Inside Paris | Presented by International Horse Breeders
The Paris Olympics are set to begin at the end of this week; it is such an exciting time, with not long to go!
Looking through the lists of riders and their equine partners, Glenis Dyason of International Horse Breeders (IHB) is excited about the competition that lies ahead – as well as the pedigrees behind the performances we are about to see.
“It’s astounding to see the outstanding pedigrees of these wonderful equines. Such legendary names as Cornet Obolensky, Chacco-Blue, Diamant de Semilly, Stakkato, Rubinstein, Krack C, Jazz, Gribaldi, Contendro 1, Quidam de Revel, Jalisco B, Cento, Furioso, Darco, Donnerhall, Ferro, Nimmerador, Tinkas Boy… the list of names of the generations of absolutely legendary sires goes on.
Glenis says when it comes to the Games, her mind goes to the breeders of these stallions over so many generations, and the breeders of the foals bred by these sires, who bred with such dedication and passion. “Our equine industry is something quite special,” she muses.
IHB has certainly played an important role in the performance horse breeding industry here in Australia, having supplied the best dressage and jumping genetics from around the world via AI for 35 years.
Some horses due to compete at the Paris Olympics have pedigrees containing many of the stallions carried at IHB. “I will be especially looking forward to seeing how some of these horses compete. Frozen semen has truly opened up access to the best international bloodlines, and IHB can even supply stallions now deceased, so their genes are not lost to breeders today,” notes Glenis.
Olympic bloodlines
With so many stallions on offer at IHB, it’s not surprising there are many represented on the Paris start list – and this extends to the Australian Olympic team!
Metall (Ferro x Ramiro Z) is the sire of William Matthew’s dressage horse Mysterious Star – and was also the sire of Carl Hester’s famed Uthopia. In eventing, Shane Rose is riding Virgil, whose sire is Vivant van de Heffinck – a horse who was ridden and is owned by fellow Aussie Chris Chugg.
Virgil and Shane Rose (left, image by Elegant Exposures/Liv Salkeld), and (right) his sire Vivant.
Fabulous Fidertanz
Of course, stallions carried by IHB feature throughout the Olympic start lists. Fidertanz is one name that’s certainly well represented.
“Fidertanz features extensively in the pedigrees of Olympic performance horses we will see in Paris. Fidertanz was bred by Burkhard Wahler, and his frozen semen comes from Bockmann Pferde and also through Performance Sales International (PSI) for this coming season,” says Glenis, explaining that PSI is one of many international studs represented by IHB here in Australia.
“Jessica Phoenix’s eventing horse Freedom GS has his grandsire as Fidertanz, and Peter Flarup’s Fascination (DEN) is also an eventing horse by Fidermark, Fidertanz’s sire. From Denmark, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour is riding Mount St John Freestyle by Fidermark x Donnerhall, and compatriot Nadja Aaboe Sloth’s Favour Gersdorf is by Foundation by Fidertanz. Feel Good VO, ridden by Brazil’s João Victor Marcari Oliva, was sired by Fidertanz. Fidertraum OLD is by Fidertanz x Rubinstein 1, ridden by Austria’s Florian Bacher. Belgium’s Flore De Winne partnering her horse Flynn, has his grandsire as Fidertanz, and Canada’s Camille Carier Bergeron rides Finnlenderin, by Fidertanz x Donnerhall.”
Fidertanz is one name that’s certainly well represented at the Paris Olympics. Image supplied by IHB.
Totilas well-represented
A top performing sire from PSI, Totilas is another stallion carried by IHB. “He is by Gribaldi out of a Glendale mare by Nimmerdor, a jumping sire, which is interesting,” says Glenis. “Totilas of course was a phenomenal competitor himself and has also established himself as a phenomenal sire with a myriad of top international competition horses. He is well up in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) ranking of the world’s best dressage sires.
“Totilas sired Te Quiero SF, to be ridden by Christian Schumach of Austria. He is also the sire of Glock’s Toto Jnr, ridden by Hans Peter Minderhoud from the Netherlands (out of a Desperado x De Niro x Rotspon mare), and Edward Gal, the Netherlands’ reserve, is on Glock’s Total US by Totilas (out of a Sir Donnerhall 1 x Don Schufro mare.) France’s Corentin Pottier rides Gotilas du Feuillard, by Totilas out of a Ferro mare with Sandro Hit going back on the dam-side. Finally, Norway’s Isabel Freese is riding a Totilas son, Total Hope.”
The Sandro Hit dynasty
Then of course there is PSI stallion Sandro Hit. “He is often said to have started his own dynasty,” explains Glenis. “He certainly produced some amazing competition horses. He was a modern-type dressage sire who crossed with many mares.
“France’s Sertorius de Rima Z is by Sandro Hit, ridden by Pauline Basquin. Two of his sons, Sir Donnerhall 1 and 11, have also made their mark in the breeding and competition arena. Brazil’s eventing rider Carlos Parro will ride Safira, a horse by Sir Donnerhall 1. India’s sole rider, Anush Agarwalla, is on Sir Caramello OLD, who is by Sir Donnerhall 1.
“France’s Anne-Sophie Serre is on Jibraltar De Massa, by San Amour – who in turn is by Sandro Hit out of a Hohenstein mare. From Germany, Isabell Werth rides Wendy De Fontaine, whose great-grandsire is Sandro Hit. Finally, Canada’s Naima Moreira Laliberte is riding Statesman, by Sandro Hit with IHB stallion Brentano 11 also in the pedigree.”
Touchdown, Danone 1, De Niro, Bordeaux and more…
Touchdown 1338 is a Swedish stallion (now gelded) for Verbena Dressage. “He is by Quaterback and is described as a super talent at the absolute top of the world with his outstanding temperament and collective ability,” says Glenis. Touchdown is of course now ridden by Patrik Kittel for Sweden and will contest these Olympics. Fellow Swede Therese Nilshagen is on Dante Weltino, sired by Danone 1 x De Niro with Welt Hit 11 back in the pedigree. Touchdown, Danone 1 and De Niro are in stock at IHB.
From Portugal, João Pedro Moreira rides Fürst Kennedy OLD, by Fürsten-Look x Don Kennedy, and compatriot Maria Caetano partners Hit Plus, by Bretton Woods x Johnson x De Niro. Bretton Woods also features as the sire of Ecuadorian rider Julio Mendoza Loor’s Jewels Goldstrike, while De Niro is the sire of Finnish rider Elisabet Ehrnrooth’s Daytona.
Germany’s Frederic Wandres is riding Bluetooth OLD, who is by PSI stallion Bordeaux (United x Gribaldi). The USA’s Endel Ots’ horse Bohemian is also by Bordeaux x Sunshine x Samarant.
Jumping and eventing sires
In the jumping arena, Balou du Rouet is one of PSI’s top jumping stallions carried by IHB – and he also features in the pedigrees of our upcoming Olympic Games horses. “Balou du Rouet is by Baloubet du Rouet (sire of Julien Epaillard’s horse, Dubai Du Cedre). The USA’s Laura Kraut rides Baloutinue by Balou du Rouet, and Ben Maher of Great Britain is partnered with Point Break, by Action-Breaker x Balou du Rouet. Gerfried Puck riding for Austria is riding Naxel V, by Balou du Rouet. Balou du Rouet has a very high breeding value of 148 in the Hanoverian Yearbook and we can see why,” says Glenis.
Paralympic talent
Casting an eye further ahead to the Paralympics later in August, Stella Barton is representing Australia riding Lord Larmarque (“Bug”). “Lord Larmarque is by the Celle stud stallion Locksley 11, who is by Londonderry out of a Weltmeyer mare. Londonderry also features at the Olympics in the pedigree of eventing horse Withington (Wolkentanz x Weltmeyer x Londonderry), a horse set to be ridden by Brazil’s Rafael Mamprin Losano.
Lisa Martin is another of our Paralympic talents on her horse Vilaggio, by Vilancio – who is by Vitalis, by Vivaldi,” says Glenis. Vilancio comes to IHB through PSI, as does Vitalis.
Londonderry (left, image from IHB) and Lord Larmarque (right, image by Click Capture).
Stallion Vilancio (left) and offspring Villagio (right) who will partner Lisa Martin at the Paris Paralympics. Image by Click Capture.
Diarado is also dominant
Let’s talk about Diarado, another top jumping and eventing sire from PSI. “Diarado’s sire was Diamant de Semilly x Corrado 1 x Cor de la Bryère. He has a breeding index of 135, which is an indication of how well he performs as a sire. He has almost 100 offspring successful in 1.5m show jumping classes worldwide!” explains Glenis.
“In eventing, USA’s Will Coleman’s equine partner is Diablo Menthe by Diarado. For New Zealand, Jonelle Price’s Hiarado is by Diarado. Finally, Great Britain’s Tom McEwen is on the hugely successful JL Dublin, by Diarado and Raf Kooreman’s (NED) Radar Love is by Diarado..
In the jumping arena, Diarado also features as the sire of Donatello 141, to be ridden by Israel’s Ashlee Bond, as well as Duarte Seabra’s Portuguese team horse Dourados 2. This bloodline is truly pre-potent for jumping and eventing ability.”
IHB has PSI stallion Diarado and quite a number of his sons available to breeders, including Diacontinus (out of a Contendro 1 mare), Diaron (out of a Come On mare), and Diablue PS (out of a Stakkato mare).
Chacco-Blue’s legacy
The great Chacco-Blue died quite young in his breeding career but as Glenis explains, his legacy has been powerful and enduring. “He is the sire of Brazilian Yuri Mansur’s Miss Blue-Saint. The reserve rider for Switzerland, Edouard Schmitz, is partnered with Gauin Van’t Naasterveldhof, which has both Chacco-Blue and Stakkato bloodlines going back to the grand sires in his pedigree. Japan’s Eiken Sato is also on a horse by Chacco-Blue out of Centadel mare named Chadellano.” Spain’s Tirano ridden by Ismael Garcia Roque is by Chacco-Blue. Chacco-Blue’s legacy is continued through his sons standing at PSI: Chaccothage Blue Ps, Chac Boy, Chacfly Ps, Chacoon Blue, and Chad Blue Ps.
Balou du Rouet is one of PSI’s top jumping stallions carried by IHB. Image supplied by IHB.
Can’t forget the King
Of course, then there is Henrik von Eckermann’s King Edward, who is by the Hanoverian State Stud Celle’s stallion Edward (by Embassy by Escudo 1 by Espri, with Silvio 1 in the background). “This combination has been so successful, and we look forward to seeing them again in competition,” says Glenis, echoing the thoughts of just about every jumping enthusiast.
Other bloodlines that IHB carry are Ogano Sitte, Quite Easy and Quaid, which are represented at the Paris Olympics, among many others!
“Utterly inspirational…”
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are truly something very special and will be utterly inspirational,” enthuses Glenis. “The equestrian teams that will ride will be an absolute delight to watch, and their horses will be quite remarkable. Congratulations to the breeders of these horses, congratulations to the riders and trainers of these horses, and to the whole team who cares for and supports both rider and equines. IHB wishes all involved in the equestrian Paris Olympics and Paralympics the very best.”
