Main image: Young jumping stallion Chacoolou PS (Chacoon Blue x Balou du Rouet). Image supplied by IHB.
Glenis Dyason of IHB knows a thing or two about stallions; after all, she’s been at the forefront of genetics here in Australia for 35 years.
In the 1980s, Glenis had a vision: to introduce the genes of the world’s top-ranking stallions into the breeding stock here in Australia through frozen AI.
“At the time, AI was a recently developed technology but during the past twenty or so years, enormous progress has been made,” explains Glenis. “Back in 1989 we were excited about being pioneers in the industry; we are now proud to be able to boast the best conception rates in the world using frozen AI and that our results exceed any other method of breeding.”
450 stallions from around the globe
Today, IHB provides breeders with access to nearly 450 warmblood stallions from around the globe. With breeding season upon us, Glenis says there are several stallions that are once again proving popular.
Fürstenball is always high on the list for dressage breeders, as is Sir Donnerhall, Fidertanz, Franklin, and Vitalis. And then there are several younger stallions who have been in demand in recent years, including Escanto PS, Escaneno, Dynamic Dream, V-Power and Total Hope – the last representing Norway with Isabel Freese in the saddle at the recent Paris Olympic Games.
There are also several dressage stallions who are no longer with us – such as Totilas and De Niro – yet are still very much producing their share of foals each spring and proving influential.
Isabel Freese and Total Hope representing Norway at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Image by FEI – Benjamin Clark.
When it comes to jumping stallions, Balou du Rouet, Diamant de Quidam, Baloutaire, Chaccothange Blue PS, Diarado and Diablue PS have been at the top of breeders’ lists in recent seasons – and of course the late Conthargos remains very popular.
Another very popular sire, Chacoon Blue has just achieved a rare feat at the 44th edition of the Bundeschampionat (German National Young Horse Championship) in Warendorf, with two of his daughters claiming titles: Chacoona Cat claimed the six-year-old title, while Chaqueen took the seven-year-old title.
Popular jumping stallion Chacoon Blue. Image supplied by IHB.
New dressage names
Each season, there are always new stallions that cross breeders’ radars for the first time. On the dressage front, these include:
Escamillo (Escolar x Rohdiamant)
Escamillo began his career as premium stallion at his licensing in 2017 in Verden, passed his 14-day test in 2018 with a dressage score of 9.08 and completed his sport test in 2020 with Helen Langehanenberg with a winning score of 9.36. He has since had a dream start as a sire with ten sons from his first crop of foals were licensed in Germany, and has also been successful in the competition arena and was the silver medallist at the 2021 FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses.
Young dressage stallion Escamillo (Escolar x Rohdiamant). Image supplied by IHB.
Secret Escape (Secret x Dresemann)
With an outstanding hind leg activity and always relaxed, Secret Escape presented himself in the arena of the Westphalian Stud Book. The licensing committee called him a “dressage horse par excellence” and awarded him premium. His sire, Secret, is proving to be a very successful stallion and was certainly well represented at the recent FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses.
Young dressage stallion Secret Escape (Secret x Dresemann). Image supplied by IHB.
Sebastino PS (Secret x Vivaldi)
Another young up-and-coming stallion by Secret, Sebastino PS qualified for the German Championships for young dressage horses at his first attempt, having already passed his short test in Vechta as Reserve Champion. This season, Sebastino PS will present his first crop of foals and is certainly one to watch for the future.
Vitalos (Vitalis x De Niro)
Vitalos has been very successful in young horse classes, twice claiming a silver medal at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses – in the 2022 5YO Final and the 2023 6YO Final – and is also a Bundeschampion and Hanoverian Champion.
New jumping names
Conkanno PS (Conthargos x Chacco-Blue)
The extremely powerful and capable show jumping son of Conthargos was crowned Oldenburg Show Jumping Champion in his very first sport season with Eiken Sato of Japan and was fourth in the final of the Dobrock Championships.
Young jumping stallion Conkanno (Conthargos x Chacco-Blue). Image supplied by IHB.
Chad Blue PS (Chacco-Blue x Sandro Boy)
Chad Blue PS’s list of successes is getting longer and longer. This highly talented son of Chacco-Blue secured further exceptional placings with Patrick Stühlmeyer, including an eighth place in the 1.50m Sires of the World show jumping competition in Lanaken, Belgium.
Chacoolou PS (Chacoon Blue x Balou du Rouet)
In his first show jumping season, Chacoolou PS lived up to his top sport-proven genetics: a series of victories in competitions for young show jumping horses – at the Dobrock Championships amongst others – with scores up to 9.3 and second and third places in the qualifications against the clock at the German Championships.
Find out more about these stallions and many others via International Horse Breeders.
This article was written in conjunction with IHB.
