.

Hipogeja was a daughter of Gret – the classical Russianbred Trakehner stallion – not only a true performance sire

VEIMARAS TRAK (1987)

HIPOGEJA

32 May 2021

TRAK (1987)

PORTAS/EX PRITOK

himself, but also the sire of performers, like internationally successful showjumping stallion Elektronas (1987, Elektra x Homeras); the German Trakehner Verband approved stallion Emiras DS (1988, Emka x Paket); and Grand Prix dressage stallion Pingvin (1992, Poetessa x Eol).

Lithuanian breeder Valdemaras Urbonas managed to produce three outstanding sons by Gre: the chestnut Vulkanas (dam Vilbara x Cheres) in 1995; his full brother, the dark bay Valetas; and chestnut Hamletas out of Hekata by Verdenas in 1996. In 2001 Valetas and Hamletas participated in the FEIWBFSH showjumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken (Belgium) with promising results, showing great style and power over the fences.

A long way to America Horalas was eventually imported into the USA, thanks to the perseverance and creativity of Lithuanian-born Diane Rushing and her husband Jim. Both enthusiastic horse people, it was Diane who really captured everyone’s attention with her great sense of humor, her obvious love for her home country, Lithuania, and her admiration and detailed knowledge about the world of riding and promoting showjumpers at the top levels. Diane visited her family in Lithuania shortly after the fall of the iron curtain, and also found her stallion during this visit.

It took Diane and Jim almost four years, countless telephone calls, the creation of the ‘EquiBalt’ transportation company exclusively for this project and, of course, endless patience and faith to bring Horalas to the US. The journey took the stallion half-way around the world during a one-week trip in a sealed truck, including a ferry ride and a flight from AmsterdamSchipol airport to Los Angeles before Horalas could stretch his tired legs once again. Finally, in 2002, Horalas joined one of America’s top showjumping riders, Hap Hansen, and his team close to San Diego, California.

Hap Hansen is known to ride horses with a touch of genius. His smooth-as-silk style makes even the toughest horses look easy. “Horalas was such an exceptional horse,” Hansen recalls. “He was a fabulous jumper – just a joy to ride; very

TOPKI (TRAK/1972)

OSTRJAK (1955) TROPA (1966)

OSSIAN (1937) - SPORTFREUDE (1938) POMARANETS (1952) - TACHTA (1947)

TRAK (1978)

PIRAMIDA (TRAK/1960)

PILIGRIM (1944) DATSCHA (1953)

PYTHAGORAS (1927) - ALSTER I (1928) DIABAZ (1945) - ANGARA (1944)

VOLGA

ETJUD (TRAK/1959)

EINGARD (1941) HARTIJA (1950)

PILGER (1926) - EINZAHL (1935) HITREZ (1944) - KARTA (1944)

TRAK (1970)

VOLSCHANKA (TRAK/1959)

WELT (1951) ANGARA (1944)

POLARSTERN (1930) - WELTAWA (1936) ALIBI (1932) - AROSA (1935)

GRET

ETJUD (TRAK/1955)

EINGARD (1941) HARTIJA (1950)

PILGER (1926) - EINZAHL (1935) HITREZ (1944) - KARTA (1944)

TRAK (1971)

GRETSCHICHA

GUIDO (1937 CHVOJA (1947)

PYTHAGORAS (1927) - GUDRUN (1925) HASSGESANG (1938) - GONDEL (1943)

(TRAK/1955)

CHROMOGENAS

HERMINA

(TRAK/1965)

HOCHOT (1956) EMAL II (1950)

HRISOLIT (1950 - CHWALA (1944) EIFEL (1939) - MASKA (1941)

TRAK (1981)

HUNTA (TRAK/1970)

TOPOL (1958) HOSJAIKA (1963)

PRIBOJ (1944) - TAKTIKA (1943) HOCHOT (1956) - ERNESSA (1955)

Timeo hominem unius libri

intelligent, very scopey, brave, and level-headed. I feel honoured to be able to compete with ‘Henry’.”

It was the beginning of a great partnership, a true dream team, since not only did Hansen train Horalas for the top level in sport, but it was Horalas who put him in reach of his 100th Grand Prix victory in the United States. To list a few of this stallion’s achievements, Horalas won the $25,000 Oaks Spring Classic Grand Prix, the $35,000 Oaks Blenheim Summer Festival Grand Prix, and the $25,000 Memorial Day Classic Grand Prix in Los Angeles. He was placed in numerous other Grand Prix classes: 11th in the $175,000 Cargill Grand Prix of the US, eighth in the $75,000 Bayer/USET Grand Prix, 12th in the $150,000 Ford Grand Prix, and sixth in the ATB Financial Cup 1m60 Jumper at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada, as well as finishing in the prize money at the $1 million Canadian International.

Four times in a row between 2003 and 2006 Horalas was the ATA Horse of the Year Grand Prix Jumper Champion and is one of the only eight ATA stallions with a *PG* – Performance Gold – prefix. The life-time earnings of Horalas exceed $120,000 putting him in the brilliant Trakehner company of Almox Prints J (1981, Hockey -Pawana x Welt) and Waitaki/ex Chlorofill (1988, Orfej -Hromotipija x Priz xx), who managed to win €190,000 and €145,000, respectively.

In 2006 Horalas was awarded the ATA’s highest honour – the Palmenblüte Award. This magnificent statue was given to the ATA by the late Eugen Wahler of Klosterhof Medingen in remembrance of the great East Prussian mare Palmenblüte (1924, Bulgarenzar - Palme x Packer). She lived at a time when the Main State Stud Trakehnen was in its heyday. Horalas followed legendary performance horses like Abdullah *Pg*E*, Peron TSF, Special Memories *Pg, Larissa *Pg and Windfall *Pg. Horalas achieved a great deal of public relations work for the Trakehner by being the only breed representative in the majority of Grand Prix classes in which he competed.

When Horalas’s owner Diane Rushing passed away following a long illness, it was Kim Hunter who knew that Margaret MacGregor had a valuable herd of great Trakehner mares with the best jumping pedigrees. She knew Horalas would find a good new home there and established the contact between Jim Rushing and Margaret MacGregor.

Thereafter, he moved to his new stable in Illinois where another big name dominated the local pedigrees – the showjumping hall-of-fame member and Olympic and World Cup medallist Abdullah *Pg*E* (1970, Donauwind - Abiza x Maharadscha).

‘American boy’ Davidas The American-bred and foaled Trakehner stallion Davidas (2012, Horalas - Devi Danae x Abdullah) jumped his way into the history books in 2014, when he was approved as a premium stallion by the Trakehner Verband at their annual stallion inspection and auction held in October in Northern Germany.

He was also titled as best jumper of the inspection, earning his breeder/owner Dr. Margaret MacGregor, of Holders Hill,

Hafelis (Eruditas - Harbina x Horalas) and Evita Vismeryte Auburn, an engraved crystal vase. “I was honoured to have him be accepted through the pre-selection process for Neumünster and thrilled beyond belief when he was approved with premium status and awarded best jumper,” MacGregor recalled.

“The colt was seen at my farm by a German visitor, Erhard Schulte, and he asked if I would consider exporting him to Germany. We knew that the dam line genes no longer existed in Germany. Also at that time there were no Horalas-approved sons standing in Germany, so this influenced my decision to send him.”

Davidas became the first American-born Trakehner stallion to be approved at the Verband’s main inspection held every fall in Neumünster. He attracted much attention ‘American boy’ according to the Verband press releases. He was subsequently sold at the stallion auction for €93,000 to a German-based group comprising the Bruch Family, Welvert Stud, St. Wendel, Saarland, and the German State Stud at Moritzburg, Saxony. Bidders from China also indicated their strong interest in Davidas during the auction which drove up the price.

A year later Davidas’s three-quarter brother Edmonton (2013, Horalas - Ebulient Banter x Abdullah) was also the best jumping stallion, awarded the premium title and sold for €45,000 to Berlin. And 2017 followed with the imposing grey Donausturm/ex Dornfink from state premium mare Dream Dance R (Abdullah - Donaufee III x Königspark xx), also approved and named the best jumping stallion of his crop.

Sadly, Horalas passed away on February 24, 2021. This gorgeous stallion was a central personality at his home studfarm and to his very last day impressed with his tremendous athleticism, incredible work ethic, and soundness of mind and body – all traits of a world-class performer.

There is no doubt that Horalas will remain in breeders’ good books because he was so easy to relate to and so reliable, as well as for his friendly and pleasant nature. His legacy will live on in the Trakehner breed forever for his great ability to pass on the special talent that makes the difference between a winner and one who comes second. You will be greatly missed, Henry. RIP ■

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

33

KWPN STALLION SELECTION HARNESS HORSES WATCH FREE - MAY 8TH WWW.KWPN.ORG

KWPN Harness Horse Stallion selection on Saturday 8 May. You can follow the entire program via the livestream on KWPN.org.

Timeo hominem unius libri

KWPN starts pilot project on biomechanics

BY CHARLOTTE DEKKER PHOTOGRAPHY: KWPN On Wednesday, March 3, the first successful assessment day of the biomechanics pilot project took place at the KWPN Centre. This pilot was set up in cooperation with EquInnoLab, accredited knowledge and innovation centre for equestrian sports which specialises in measuring the biomechanics of both horses and riders.

R

alph van Venrooij of the KWPN explains: “The KWPN heads the WBFSH rankings in all three disciplines. To take the lead is one thing, to maintain that position requires effort and investment. As a studbook we owe it to our breeders to continously develop and innovate: This is the only way to achieve our ambition to maintain the leading position and make progress in breeding. Globalisation also impacted breeding, and further professionalisation has allowed for increasingly more opportunities. The horse industry remains relatively conservative, while in the human science they have extensive experience with biomechanics: The science of movement of the joints, muscles and limbs of humans and animals.”

During the test day in March, 30 EPTM mares (EPTM/ Mare Performance Test is an ability test for young horses) were recorded with the innovative camera systems of EquInnoLab. The mares were given so-called markers on their bodies that reveal anatomical structures which are important for mapping a horse’s movement. As in the regular studbook inspection, the exterior was assessed and the horses were shown in walk and trot. After that, the horses were allowed to go to the inside arena where they were judged on their free movement and free jumping. All these parts are recorded by high-speed

cameras, and with the help of the markers the results can be analysed by EquInnoLab. By recording the horses both standing and in movement we gain a lot of insight into the horse’s movement mechanism.

Talent recognition EquInnoLab’s movement scientists analyse this data and can then work together with the KWPN inspectors to see what this information can mean. During this pilot a lot of data will be collected and, for example, the relationship between the movement of a young horse and the movement of a horse in higher-level sport will be examined. For the next two years data will be collected during the EPTM tests. Both partners will thus gain insight into better talent recognition for the sport.

Biomechanics The biomechanics of the horse is also called the science of movement of the horse. It involves the appliance of physical knowledge to the movement of living beings. With the EquInnoLab measurement system it is possible to gain insight into the horse’s movement and thus gain knowledge about the horse’s moving system. By measuring the various aspects, an objective assessment is made based on scientific knowledge. By combining this biomechanical knowledge with the expertise of trained inspectors, this could potentially support future studbook inspections. The biomechanical data may contain knowledge and information about a horse’s later maximum performance in sport. In addition to maximum performance, biomechanics can also help improve training to increase sustainability. Ralph van Venrooij: “To measure is to know, and with the results of this research we hope to distinguish ourselves and realise further improvements for our KWPN breeders.” ■

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

35

CWHBA Alberta awards ‘Elite Ambassador’ status

BY COREEN JAMIESON PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY CWHBA, PETER LLEWELLYN CWHBA Alberta has chosen to award ‘Elite Ambassador’ status to outstanding CWB registered horses and their breeders, owners, developers, and riders that are competing at an Elite level in their chosen discipline. Not only have they risen to the top, they are out there amongst other elite athletes competing on par.

T

he Elite Ambassador designation extends to those farms, trainers and breeders that develop young Canadian Warmblood registered horses to the upper echelon of sport. Currently three breeding and show operations have met the criteria.

Wachter Horses, operated by Beda Wachter and Lynne Stephenson, is an avid supporter of CWHBA and breeds, registers, develops, trains, and shows many CWB horses with great success.

WH Coconut, 2008 grey mare (Carthago Sun III - Ciris x Charmeur) was bred by Wachter Horses and has been successfully showing and winning up to 1m45 with Lynne Stephenson.

Coming from two top

Buenos Aires (Bajazzo x Arkansas) carrying Sandra Donnelly (CAN) during the cross-country round of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong

KVF Elle Carrera (Tempranillo - Wendy x Indorado) bred by Klondike Victory Farm, ridden by Lorrie Jamieson (CAN) 36 May 2021

Timeo hominem unius libri

Warmblood lines, WH Coconut shows the quality of Warmbloods present in Canada. Her sire is Wachter Horses’ registered CWB stallion, Carthago Sun III who has a decorated show record himself and has produced a number of champions.

On the mare side, WH Coconut’s dam has produced not one but two other Canadian Warmbloods competing with as much success as WH Coconut: WH London (WH Leader) and WH Campari (Carthago Sun III).

Klondike Victory Farm has been a mainstay of the Alberta chapter of the CWHBA for many years.

Belshazzar (Beach Boy - Aphrodite x Arkansas) bred by Touchstone Farm and competing with Sandra Donnelly (CAN) Led by Lorrie Jamieson, with family and friends, their volunteer involvement with the Fall Classic Breeder's Sale has been nothing short of phenomenal. This as a backdrop to a very successful breeding, training and show program.

KVF Elle Carrera, 2009 bay mare (Tempranillo - Wendy x Indorado) was bred by Klondike Victory Farm and competes at FEI 1m45 level with a lot of success. A second mare meeting the high level of performance criteria is the 2012 chestnut mare, KVF Hooz Da Kat (KVF Zeno - Beya Cat x Tempranillo), currently competing at 1m40 level with an eye to future FEI classes.

Alborak Stable and Sandra Donnelly put the CWHBA on the map by representing Canada at the 2008 Olympic Games in three-day eventing, and she and her home-bred Canadian Warmblood horses continue to be a strong presence in this discipline.

Buenos Aires, 1997 bay gelding (Bajazzo x Arkansas) Sandra's mount at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, was the first Alberta-bred horse and the first Canadian Warmblood ever to represent Canada at an Olympic Games. To add to this, in the history of the Olympics, only one other horse has been bred, raised, trained, and ridden by the same person. He is out of a mare purchased at the CWHBA Fall Classic Breeder's Sale.

Sandra now competes at the advanced level on Belshazzar (Beach Boy - Aphrodite x Arkansas), a 2003 bay Canadian Warmblood stallion bred by Touchstone Farm, who like Buenos Aires is from the successful mare-line cross of Arkansas x Abrupt.

The Elite Ambassador program is a unique way to recognize the achievements of individuals and breeding operations that highlights the success of the Canadian Warmblood breeding program.

■

Timeo hominem unius libri

Ecurie de Meautry Elevage & Etalons www.ecuriedemeautry.com

www.cheval-liberte.com

www.lasangliere.fr The original electric fence system Everywhere in the world

May 2021

37

Photos: Lafrentz, Rau, Toffi, Wegener

Riesenbeck International GmbH Surenburg 20 48477 Hörstel-Riesenbeck GERMANY Tel. +49 (0) 5454-99656 Fax +49 (0) 5454-99655 hengste@ludger-beerbaum.de www.ludger-beerbaum.de Timeo hominem unius libri

Reproductive technologies: Opening the door to crime?

BY JEAN LLEWELLYN It has been brought to our notice very recently that certain long-established equine auctions and some major studfarms are planning to go to war with nouveau traders who have set up online auctions since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and are selling ‘glitter’ – embryos and semen of false provenance, with no health papers, and in some cases where origins have quite clearly been stolen.

T

hese claims about using modern reproductive techniques to perpetrate unscrupulous trading have been brought to our attention from trusted sources, but for ongoing judicial reasons they are currently unable to answer the question as to who, what, when, where, and how? However, it’s a sufficiently worrying and substantiated claim that we felt it necessary to publish a warning to potential buyers.

Since 2010, when an article was first published by the British Equine Veterinary Association in their Equine Veterinary Journal (see below – and with apologies for the scientific complexities), the DNA testing of equine embryos to determine paternity has been possible. However, it’s a costly and time-consuming process, and to employ an old adage, for buyers who find themselves victims, it’s usually too late ‘to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.’

One of the two auction houses specifically named, is a sell-all company that does not specialise in equines, while the

PARENTAGE TESTING OF DAY 10 EQUINE EMBRYOS BY AMPLIFIED PCR ANALYSIS OF MICROSATELLITES Mathilde Guérand, R. Mahla, D. Lagneaux, Y. Amigues, E. Palmer, Jacqueliine Bézard First published June 10, 2010, BEVA Equine Veterinary Journal Paternity analysis was performed on the DNA of 21 equine embryos collected nonsurgically 10 days after ovulation from known mares, but involving 3 possible sires. After extraction, the DNA of each embryo was typed by radioactive PCR amplification using 10 characterised microsatellites; HMS 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 (Guérin et al. 1994) and HTG 3, 4, 6 and 10 (Marklund et al.

1994).

The 21 dams and 3 sires were genotyped using DNA extracted from blood and amplified by PCR. After electrophoresis and autoradiography of the PCR products of the embryo and parents, the alleles of the embryo were compared to those of the dam to identify those of maternal origin. The paternal alleles were then searched for within the genotype of the 3 sires, and the stallion(s) that exhibited the particular allele was said to be compatible with the embryo for this microsatellite. In this way, the true sire was identified correctly for all 21 embryos.

other claims to be selling exclusive and highly sought-after bloodlines from exceptionally popular and highperformance bloodlines, and posting namelessly behind a fancy multi-lingual website. I say ‘namelessly’ because nowhere in the ‘contact’ information are the names of any individuals mentioned.

Nowadays, such auctions raise the worrying question of traceability of semen once it leaves an owner’s hands. There is no doubt that straws of semen from some best-known names are being stockpiled and/or resold for profit when demand outstrips supply. Similarly, straws are being ‘cut’ into numerous doses of semen for the purpose of achieving multiple pregnancies from the same sire with no adherance to either sales/purchase contracts or studbook regulations. From the studbook perspective, the majority require a breeding certificate from a stallion owner in order to register a foal, similarly, DNA testing may be required for foals where paperwork is incomplete (i.e. a ‘lost’ covering certificate), and evidence provided that the semen was acquired by legal means.

However, as we all know, falsifying documents is an ageold skill, and with some 80 member studbooks of the WBFSH individually issuing passports and/or foal registrations, without necessarily cross-referencing to the original sources, there is little protection for stallion owners.

Data exchange is, in fact, a vital component of horse identification and tracing, which comes under the auspices of WHIRDEC – the World Horse Identification Registration and Data Exchange Committee – which deals with registration requirements laid down by EU legislation, as well as helping to keep studbooks informed on legislative developments that impact the operation of the industry.

So, where does this leave buyers who dream of purchasing an Olympic prospect, and whose budget only extends as far as an in-foal mare or frozen embryo via an online auction? Quite simply, until workable legislation is in place to thoroughly protect stallion owners and with a castiron guarantee as to the provenance of such purchases, do your due diligence by expressly investigating the auction company offering the desired products.

And it’s also worth remembering another adage: ‘If something looks too good to be true, it usually is!’

Caveat emptor...

■ Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

39

XVI BH NATIONAL HORSE FESTIVAL CLUBE HÍPICO DE SANTO AMARO, SÃO PAULO NOVEMBER 11-21, 2021

8yo Mircana des Flandres during the XV Festival 6yo Toronto Xango jumping the Vetnil sponsored fence

4yo Catira Jmen IX

5yo Kannan’s Girl 40 May 2021

Timeo hominem unius libri

Brazilian Showjumping Horse Festival 16th edition surprises

BY ROBERTA MILANI/ABCCH (TRANSLATED BY CAROLINE PADILLA) PHOTOGRAPHY: EMERSON EMERIN AND ANNA PAULA CARVALHO/ABCCH The Brazilian Association of Show-Jump Horse Breeders (ABCCH) has spread good news for the season by announcing that the largest shop window for the BH breed – the 16th BH National Horse Festival – will take place at Clube Hípico de Santo Amaro, in São Paulo, from November 11-21, 2021.

T

he Festival has grown to such an extent that it attracts riders, owners, and breeders from all over Brazil. Some of the event’s main attractions are its six to 40-month-old male and female national exhibition, mares and breeders approval competition, the free-jumping competition, a fourto-eight-year-old jumping competition exclusively for young horses, as well as other classes and the highlights of the event – the Classic and the Golden Cup. This year, the most important shop window for our national breeders can also count on three auctions of BH horses, mares, and embryos, specialist lectures on equestrian topics, team jumping competitions, and much more.

In order to avoid last-minute complications, certain precautions are highly recommended, such as checking animal registrations, property transfer papers in the case of sales, age accuracy of the subscribed animals, being aware of the demands for each category, as well as providing all the necessary documents. For Young Horses at the exhibition, training time is advisable so that they can fulfill gait requirements. Therefore, many owners might keep animals stabled for better care and preparation.

Networking opportunities The club’s social areas will be available to breeders and owners to network. In addition, VIP boxes which can

comfortably host potential partners are also available for purchase. Sponsors, supporters, and company advertisers are already contacting ABCCH aiming at broadening their databases, exposing their brands via advertising quotas on the many lane advertising boards, customized obstacles, personalized stands, putting their company logos on staff shirts, institutional videos and vignettes, promoting their brands and slogans on the event’s official sound system, and through our social networks, among others.

According to ABCCH president Gabriel Khoury: “Inside the lounge area, the environment will be created for you to properly promote your products and services, foster sales, and raise brand awareness.”

The event’s structural project is in the approval stage as well as the competition’s technical program. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic all plans are being designed to comply with the rules and demands necessary for the event to be approved.

A Friesian show is also listed among the contemplated activities. Originally from Friesland, in the Netherlands, the breed was first brought to Brazil by rider Ozir Lara, in 2005.

In recent years beautiful carriages drawn by black Friesians have carried winning riders in jumping competitions alongside the highest scoring breeder/owner to the podium at the close of events.

The Friesian breed is being given space during the Festival because the genealogic registration of Fresian Pure-Blood Horse Breed Control (SRGCPSF) in Brazil, also called Fresian Pure-Blood Brazilian “Stud Book”, is administered by ABCCH countrywide, as determined by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply.

Khoury concluded by saying: “If all goes as planned, we also envisage a BH Breed dressage competition featuring animals that have genealogic registration issued by the Brazilian Show-Jumping Horse studbook, which includes Friesian animals.”

Get ready – more news on the XVI Brazilian Show-Jump Horse Festival will be coming soon. ■

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

41

La Quinara wins as NZ VDLEquibreed mare of the year

BY SALLY REID PHOTOGRAPHY: CORNEGE PHOTOGRAPHY Although Covid-19 caused the cancellation of some competitions – Horse of the Year Show for one – the New Zealand jumping season has still been a busy one, with the ESNZ jumping series concluding, the rankings finalized, and the winners announced.

A

lthough was no Horse of the Year Show in New Zealand this season, we certainly crowned a mare of the year: the beautiful German-bred La Quinara (Ludger G - Queenie x Quality). Not only did she win the VDL-Equibreed Top Mare for 2021, she also won ESNZ’s most prestigious jumping series, the Premier League, by a full 15 points.

Premier League: German jumping queen La Quinara, who is known at home as Queenie, has been in New Zealand since 2018, but really burst into prominence this season, with two wins and a second in the World Cup series, and a string of GP wins and placings.

She was born in Husum in 2008 at the stud of Ute and Friederich Goslar, and competed in Europe in young-horse classes with Manuel Feldman, then later at CSI2* with Michael Heckman. She arrived in New Zealand as a 10-year-old, after Annabel Francis competed her once or twice in Europe before importing her.

Her bloodlines are certainly that of a jumper as her Oldenburg dam Queenie (Quality - Two Faces x Longford) has the immortal Ladykiller xx on both sides of her pedigree, with Quidam de Revel on the sire’s side, and Landor S in the maternal lines. La Quinara herself is by Ludger G, who is by

Five-year-old winner, Giulia MH (Graf Top - Ma Mojo Pedale xx x Grosvenor xx), ridden by Melody Matheson 42 May 2021

Landor S, a son of El.St. Fureida II from Oldenburger Stamm 107.

Second with 138 points was the Holsteiner gelding Windermere Cappuccino (Corofino II - Vespa x Voltaire II) who is now 11 years old. He has been a superb campaigner for the Park family of Windermere Farm, who bred and own him, and his rider Tegan Fitzsimon. He won the World Cup NZ League in both 2019 and 2020, and every one of his age-group series as a young horse. Like La Quinara, he has European champions on both sides of his pedigree. His damsire Voltaire II (Voltaire - Daydyne ster prest x Nimmerdor), was bred by H.J. van der Wal of Groningen in the Netherlands, and his progeny here include top jumpers, eventers, and dressage horses. One of them, Vancouver, was sold to the USA and had notable successes with Katie Dinan and McLain Ward. Voltaire II is also the sire of two very good stallion sons, Double J Repicharge and Craighaven Leviosa.

Third in the series went to another European-bred horse owned and ridden by Annabel Francis, the Holsteiner gelding Carado GPH (Caretino - Only You V x Corrado I), who is the current NZL World Cup champion. Carado was bred by Bernd Fritsch in Germany, and was brought to the Southern Hemisphere by Olivia Hamood of Australia, who had plenty of success with him. He is from Holsteiner Stamm730B, and has Cor de la Bryère and Caletto II on both sides of his pedigree, as well as a double cross of Capitol I on his mother’s side.

Carado scored 127 points in the series.

Graffiti MH (Graf Top - Elodie x Earl), a magnificent Hanoverian mare who has a great many admirers, was fourth with 88. She has had consistently high placings in the major series for the past few years. She was bred by Judith Matthews of Matthews Hanoverians, is owned by Angela Miller, and ridden by Melody Matheson – the same connections as the season’s top five-year-old, Giulia MH (see below).

Fifth on 77 was another good mare, the Australian-bred Cera Cassina (Cassini II - Caletta x Caletto I). She is a Holsteiner from Stamm 7126, bred by Kerri Parker of Cera Performance Horses, and owned and ridden by Kimberley Bird. Her dam Caletta (Caletto I - Zanda x Calpyso II) was imported from Germany and has a full sister who competed at international level in Europe. Cera Cassina recently won the Rutherford Cup, the most prestigious class at the NZ National Timeo hominem unius libri

Jumping Championships.

Sixth place went to the 2020 NZ Horse of the Year, LT Holst Andrea (Casall - Palaune x Lavaletto), who was bred in Germany by Hans-Joachim Gerken of Hammoor. She is owned by Ewen Mackintosh and Brooke Edgecombe, who rides her, and is a Holsteiner from Stamm 2067, which has produced a number of 1m60 jumpers. LT Holst Andrea was the VDL-Equibreed NZ Leading Mare for 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, and runner-up this year to La Quinara (see story below). She has had a superb competition career and is also the mother of some very good young horses, including LT Holst Freda (Colman) who finished third overall in this year’s six-year-old series (also below).

Premier League winner, and mare of the year: La Quinara (Ludger G - Queenie x Quality) ridden by Annabel Francis

VDL-Equibreed top-ranking mare La Quinara was the overall winner of this title with 154 ranking points, well clear of LT Holst Andrea (133) and Graffiti MH (126). The pedigree details of these three horses are given in the story above.

Fourth place with 98 points went to an imported Selle Français, Alaid de Chez Nous (Organo Sitte - Ondine de Grozieux x Biesolo), who has had a fairly light season. She was bred by Bernard Sainsardos in France, is owned by Takapoto Estate, and ridden by Samantha McIntosh. Cera Cassina (also mentioned above) was fifth on 95, while sixth place with 70 points went to LT Holst Bernadette (Askari - Tamara XVI x Casall), a Holsteiner from Stamm 4815, who was bred by Reimer-Detlef Hennings of Bendorf. She was imported from Germany by Ewen Mackintosh, and travelled out to New Zealand with LT Holst Andrea. She now belongs to and is ridden by Robert Steele.

Equibreed leading stallion For the second year running, this title went to Bravado Ego Z (Balougran Z - Cressida Ego Z x Carthago Z), who had 64 ranking points. He is a very glamorous Zangersheide 12year-old, bred in Australia by Dr Linda Mayer of Ego Summersea. He is owned by Logan Massie, Fiona Hall, and Sue Holden, and ridden by Logan Massie, after beginning his NZ career with Jasmine Sketchley in Northland. Massie, who has had him for less than a year, says he is a very willing horse but has his own way of going: “I have had to be careful about how hard to push him. He has so much power underneath that if you lose control – if he is too quick to one fence – it is hard to pull him back and not put him off his rhythm. But that is what

I see as promising; he has always got that energy and it is just a matter of controlling it.”

It’s hard to discount the probability of genetics having a hand in Bravado’s temperament with the incomparable Baloubet du Rouet – who certainly had his own way of going – as his paternal grandfather.

In fact, Bravado’s father, Balougran Z (Baloubet du Rouet - Agrana, Hauptstutbuch x Grannus) was one of Baloubet’s first licensed sons. He was bred at Paul Schockemöhle’s Gestut Lewitz and won his performance test in Neustadt-Dosse with five 10s for the jumping sections. His dam, Agrana (Grannus x Argentinus x Weltmeyer), is from Hannover Stamm 1190810, Schridde 694. Her offspring include a Chacco-Blue daughter, Chagrana Blue, and Chocolat 25 (Café au Lait), both jumping at 1m40 in Europe.

Bravado Ego Z has ‘Principal in Sport’ status with the New Zealand Warmblood Association, receiving a mark of 77.08% at his inspection under Gerd Küst and Michelle Zielazo in 2013. He is also licensed for Rheinland with the NZ Hanoverian Society; judges commented that he is ‘a great example of the Baloubet line, a strong, masculine stallion with powerful movement, good scope and technique’.

Bravado Ego Z has competed at World Cup level on both sides of the Tasman. He has a nine-year-old half-sister, Lafayet Ego Z, by Lux Z, who also in New Zealand, jumping at Grand Prix level with Jasmine Corkery. This mare has a 2016 Parco son in Australia, Platinum Ego Z.

Eye Catcher NZPH top seven-year-old Two horses with NZPH breeding made the top six in this age bracket, with the win going to Eye Catcher NZPH (Kannan - United Blue NZPH x Mr Blue), bred by New Zealand Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

43

Performance Horses, owned by Murray Alfeld, and ridden by his daughter Rose Alfeld. This big chestnut gelding won his five-year-old series in 2018-19 as well as the five-year-old championship at the Young Horse Show, and was fourth in his six-year-old series last season despite having had a lot of time off work. Ironically, the Alfelds, who have owned Eye Catcher since he was a newly broken-in three-year-old, had early concerns about him, with concerns that he might never be big enough for the job. Their fears were unfounded as he is now 17.2hh (175cms). His height is perhaps inherited from his 172cm sire Kannan, through whom he has the blood of Voltaire, Furioso, and Nimmerdor.

His dam, United Blue NZPH (Mr Blue - Mariette x Quat’Sous) is from SF39, with Papillon Rouge and Jalisco B in her pedigree. She is also the dam of Cartoon NZPH (Cabdulla du Tillard) who was a winning seven-year-old and is now competing successfully at higher levels, and Dallas NZPH (Quintus), who had a five-year-old age-group win and now competes at 1m30.

The outstanding imported Holsteiner Corofino II (Corrado I - Valeska IV x Fernando I) sired the next three placegetters, two of which were bred by Sharlene Workman at Xtreme Sport Horses. The Warmblood mare Fleur DeLacour (Corofino II - Jazz x LioCaylon) was second; she was bred by Butch Thomas and is owned and ridden by Samantha Whale.

Like Eye Catcher NZPH, Fleur DeLacour has an excellent competition record, finishing second-equal in her five-year-old series, and second in last season’s six-year-old series. Her damsire, LioCaylon (Liostro x Calypso II x Sacramento Song xx) is from Stamm 741, bred in Germany by Hans-Joachim Gerken, and owned by Butch Thomas’s Wild Turkey Farm in the USA. Third place to Chic Xtreme (Corofino II - All Gems x Grosvenor xx). She was bred at Xtreme Sport Horses, is owned

by Deborah and Charlotte Francis, and ridden by Annabel Francis. Chic Xtreme had a super five-year-old season with her former rider Luke Dee, with wins that included the Takapoto five-year-old final. As a six-year-old she competed mainly in straight jumping competitions, ridden by Charlotte Francis.

Takapoto Casanova Xtreme (Corofino II - JK Good Looks x JK Lucas), owned by Takapoto Estate and ridden by Oliver Croucher, was fourth. This Holsteiner gelding is another very dependable performer, with a good number of wins and placings in all his age-group classes.

Fifth in the series went to the NZ Sport Horse gelding Haupouri Evandro NZPH (Quool du Bois Margot - Vogue Blue NZPH x Mr Blue), who was bred by Warwick Hansen and New Zealand Performance Horses, and is owned and ridden by Bailey Marshall. He has a full sibling, Dolce NZPH, who has had several junior rider wins and placings.

Snapchat Me (Cassiano - Text Me Back x Voltaire II), a Sport Horse gelding bred by Rod and Margot Parsons and ridden by Anna Parsons, was sixth. His dam, who has KWPN and Thoroughbred blood, was a competent jumper with wins at junior and young-rider level. Snapchat Me himself is also a good show hunter and finished fourth overall in the very competitive ESNZ High Points Series.

44 May 2021

Six-year-old series to JJ Hurricane The New Zealand Sport Horse gelding Double J Hurricane (Euro Sport Heartbreaker - Double J Breeze x Voltaire II) is this year’s top six-year-old, finishing the series with 72 points. He was bred by Wendy and Robyn Jacobs at Double J Stud and is ridden by Samantha Carrington, who is Wendy Jacobs’ daughter. The pair also won the six-year-old title at the National Championships earlier in the year, and were first equal in their ESNZ five-year-old series last year. The superreliable JJ Hurricane has had only three rails down this year; “He is pretty clean and consistent,” says Carrington. He certainly has the bloodlines to jump, with the blending of ES Heartbreaker (Heartbreaker x Hamlet x Ramiro Z) and Voltaire II (Furioso x Nimmerdor x Courville xx).

He has a super half-sister, Double J Breeze On (Euro Sport Centavos), who won the 2020 HOY Junior Rider of the Year for Sam Carrington and was the 2017 seven-year-old champion at the Young Horse Show. Their dam, Double J Breeze, was also a good jumper – and there is a young stallion full-brother to JJ Breeze On who is another star in the making: the five-year-old Double J Typhoon. He finished fourth in this year’s five-yearold rankings (see below).

Bannockburn ECPH (Cassiano - Ngahiwi Emilionaire x Emilion) winner of this year’s North Island (NI) six-year-old Championship, and the previous year’s NI five-year-old championship, was runner up in the series on 62 points. He was bred by Jenny and Nicki Booth of East Coast Performance Horses, and is ridden by his owner Jeremy Whale.

Bannockburn’s dam was bred by Bruce Holden at Ngahiwi Station, and was the six-year-old title-winner at Horse of the Year in 2012. She retired a season later after injury and is proving to be a wonderful broodmare for ECPH. Her latest foal is a colt by Cohinoor VDL. A very well-connected young Holsteiner mare, LT Holst Freda (Colman - LT Holst Andrea x Casall), was third on 59.

Her dam LT Holst Andrea (Casall - Palaune x Lavaletto) is, of course, the German-bred Holsteiner from Stamm 2067, who won the 2020 Olympic Cup (NZ Horse of the Year). Freda was bred by Ewen Mackintosh, and has a full sister from the same embryo flush: LT Holst Francis. LT Holst Andrea herself was bred by Hans-Joachim Gerken.

The mare Footloose NZPH (Quintus - Victorious NZPH x Calvaro Z) was fifth for owner/rider Rose Alfeld, and is maturing into a really bold jumper with super technique, and looks set for a serious career. Unlike her big stablemate, Eye Catcher NZPH who won the seven-year-old series for Alfeld, Footloose is quite petite – a full hand (10 cms) shorter.

Two lovely youngsters tied for sixth place: the South Island-based gelding Vulcan GNZ (Cartell GNZ - Lara x Lansing), who was bred by Goldengrove Stud and is owned and ridden by Katie Meredith, and LT Holst Zalato Blue (Zirocco Blue VDL - LT Holst Carla x Calato), also a gelding, bred by Lake Taupo Holsteiners, owned by Lisa Blackbourn and ridden by Sophie Blackbourn. These two horses scored 48 points apiece.

Timeo hominem unius libri

Leading stallion Bravado Ego Z (Balougran Z - Cressida Ego Z ridden by Logan Massie

Forceful win for five-year-old Giulia MH Giulia MH (Graf Top - Ma Mojo Pedale xx x Grosvenor xx), who really only began to understand the job of jumping last October, finished the season more than 20 points ahead of her nearest five-year-old rival and is looking very capable of going a lot higher. She was bred by Judith Matthews at Matthews Hanoverians, is owned by Angela Miller, and ridden

by Melody Matheson. In an interview with ESNZ, Matheson said, “Giulia is one of the nicest young horses I have ever sat on.

She is small, but has a big stride and a nice canter. She is quick, sharp, and up for anything.” Despite her late start in jumping, Giulia MH won the five-year-old title at December’s Young Horse Show, and has continued winning throughout the season.

A young full sister, Grenadine MH, is also based with Matheson, as is another Matthews Hanoverians mare by Graf Top, the World Cup jumper, Graffiti MH. There is also an exciting 2018 half-brother by Cornet Obolensky, Copyright MH. Judith Matthews is retaining ownership of Grenadine MH for the stud farm, but she will compete in the new season. “She is tall, elegant and chestnut, so not at all like Giulia in looks,” says Angela Miller. “The girls call her ‘Spicy Orange’ so there could be a similar temperament, and hopefully the jump. I feel very fortunate to have had her offered to us for the next season. The Cornet Obolensky half-brother is still with Judith, but owned by me. He’s still a colt and still looking stunning.”

Ma Mojo Pedale xx, Giulia’s dam, was bred by the late Don Gordon in Hawke’s Bay and has now retired from broodmare duties. It’s hoped that Grenadine will eventually take over the breeding role of her lovely mother.

Second place in the series, with 52 points, went to the South Island mare Pure Cascade (Cassiano - Langtry x Lansing), who took the reserve five-year-old title at the National Championships earlier in the year. She was bred by

Laura McGregor of Pure Equestrian, and is owned and ridden by Amy McMullan.

Her sire, the imported Holsteiner Cassiano (Cassini x Calypso II x Maestose xx) has four-star rating with the NZWA, and his list of winning progeny seems to grow by the day. Another daughter of his, Cera Cassina, finished fifth in the mare standings this year (see above), and won the Rutherford Cup at the National Championships.

A pair of horses from Wendy and Robyn Jacobs’ Double J Stud filled the next two places for five-year-olds. The Sport Horse gelding Double J Graduate (Double J Repicharge - Sara Jane x Chico D’Oro), owned by Lara Baker and ridden by Ike Baker, was third with 50 points. His sire, Double J Repicharge x Carthago Z), (Voltaire II - Replica x Oregan), was bred by the Jacobs sisters from a mare who jumped at World Cup level here, and is another with a very impressive list of winners.

The young stallion Double J Typhoon (Euro Sport Centavos - Double J Breeze x Voltaire II) was fourth with 44 points. He is owned by Wendy Jacobs and ridden by her daughter, Kimberley Carrington. His sire, ES Centavos, who was New Zealand’s Horse of the Year in 2015, was bred in Germany by Heinz Schütte, from Stamm 4191603, Schridde 261.

Double J Breeze, Typhoon’s dam, had five-year-old series wins herself, and is the mother of JJ Breeze On, a full sister to Typhoon, who finished third in her seven-year-old championship. Her ES Heartbreaker gelding son, JJ Hurricane, is the winner of this year’s six-year-old series (see above).

Ngahiwi Specter (Ngahiwi Cardento - Debutante II x Distelfink) was fifth in the series on 44 points with his owner/rider Tanya Hansen. The Warmblood gelding was bred

by Bruce Holden at Ngahiwi Station, and his sire – as the name suggests – is by Cardento VDL, out of Ngahiwi Barbie Doll.

Specter’s dam Debutante II is by a licensed German Hanoverian, out of a Thoroughbred mare by Silent Hunter xx.

Two horses tied for sixth place, both on 42 points: the Sport Horse gelding Kiwi Royal (Cartell GNZ - Kiwi Majestic x Corlando), and the NZ Warmblood mare Takapoto China (Cassiano - Lanice van de Heffinck x Plot Blue). Kiwi Royal was bred at Fernhill Stud, is owned by Graeme and Ashley Hart and ridden by Ashley Hart. His dam is also the dam of a gelding called Kiwi King, who was the seven-year-old champion at the Young Horse Show in 2017.

Takapoto China, who was the Reserve Champion Mare of last year’s NZWA classification tour, is owned by her breeders, Takapoto Estate, and ridden by Oliver Croucher. She is out of an imported Belgian Warmblood bred by Van de Heffinck BVBA. ■ Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

45

The ISH studbook breeding program delivers!

BY ALISON CORBALLY / HSI PHOTOGRAPHY: SPORTFOT, LAURENCE DUNNE, NADIA REA The Irish Sport Horse Studbook wishes to congratulate the breeders who have bred the current superb cohort of Irish Sport Horses that are winning at international level in showjumping around the world.

T

he newly designed Irish Sport Horse breeding program was initiated by Horse Sport Ireland in 2010, and in the spring of 2021, with the support of progressive breeders making insightful breeding decisions and using all the tools and initiatives made available to produce their youngstock here in Ireland, it is now delivering with consistent Irish-bred showjumping horse’s winning at international level.

The breeding goal introduced at that time was: ‘To produce a performance horse that is sound, athletic with good paces and suitable temperament and capable of winning at the highest international level in FEI disciplines.’

For many years the Irish Sport Horse has been renowned for international eventing horses, but now changes and decisions made by Irish breeders, led and supported by the Horse Sport Ireland breeding program, has resulted in Ireland being back on the map as a destination to purchase potential top level showjumpers.

Chairman of SJI Eamonn Rice said recently, “the quality of horses bred in Ireland has improved immeasurably over the past seven to nine years. The improved quality means there are many more enquiries for potential top-level jumpers being sourced here. The number of enquiries has increased significantly for top young horses and there is also no longer any need for parents to go shopping to the continent for junior and young rider horses as they are being bred and produced in Ireland.”

Fig. 1 Breeding a top international jumping horse is a long road. However, the policy introduced by the Breeding Board of Horse Sport Ireland in 2010/12 focused all their breeding schemes on quality performance horses. The policy provided additional information to breeders, through IHR online, enhanced classification and linear profiling methods, in-creased research and development, and finally provided the best

46 May 2021

possible production young horse competition series. All of these measures are now truly paying off for the Irish breeders.

There have been consistent ‘Green Shoots’ of overall improvement in breeding at the FEI-WBFSH young horse championships year on year. Since 2013, Irish Sport Horses have won 14 medals, (six gold, five silver, and three bronze) 12 of which were won by Irish riders. Fig 1, below shows Irish sport horse medals won at the FEI-WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Horses from 2013 to 2019 In 2019 alone we enjoyed huge success at Lanaken taking home medals of all three colours. Kilkenny’s Seamus HughesKennedy, won gold in the seven-year-old final with Cuffesgrange Cavadora (ISH), bred by Eamonn Sheahan, and Carlow’s Jason Foley also won gold with Rockwell RC (ISH), bred by Ronan Byrne and owned by Sean Cubitt, in the final for five-year-old horses. While Kildare’s Mikey Pender collected a silver medal with MHS Cardenta (ISH) in the six-year-old final when finishing just one tenth of a second behind the winning time. MHS Cardenta was bred by Thomas Brennan.

The consistent results of the young Irish Sport horses over the last seven years is now translating into steady results at international level at 1m50. In the first three months of 2021 showjumping at CSI3* to CSI5* level, Irish Sport Horses have won, or been placed in a total of 38 International 1m50+ classes.

Timeo hominem unius libri

l-r: Ger O’Neill (owner) Castlefield Vegas (ISH) ridden by Jason Foley pictured with Keith Manning and Martin Egan (owner, until recently) The breakdown is very impressive indeed as winners have included Irish Sport Horses bred and produced as young horses through the Irish Sport Horse and RDS classes in Ireland: Four Grand Prix classes; three Table A 1m50+ classes, and 31 placings in 1m50 classes at international shows.

Special congratulations are due to the breeders of these winning Grand Prix horses: • Javas Miss Jordan (ISH), who won two Grand Prix classes in Thermal, CA (USA) and was placed in a number of other classes. She bred by Judy Murphy, Co. Louth • Castlefield Vegas (ISH) with Bertram Allen, who won the Wellington, FL (USA) Grand Prix for breeder John Clarke from Co. Cavan. He also placed in several other classes over the same period • Lapuccino 2 (ISH) (AKA Lapuccino) (ISH) ridden by Michael G Duffy won the Grand Prix at Vejer De La Frontera (ESP) at the end of February. He was bred by Sven Kapp, Co. Galway.

The 1m50m Table A class winners were: • Sligo Balou Boy (ISH) bred by Padraig Howley, Co. Sligo and ridden by Darragh Kenny (IRL).

• Pacino Amiro (ISH) bred by Simon Scott, Co. Donegal and ridden by Bertram Allen (IRL) who won in Wellington, FL at the end of January • Castlefield Vegas (ISH) won another Table A 1m50 class for breeder John Clarke in February.

Irish Sport horses worthy of mention who were pipped into second place in very competitive Grand Prix classes in Wellington, FL were: • the very impressive Kilkenny (ISH) (AKA MHS Fernhill) bred by the late, Ita Brennan, from Co. Kilkenny and ridden by Cian O’Connor (IRL) • Dougie Douglas (ISH), a 2005 gelding bred by John O’Brien

of Co. Limerick and ridden Katherine A. Dinan (USA), and • in Portugal, HHS Calais (ISH) was second in the Grand Prix for Michael Pender (IRL), he too was bred in Kilkenny by the late Ita Brennan.

Finally, up and coming gelding KBS Major Player (ISH) won the Al Ain (UAE) CSI2* Grand Prix in early March for breeder Peter Rice from Co Monaghan and rider Jack Ryan (IRL).

It augers well for the future if we can continue build on this foundation of using performance mares bred with sound, suitable, performance stallions to produce more quality youngstock to be carefully produced through the young horse classes in Ireland.

According to Ger O’Neill; “All our Irish Sport Horses are produced slowly through the ISH Studbook Series and Vegas was no exception. The venues offered are the best in the country with the best course builders. These competitions allow breeders every opportunity for young horses to be educated in the best available arenas. We have had many horses go through the ISH SJ Series over the years and we are delighted to have had such success at both national and international levels with Castlefield Vegas, Columbcille Gypsy, and Killossery Kaiden, to mention a few. I believe that these classes build a great foundation for our horses and give them the confidence and ability to progress to international competitions.

“As producers we are grateful that the breeding department of Horse Sport Ireland continuously seek our feedback and implement the useful suggestions we make.

Their aim is to further develop these classes over the years, while always being mindful of appropriate young-horse production, allowing the breeders to see their horses develop in Ireland. We will continue to produce our horses through these classes for years to come.”

From Horse Sport Ireland and the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, director of breeding Alison Corbally offers her sincere “congratulations to the 26 different Irish breeders from all parts of the country responsible for breeding and producing these successful Irish international showjumping horses. May each of you inspire another successful Irish breeder for the future.”

HHS Javas Gucci (ISH) ridden by Mikey Pender presented with rug and rosette by Alison Corbally Director of Breeding and Programs in Horse Sport Ireland Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

47

BLUE HORS

MAKE YOUR “OWN CHAMPION!

BLUE HORS ST. SCHUFRO

*11. St. Moritz Jr. – Don Schufro

BLUE HORS DON SCHUFRO

BLUE HORS MONTE CARLO

BLUE HORS SANTIANO

BLUE HORS ZACKORADO

*93. Donnerhall - Pik Bube I

*17. Dream Boy – United

*17. Sezuan - Romanov

*16. Blue Hors Zack - Florencio I

BLUE HORS KINGSTON *15. Glock’s Toto Jr. – Turbo Magic

BLUE HORS FARRELL *11. Fürstenball - Dacaprio

BLUE HORS ZACKEREY *14. Blue Hors Zack – Sandro Hit

BLUE HORS VALENZO

BLUE HORS VICONTE

*17. Blue Hors Veneziano - Dimaggio *17. Vivaldi - Sandro Hit

BLUE HORS FORTRON

BLUE HORS SPECTRUM

BLUE HORS ZACK

*17 . For Romance II – Desperados

*18. Sezuan - Sandro Hit

*04. Rousseau - Jazz

Timeo hominem unius libri

MORE INFORMATION & VIDEOS ON BLUEHORS.COM

Breeding Details • Javas Miss Jordan (ISH) 2009 mare, Luidam (KWPN) - Ally Angel (ISH) x OBOS Quality 004 (Oldbg). Breeder: Judy Murphy, Co. Louth. Owner/rider: Nicky Galligan (IRL) • Castlefield Vegas (ISH) – 2010 gelding, Cassino (SWB) Clarkes Quiet Optimistic (ISH) x Lux Z (Hann). Breeder: John Clarke, Co. Cavan. Owner: Martin Egan. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL) • Lapuccino 2/aka Lapuccino (ISH) 2008 gelding, SIEC Livello (Holst) - Cabaret III (ISH). Breeder: Sven Kapp, Co. Galway.

Owner: Carl Hanley Sporthorses GmbH. Rider: Michael G Duffy (IRL) • Sligo Balou Boy (ISH) 2009 gelding, Balou du Rouet (Oldbg) - Catiana (Bavar) x Caletto I (Holst). Breeder: Padraig Howley, Co. Sligo. Owner: Michael Kearins. Rider: Darragh Kenny (IRL) • Pacino Amiro (ISH) 2012 gelding, Pacino (BWP) - Carnone Dancing Queen (ISH) x NC Amiro (AES). Breeder: Simon

Scott, Co. Donegal. Owner: Aiden McGrory. Rider: Bertram Allen (IRL) • Kilkenny/aka MHS Fernhill (ISH) 2012 gelding, Cardento (Holst) - MHS Pembrook Lady (ISH) x Guidam (SF). Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Ronnoco Jump Ltd. Rider: Cian O’Connor (IRL) • HHS Calais (ISH) 2011 gelding, Cavalier Royale (Holst) MHS OBOS Cruise (ISH) x OBOS Quality (Oldbg). Breeder: Ita Brennan, Co. Kilkenny. Owner: Bravo Hughes Ltd. Rider: Michael Pender (IRL).

• Dougie Douglas (ISH) 2005 gelding, ARD VDL Douglas (KWPN) - Neills Girl (ISH) x High Roller (ISH). Breeder: John O’Brien, Co. Limerick. Owner: Grant Road Partners LLC. Rider: Katherine A. Dinan (USA) • KBS Major Player (ISH) 2012 gelding, OBOS Quality 004 (Oldbg) - Tattygar Lasts Rolo (ISH) x High Roller (ISH).

Breeder: Peter Rice, Co Monaghan. Owner: Kennedy Bros Sport Horses. Rider: Jack Ryan (IRL).

■

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

49

New Zealand North Island young eventing horses

BY SALLY REID PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER LLEWELLYN A four-year-old Holsteiner is the newly crowned North Island Young Event Horse, with a fouryear-old Hanoverian taking second place. This title, contested by four- and five-year-olds, took place at Kihikihi this year, in conjunction with the Kihikihi Eventing Carnival.

T

he competition is judged on four aspects of a horse’s performance, the most influential of which is jumping (40%). Dressage receives 30%, with gallop and conformation eachbeing awarded 15%.

On this occasion, one of the youngest competitors came out on top: LT Holst Zendalueux (Perigueux - Carla x Calato), a four-year-old gelding bred by Ewen Mackintosh of LT Holsteiners. This is yet another honour for a studfarm that has had outstanding success in a short space of time, mostly in showjumping.

Like all LT horses, Zendalueux has top quality European blood. His sire is the licensed Hanoverian Perigueux, who has an impressively high young-horse breed value, and his dam, German-bred Holsteiner, LT Holst Carla/aka Carla 157 (Calato - Daconda x Calgary) is from the well regarded Stamm 741, with the bonus of Calato’s wonderful Capitol I/Landgraf/Calypso bloodlines. LT Holst Zendalueux is owned and ridden by Jasmyne Speak, and finished on 56.5, with one judge awarding him a perfect score.

Another beautifully bred four-year-old Warmblood gelding, Ingenious (Grafenstolz T - Te Peka Glayva x Genius) finished second with 54 points. He is a Hanoverian, owned by his breeders, Janene Maxwell and Jean Johnstone, and ridden

by Clarke Johnstone. His sire was the Trakehner Stallion of the Year in 2016, and his dam is a New Zealand Hanoverian, bred

by Rita and Neil Fox at Te Peka Stud, home of her imported sire Genius (Garibaldi I x Diskus x Cypern). Genius was from the Hanoverian G-line, Stamm 2191001, Schridde 176, and arrived here from Germany in the early 1980s. He was a top broodmare producer, as well as the sire of many registered NZ Hanoverian progeny.

The third-placed horse was a Thoroughbred, Meraki Rhapsody xx (Highly Recommended xx - Marceline xx x Montjeu xx), with a score of 52.5. He is a five-year-old gelding bred by A.W. Jones and E.W. Morris, and owned by his rider, Jasmyne Speake, who also owns and rode the winner of this class.

Fourth with 47.5 points was a four-year-old mare, CML Quinn (Astek Quatermaster - Delaney x Pico Bello) bred by Michelle Bradley and owned and ridden by Denise Rushbrook.

She comes from a diverse family: her sire, the NZ Oldenburg Astek Quatermaster (Quatermaster - Fleur di Mimosa x Flemmingh) was bred by Sue Fowler at Astek Stud and has very

50 May 2021

strong international performance bloodlines. Her dam Delaney (Pico Bello - Craighaven Irish x Waingata) was bred, like CML Quinn herself, by Michelle Bradley.

The Belgium-bred KWPN stallion Pico Bello stood at Mount View Sport Horses where he recorded GP wins and placings with Ike Unsworth of MVNZ. He sired numeorus good offspring, including the five-star eventer Ricker Ridge Pico Boo (who finished second in the CCI3* at this event; see below) and Ipso Facto, who competes at three-star eventing and has also had showjumping wins. Funnily enough, Ipso Facto is also out of a mare called Delaney – though not the same one. Pico Bello was sold to Australia, where he continues to impress as a sire.

Delaney’s dam, Craighaven Irish, was bred by Craighaven Stud and has super eventing blood. Her sire Waingata xx (Aberlou xx - Paranui xx x Lochiel Fair xx), a non-studbook NZTB (New Zealand Thoroughbred), was the foundation stallion at Craighaven and left a number of good broodmares and jumping horses. Waingata’s own sire, the great Aberlou xx, had excellent offspring, including Blyth Tait’s Messiah xx who won double gold at the inaugural World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, 1990.

Waingata and his Aberlou bloodlines also feature in the pedigree of the horse who finished fifth at Kihikihi: a five-yearold skewbald NZSH gelding, Ngatamahine Forest (Cliebrig Leonardo - Annie Oakley x Oakley) bred and owned by Pip

The great Messiah (Aberlou xx) – double gold at 1990 WEG in Stockholm under the saddle of Blyth Tait Timeo hominem unius libri

Bevege and ridden by Julia Wykes. He has quite an unusual pedigree on both sides, as does his sire, Cliebrig Leonardo (Euro Sport Heartbreaker - Craighaven Rapanui x Waingata xx) who was bred by Anne MacCaulay, and is a son of the gorgeous ES Heartbreaker (Heartbreaker), bred by Jean Custers in Belgium. And, as you can see, Cliebrig Leonardo’s maternal grandfather is none other than Waingata xx. It’s notable that Cliebrig Leonardo was the sire of 2016’s best four-year-old at the National Young Horse 3DE Championships, the lovely six-year-old mare LV Touch of Class. The damsire, Oakley, is a Pinto stallion with a halfThoroughbred dam.

Charlton Gossip (Corofino II Charlton Poi xx x Drums of Time xx) bred by and owned by Nicoli Fife of Charlton Stud and ridden by her niece, Loran Mathis, was sixth. Gossip is a fiveyear-old grey mare, closely related to the former Grand Prix showjumper and good jumping sire, Charlton Javelin – he is the half-brother to her dam, Charlton Poi. Both Javelin and Poi are out of a Thoroughbred mare, Vulgans Eyes xx.

Javelin is by a Licensed Oldenburg stallion formerly called Imperial but renamed Oldenburg (Inschallah X Gamene III x Wein-stern), who was imported from the Netherlands by Charlton Stud. He produced many good offspring, as did Javelin himself.

Kihikihi CCN3*-S+ The winner of the Kihikihi Carnival’s highest graded competition (dressage at four-star level) was an Australian-bred gelding, Aces High xx (Another Warrior xx - My Fairytale xx x King Ivor xx), owned by Clarke, Rob, and Jean Johnstone, and ridden by Clarke Johnstone. The 11-year-old has had an excellent career so far, winning in his first FEI start, a CCI3*-S at Taupo, and a month later the CCI-4* at Puhinui’s International three-day event, which he completed on his dressage score. His sire, Another Warrior xx, is owned by Australian eventers Shane and Niki Rose, and also sired Rose’s top-level eventer, Shanghai Joe xx.

Aces High is heading overseas for the Northern Hemisphere summer and possible Olympic selection, along with his famous stablemate Balmoral Sensation (Senator VDL - Aberzanne x Aberlou xx). Balmoral Sensation also competed in this class at Kihikihi but was given a very soft cross-country run by Johnstone; just an easy outing for the champion. By the way, note the Aberlou link: It’s also there in the pedigree of the horse who finished second in the Kihikihi CCN3*-S+, the 12-year-old Warmblood mare Waitangi Pinterest (Cassiano - Amberlou x Aberlou xx).

She was bred in Northland by Jos Bayly and is owned and ridden by Madison Crowe; Crowe is taking her to the UK with Johnstone and his team of horses.

Third place went to another horse (and another Australian-bred Thoroughbred) who’s heading for the Northern Hemisphere: Just Kidding xx (Fusaichi Pegasus xx - Gypsy Princess xx x Sadler’s Wells xx), who is owned and ridden by Muzi Pottinger. He was the 2019 Eventing Horse of the Year.

EXPERTen PERFORMANCE

www.royal-horse.com

www.equitechnic.fr

CCN3*-S This class was also won by a Thoroughbred, the 15-year-old gelding Pick Up Line xx (Private Call xx - Magic Move xx x Roman Empire xx), bred by Waikato racing stalwart Stuart Seath, owned by Corey Milne, and ridden by Calla Toyne.

A KWPN/Thoroughbred cross, Ricker Ridge Pico Boo (Pico Bello Spectacular Spice xx x Spectacular Love xx) was second, ridden by his owner Greer Caddigan; this horse competed internationally at five-star level with his former owner Samantha Felton.

In third place was an Irish Draught/Thoroughbred cross, Mr McTaggart (Mighty Heights - Westside Story xx x Westminster xx), bred by Mary Morrison, and owned and ridden

by Louise Mulholland. His sire, the very versatile stallion Mighty Heights (Wynyard Agile - Astra Amber x Shamal), is a part-bred Irish Draught who successfully competed at the top level in all three disciplines.

■

Timeo hominem unius libri

Breedings & Services

www.gfeweb.com

FOLLOW US !

sellefrancais.fr May 2021

51

Dietary supplements: Part 1 Macro- and trace minerals

BY DR. MARIETTE VAN DEN BERG, B. APPSC. (HONS), MSC., PHD (EQUINE NUTRITION) Similar to the trends observed in human health, the dietary supplements market for horses has grown significantly over the last 25 years. This has resulted in an overwhelming array of supplements available to horse owners/caregivers. Just visit your local horse store, flick through any horse magazine, or scrolling through your social media and you will find any number of advertisements for equine supplements.

D

ietary supplements for both humans and horses typically fall into three major categories, as to why people may want to use them; 1) as an aid in the prevention of deficiency – minerals, vitamins, electrolytes; 2) to improve performance – blood tonics, calming agents and; 3) to mitigate health issues - joint supplements, muscle supplements.

For the majority of horse owners, the first category is the most validated as we have a responsibility to ensure the animal is kept in good health, which demands good nutrition. When we stable horses, have limited access to fresh forages, or grazing poor pastures and have higher (sporting) demands, supplementation often plays an essential role in balancing any deficiencies. The other two categories of dietary supplements are also very popular and may have beneficial aspects, but horse owners are not always aware that these specific products often make substantial claims and that depending on your country and legislation the ingredients, concentrations and claims will need to validated and regulated.

Assessing if your horse actually needs some extras and choosing between all the variants can be a big challenge for many horse owners. We never want to under feed our beloved animals but overfeeding can be as harmful. In this article the dietary minerals and their function in the body will be discussed. In part 2 we will have a closer look at the vitamins.

Origin of minerals When we talk about dietary minerals, we actually mean the chemical elements that living organisms require to maintain optimal health. These dietary minerals can be found in all food materials including plants and animalderived sources. Horses are herbivores and obtain most their minerals from plants. Plants get their minerals from soil and fungi association. Fungi play a very important role in transporting minerals and energy through the soil, storage of minerals and energy in living cells and transferring minerals to plants. The plant can only be fed when the soil

52 May 2021

biology and quality is healthy. The plant will take up the inorganic minerals and convert it in the cells to organic forms that sustain the life of the plant and all the organisms that consume the plant. When a mineral is nutritionally organic, it means that it is chelated or bound to an organic compound such as proteins, polysaccharides, amino or organic acids. Horses ingest most of the minerals in these organic forms. Though, horses also may obtain additional inorganic minerals by licking/ eating dirt or rock formations.

Chelated or organic minerals (minerals bonded to ‘small proteins’, peptides, or amino acids) have become increasingly popular in equine supplements and feeds.

Research into chelated minerals for horses has focussed on reproduction, immunity, young growing and exercising horses. Although the results of the studies are not conclusive about the uptake action of chelated minerals, it appears that the process of chelating improves the absorption of the minerals from the digestive tract. Because of this bioavailability, chelated minerals can be fed in lower amounts.

The only disadvantage is that chelated minerals are expensive.

Supplement and feed companies that use organic minerals will add levels that are typically at 25-30% or lower of the total mineral in the product. The remaining of the mineral premix will consist of inorganic minerals (usually oxides, sulphates etc). The problem that we may encounter with inorganic minerals is that competition between minerals can occur if we don’t have the balance right in the supplements or premixes. All minerals carry an electric charge, which enables them to pass the intestinal membrane by carrier proteins and free itself into bloodstream. Many minerals will compete for absorption, and too much of one mineral can reduce the uptake of a number of other minerals or trace minerals. Chelated minerals on the other hand appear to be less subjective to competition as it undergoes a different uptake mechanism. Thus, depending on the cost and digestibility, supplement and feed manufacturers will choose either inorganic forms or combination with organic chelates.

Timeo hominem unius libri

MACROMINERALS Calcium (Ca)

is an important element in bones and teeth and is required for various functions within the body such as muscle contraction, blood clotting, cell membranes and the regulation of many enzymes. The most common sources of Ca supplementation are Ca carbonate, sulfate and oxide or the organic chelates. There are a number of feed products commonly fed to horses that are relatively high in Ca such as sugar cane molasses and legume forages like lucerne.

Some tropical and subtropical grasses are high in oxalates which bind calcium and make it unavailable for absorption by the horse. The calcium to oxalate ratio should be greater than 0.5:1 to avoid the risk of calcium deficiency. In addition, cereal grains or by-products that are universally fed to horses are low in Ca and high in phytate phosphorus which can also further reduce the Ca availability to horses. Vitamin D is needed for intestinal absorption of calcium. A lack of vitamin D will result in poor skeletal development, even if Ca was supplied in sufficient amounts.

Phosphorus (P)

is also a major constituent for bone development and growth. It is required for energy transfer reactions, synthesis of phospholipids, nucleic acids and phosphoproteins. There is close link between P and Ca and the intake of these two minerals must be adequate and in the correct ratio. High concentrations of Ca in the diet can depress P absorption, conversely when Ca intake is less than P intake (ratio less than 1:1), calcium absorption may be impaired and can cause hyperparathyroidism (Big Head). In addition, diets that contain highconcentrations of oxalates can also reduce P availability. To ensure P absorption correct levels of salt have to be consumed by the horse. The most common form of P supplementation is Dicalcium phosphate also known as DCP.

Magnesium (Mg)

is needed for bone, blood, enzymes and muscle contractions. There are a number of sources used in supplements and premixes including oxide, sulfate, carbonate, organic chelate and other types. Excess P intake should be avoided as it is known to reduce Mg absorption.

Clinical signs of Mg deficiency include muscle tremors, nervousness, ataxia and collapse.

Potassium (K)

is both an electrolyte and a mineral. It helps keep the water (the amount of fluid inside and outside the body's cells) and electrolyte balance of the body. It is involved in a number of body functions including muscle contraction, nerve impulse conduction, heart rhythm, cell membrane potential and acid base balance. K can be found in a number of forages and oilseed meals. The most common inorganic sources for supplementation are K chloride and carbonate.

Sodium (Na)

is generally supplied as NaCl salt. It is important for electrolyte balance, body fluid volume and brain and nerve function. Most horse owners supply salt in the form of a lick block.

However, voluntarily intake may vary per day and per horse. It is therefore advised to still supply salt in the ration. Horses with sodium deficiency can show symptoms such as licking objects, decreased skin tugor, poor appetite and decreased water intake and muscle contractions.

Chlorine (Cl)

is bond to Na when supplied as chloride and is needed for the same function and shows the same clinical signs when deficient as Na. Excess Na intake (from sodium bicarbonate supplementation) can reduce Cl absorption.

Sulphur (S)

can be found in essential amino acids methionine and cysteine, and all polypeptides, proteins and enzymes that contain these amino acids. It is also a component of the B vitamins, thiamine and biotin, insulin and chondroitin sulfate. S is present in plant proteins.

S deficiency in horses has not been reported. However, excess has shown to cause colic, lethargy, yellow membranes and frothy discharges.

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

53

TRACE MINERALS Copper (Cu) is a major component of the oxygen carrying part of blood cells. It helps protect cells from being damaged by certain chemicals in the body and it keeps blood vessels and connective tissue elastic and flexible. Cu is also required for the mobilization of iron stores and melanin synthesis (skin pigment). Sources available include oxide, sulfate and organic chelates. Cu interacts with a number of other minerals, including Mo, S, Zn, Se, Fe and others. Research has shown that very high Zn intake resulted in secondary Cu deficiency in weanling foals. Cu deficiency can affect bone development causing lameness and limb deformities. To avoid Cu deficiency the ratio of Cu:Zn should be at least 1:4-5.

Cobalt (Co) is an essential element in the production of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the normal formation of all cells, especially red blood cells. Co can be supplied in the inorganic carbonate, chloride, sulphate form or the organic chelated form. Co deficiency appears to be rare in horses as they probably obtain adequate amounts through the consumption of normal feedstuffs.

Zinc (Zn) is an important constituent of hundreds of enzymes and is needed for the formation of connective tissue (ligaments and tendons), the growth and repair of tissues (skin, hair etc) throughout the body and the immune system. The most common supplement sources used are oxide, sulfate and organic chelates. Zn deficiencies in foals can cause poor appetite and reduced growth rate.

Manganese (Mn) is important for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and the production of chondroitin sulphate for cartilage formation. Mn can be supplemented in the oxide, sulfate or organic-chelate form. Excess amounts of Mn can reduce P absorption.

Selenium (Se) is required for proper functioning of the thyroid hormone metabolism and protects cells from certain damaging chemicals. Together with vitamin E, it also helps the immune system produce antibodies. Se can be found in organic forms in plants and seed grains. Inorganic forms include sodium selenite and selenate. Too much Se can be toxic to horses, causing mane and tail hair loss, lameness, hoof problems, blindness and death.

Iodine (I) is mostly found in the thyroid gland, where it is used to produce thyroid hormones to regulate basal metabolism. Iodine is commonly supplement in the form of iodized or trace-mineralized salts (e.g. potassium iodate).

Overfeeding as well as underfeeding iodine can reduce hormone production which results in goiter (swelling in the thyroid gland).

Iron (Fe) is needed in many enzyme systems and is required for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

Horses that are stabled or maintained on poor pasture have a higher chance of developing Fe deficiency. The first sign of Fe deficiency is anaemia. Excess Fe can be very toxic, especially in young horses, and can result in death.

But how much of each mineral and in what ratios do we have to feed? The Nutrient Requirements of Horses (NRC 2007) provides us with a report that collected scientific data of published minerals trials on horses and provides us with an estimation of the nutritional requirements of different classes of horses (i.e. maintenance, working, breeding and growing). The amounts stated in this article originate from this report. The NRC offers a summary and feeding evaluation program that you can use for free – visits https://nrc88.nas.edu/nrh/. Any one who is serious about understanding equine nutrition can benefit from a copy of Nutrient Requirements of Horses, Sixth Revised Edition in their library. While the research evaluations can be heavy reading, the general discussions are rich in information and easy to follow.

54 May 2021

Macrominerals Macrominerals are the minerals that are required in larger amounts. These include Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Chloride (Cl) and Sulphur (S).

Trace minerals Trace minerals or microminerals are required in smaller amounts then the macrominerals-minerals but they are as essential as the big ones. The group includes Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Selenium (Se), Iodine (I) and Iron (Fe).

Timeo hominem unius libri

The only way to know how many minerals are present in your feeds (particularly hay and/or pasture) is to have them analysed at Macrominerals Adult Trace Minerals Adult a local agriculture lab. commercially No work No Work Most available feeds and supplements will have Calcium (Ca) 20 g Copper (Cu) 100 mg minerals added in quantities to meet the needs of the type of Phosphorus (P) 14 g Cobalt (Co) 0.5 horse the feed or mg supplement is designed for.

Magnesium (Mg 7.5 g Zinc (Zn) 400 mg When supplementing a horse with individual nutrients you Potassium (K) 25 g Manganese (Mn) 400 mg run the risk of overfortifying their diet and Sodium (Na) 10 g Selenium (Se) 1.0 mg causing related problems. Typically it is Chlorine (Cl) 40 g Iron (Fe) 400 mg advised to find an allround mineral (and vitamin) supplement that has been Other minerals specifically formulated for what your horse is doing There are a number of macrominerals and trace (spelling, working, breeding or growing) and feed the minerals that are not discussed in this article. These include supplement at correct levels to create a balanced diet and Molybdedum (Mo), Chromium (Cr), Fluoride (F), Silicon meet requirements in a simple and convenient way. Always (Si) and Boron (B). It appears that most horses obtain check ingredients and label directions to see if the product adequate amounts from their normal feed. Mo and Cr are is suitable for your horses. Still unsure? consult with an two that you may see listed on feed or supplement labels. Mo equine nutritionist or veterinarian for more detailed advice is an essential component of various enzymes and can be on nutrient intake and recommendations.

■ found in higher concentrations in the liver, kidneys, skin and bones. It is also important for cell growth. Deficiencies may Dr Mariette van den Berg has a passion for equine nutrition result in anaemia, loss of appetite and weight and poor and equine permaculture. Founder of MB Equine Services, Mariette growth in young animals. Cr is needed for carbohydrate and offers specialised consulting services in integrated equine nutrition, lipid metabolism and is a reagent that enhances sensitization horse property design and pasture management. An accomplished of insulin to facilitate glucose clearance. It is therefore often researcher, Mariette completed her Bachelor Applied Animal Science added to supplement and/or feed products to reduce blood in The Netherlands before continuing her postgraduate studies in glucose levels and may be beneficial in horses with tying up. New Zealand and Australia, most recently completing her PhD in Organic forms of Cr appear to have a better bioavailability equine nutrition and foraging behaviour. than in inorganic forms.

MINIMUM DAILY MINERAL REQUIREMENTS OF ADULT NON-WORKING HORSES (MATURE BW 500KG)*

Summary Equines require several minerals to meet a variety of functional needs, including skeletal integrity and cellular communication. Minerals are grouped based on the daily requirements; the macrominerals (those needed in relatively high amounts) include calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfur. Trace minerals (those needed in relatively small amounts) include cobalt, copper, zinc, selenium, iron, iodine, etc.

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

55

WBFSH U IMPORTANT DATES 2021

■ IMPORTANT DATES 2020 ■ NEW WEBSITE AND BRAND

August 25-29

FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany

September 15-19

FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Show Jumping Horses in Lanaken, Belgium

October 10-13

WBFSH General Assembly and Seminars, Dresden, Germany

Octoer 21-24

FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Eventing Horses in Le Lion d’Angers, France

IDENTITY

NEW WEBSITE AND BRAND IDENTITY

WORLD BREEDING FEDERATION FOR SPORT HORSES VILHELMSBORG ALLÉ 1 8320 MAARSLET DENMARK

The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses has recently undergone a refresh of its brand identity and is launching a new website wbfsh.com. The website, which was introduced to the wider public on April 7, 2021, marks an important step in the organisation’s plans to increase its outreach into the breeding, as well as the wider equestrian community.

In collaboration with the Equine Register, who custom built the new site, the WBFSH will use this new online platform to develop enhanced opportunities for all of its member studbooks with the aim of creating a vibrant community open to all breeders of sport horses.

TEL: +45 (0)87 475400 FAX: +45 (0)87 475410 WWW.WBFSH.ORG

56 May 2021

Timeo hominem unius libri

UPDATE WBFSH President Jan Pedersen explains “Our vision here at the WBFSH is to create a thriving global community of breeders and studbooks. Our new website will become the engine that will drive our strategy to foster breeding progress to produce the best sport horses. We will achieve this by creating accessible opportunities for information sharing, interaction, and participation, open to all breeders worldwide.”

The wbfsh.com website in its current format therefore represents the first step in the organization’s aim to reach out to the around 150,000 sport horse breeders worldwide and to offer its current 80 member studbooks a communications platform for information exchange and promotion. It highlights the groundbreaking scientific research work facilitated by the WBFSH. Vice-President in charge of Marketing, Dr Eva-Maria Broomer: “We are taking our mission to promote the breeding of the best horses for the sport extremely seriously and are working with leading expert scientists in the field to support performance, equine health, and welfare. The new website will make this important work accessible to all breeders across the globe. Our aim is to delight all visitors and users of the website by creating an enjoyable and informative experience and to share with the world what is very close to our heart: our genuine passion for sport horse breeding.”

General Manager, Nadine Brandtner: “With the help of our designer Karen Nysschen we have recently undertaken a revitalisation of our logo, which needed a refresh to offer more versatile uses. It continues to feature the image of the mare and foal who represent the core of our identity, but in a modernised way, conveying who we are: An organisation true to its heritage, but also forward looking and committed to Leading Breeding into the Future.”

Jan Pedersen is, himself, a passionate sport horse breeder (Ridehesten.com)

Timeo hominem unius libri

May 2021

57

ALTHOUGH WE ARE TRYING TO MAINTAIN AN UP-TO-DATE CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2021, THE SCHEDULE MAY CHANGE DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, SO PLEASE ALWAYS CHECK INFORMATION WITH THE STUDBOOK OR ORGANIZERS CONCERNED

2021 MAY 1 Online (GER) Oldenburger Elite Foal Auction Tel: +49 (0)441 93550 info@oldenburger-pferde.com www.oldenburger-pferde.com 6 Verden (GER) Hanoverian Foal Auction – subject to valid Covid-19 regulations at the time.

Alternatively, online www.hannoveraner.com 20 Verden (GER) Hanoverian Foal Auction – subject to valid Covid-19 regulations at the time.

Alternatively, online www.hannoveraner.com

JUNE 12 Vechta (GER) 5th Oldenburger Special Edition Auction Tel: +49 (0)441 93550 info@oldenburger-pferde.com www.oldenburger-pferde.com 17 Verden (GER) Hanoverian Foal Auction – subject to valid Covid-19 regulations at the time.

Alternatively, online www.hannoveraner.com

JULY 17 Verden (GER) Hanoverian Riding Horse Auction – subject to valid Covid-19 regulations at the time. Alternatively, online www.hannoveraner.com 23-August 8 Tokyo (JPN) Olympic Games – postponed from 2020

58 February 2021

31 Vechta (GER) Oldenburger 20th Elite Foal Auction Tel: +49 (0)441 93550 info@oldenburger-pferde.com www.oldenburger-pferde.com

OCTOBER

AUGUST

1/2 Vechta (GER) Oldenburger 95th Fall Elite Auction Tel: +49 (0)441 93550 info@oldenburger-pferde.com www.oldenburger-pferde.com

1 Vechta (GER) 29th Vechta Foal Market Tel: +49 (0)441 93550 info@oldenburger-pferde.com www.oldenburger-pferde.com

3 Münster-Handorf (GER) Westfalian Elite Auction Tel: +49 (0)251 328090 info@westfalenpferde.de www.westfalenpferde.de

25-29 Verden (GER) World Breeding Championships for Young Horses – Dressage Tel: +49 (0) 42 31/67 32 10 turnier@verden-turnier.de www.verden-turnier.de

SEPTEMBER 4 Online (GER) Oldenburger Elite Foal Auction Tel: +49 (0)441 93550 info@oldenburger-pferde.com www.oldenburger-pferde.com 9 Verden (GER) Hanoverian Foal Auction – subject to valid Covid-19 regulations at the time.

Alternatively, online www.hannoveraner.com 11 Paderborn (GER) Westfalian Paderborn Challenge Foal Auction Tel: +49 (0)251 328090 info@westfalenpferde.de www.westfalenpferde.de 15-19 Lanaken (BEL) World Breeding Championships for Young Horses – Showjumping 16 Verden (GER) Hanoverian Foal Auction – subject to valid Covid-19 regulations at the time.

Alternatively, online www.hannoveraner.com Timeo hominem unius libri

10-13 Dresden (GER) WBFSH General Assembly and Seminars www.wbfsh.org

11-15 Münster-Handorf (GER) Westfalian Pre-selection for main riding horse licensing Tel: +49 (0)251 328090 info@westfalenpferde.de www.westfalenpferde.de 21-24 Münster-Handorf (GER) Westfalian main riding horse licensing Tel: +49 (0)251 328090 info@westfalenpferde.de www.westfalenpferde.de 21-24 Le Lion d’Angers (FRA) 36th Mondial du Lion – eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses Tel: +33 (0)6 02 57 63 51 contact@mondialdulion.com www.mondialdulion.com

NOVEMBER 18-20 Vechta (GER) Oldenburg Stallion Days Tel: +49 (0)441 93550 info@oldenburger-pferde.com www.oldenburger-pferde.com