Sandro Hit went on to be one of the highest WBSFH ranked stallions

© International Horse Breeders

In the current era of performance horse breeding, the use of international frozen semen is commonplace all around the world. However in the early 1980s, artificial insemination utilising frozen semen was a very new technology in the equine industry. In 1985, when Australian Glenis Dyason of International Horse Breeders (IHB) spied a frozen semen catalogue from Europe showcasing some of the best Warmblood sires in Europe, her vision was born: to introduce the genes of the world’s top ranking stallions into the breeding stock here in Australia through frozen AI.

Over the next four years, Glenis worked with the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service to establish a protocol for the importation of frozen semen. Finally, in August 1989, the first shipment of frozen semen came into the country with Wenzel 1 on board. Wenzel 1 was the only stallion to pass the tough Australian import regulations at the time. Few might know him now, however he was a popular dressage sire from the German State Hanoverian Stud in Celle who had pioneered the process of freezing equine semen.

Wenzel 1 was a popular dressage sire from the German State Hanoverian Stud in Celle who had pioneered the process of freezing equine semen

© International Horse Breeders

In subsequent seasons a larger range of stallions became available, as various overseas semen suppliers made the costly effort to quarantine their stallions for the overseas markets including Australia. Seizing this opportunity, IHB began marketing a wider choice of some of the best performance stallions from an international pool of equine genes for both dressage and jumping. It was a very exciting time as breeders became aware of the tremendous opportunities frozen semen offered.

Balou Du Rouet showing off in the showjumping ring

© International Horse Breeders

Today, as Glenis Dyason and Eildert Kingma celebrate their 30th year of successful business, IHB has around 350 sires listed amongst their Warmblood sires, and stock a few other breeds as well on their website. Great care and consideration is taken when selecting stallions to add to the IHB line up, and it is little wonder that many horse breeders, such as Shanna Antrim of Harris Park Warmbloods, work with IHB annually to turn their breeding dreams into reality. Shanna explains “We have been dealing with IHB for a number of years now. I am extremely pleased with IHB's level of professionalism with the services they provide. Prompt, friendly service that I would recommend to anyone in the market for frozen semen for their horses.”

Looking back, some of the early stallions IHB introduced included Alabaster, Brentano 11, Carbid, Espri, Lanthan, Pommery, Walt Disney and Werther, all from the Hanoverian State Stud in Celle. Amazingly these sires are still available although long since deceased, all because of frozen semen. As frozen semen does not deteriorate, these stallions still boast an impressive pregnancy strike rate.

One of the most famous Hanoverians of all was perhaps Weltmeyer (World Cup 1 x Absatz). Weltmeyer was a pre-potent sire of hundreds of sons and daughters of the most amazing quality who went on to establish a veritable dynasty. One cannot forget Stakkato (Spartan x Pygmalion), whom Celle describes as the absolute pinnacle of show jumping breeding. He too is frozen in .5ml straws with a remarkable strike rate with frozen semen. Stakkato’s breeding index is still (156) and he has successful progeny all over the world.

Weltmeyer was a pre-potent sire of hundreds of sons and daughters of the most amazing quality who went on to establish a veritable dynasty

© International Horse Breeders

IHB also has the sole agency in both Australia and New Zealand for Paul Schockemoehle International who is well known for being one of the best stallion stations in Europe. One of PSI’s legendary sires, Sandro Hit (Sandro Song x Ramiro), has established himself into the history books for mostly dressage horses, but also the occasional jumping horse. Ridden by Ulf Muller, Sandro Hit gained many German and World championships, and went on to be one of the highest WBSFH ranked stallions.

Some of the other well known outstanding sires for PSI are Furstenball, Balou du Rouet, Diarado, Totilas, Danciano, Foundation, Sir Donnerhall, Vitalis and the new sire Total Hope.

IHB markets for Klosterhof Medingen, Bockmann Pferde and the Brandenburg State Stud Neustadt-Dosse. Stallions like De Niro, Quantensprung, Check In, Fidertanz, Dimaggio, Quaterback and Floriscount are well known to performance horse breeders. Their foals are of outstanding quality and performance. De Niro (Donnerhall x Akzent 11) especially has established his name as a sire of numerous champions., with progeny earnings of over 3,000,000 Euros.

Each year IHB continues to add interesting new stallions to its line up. In 2019 they include All Star, Chacfly, Donier, Sezuans Donnerhall, Zucchero Gold and Zenon from PSI, and Benicio, Nechristo, Diamant de Quidam, Emilio Sanchez and Khedira from Celle.

Sezuans Donnerhall  is available through IHB this breeding season!

© International Horse Breeders

This article was written in conjunction with International Horse breeders.

 

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