“Some breeders like to punt on younger stallions for their breeding programs because they feel they have the potential to become great sires in the future,” explains Glenis Dyason of International Horse Breeders (IHB). “They like their pedigrees, their performance scores and the way they move and compete at an early age, as well as the lower service fees for youngsters, which is always attractive. They might have their first crop of foals on the ground which look super and one or two may have sold for high prices at foal auctions. Some of these youngsters will rise to become top sires in the future through their progeny.”
However, Glenis has found that some breeders opt for tried and tested stallions. “Some prefer to choose from proven sires who have not only achieved high accolades in competition themselves – but more importantly, have sired top competition horses which have proven their ability to compete at high levels and have in their own right won championships and recognition in the equestrian world.
“Proven sires can often bring a higher degree of confidence into the breeding outcomes of our sport horse industry, because they have already demonstrated they can pass on their own super abilities to their progeny.”
International Horse Breeders Pty Ltd of course offers a wide range of both young and proven sires through frozen semen for dressage and jumping, and some eventing sires also – catering to those who are looking for the next rising star, as well as proven performers.
Breeding Value scores
If you are unsure which way to go this breeding season, Breed Values can offer an insight into the value of proven sires.
“Breed associations in Europe have a scoring system of how they rate the value of certain sires for breeding,” explains Glenis. “Often, stallions are accepted and registered with many associations because they have done the necessary performance tests, or they are recognised as a valuable sire globally.”
Glenis uses one of these breed associations, the Hanoverian Verband, as an example. “Their stallions must have at least ten foals on the ground before they are given a Breed Value. Scores over the mean average (of 100) indicate positive influences, and the higher the score, the more valuable the stallion rates in the breeding horse industry. The higher the breeding value score, the more reliably and consistently a stallion can pass on his own traits to his foals.”
IHB expands on their proven sires
The following stallions are listed in the top list in the Hanoverian Verband Year Book, which can be found on their website; this living list of statistics is constantly updated. The following stallions mentioned below are all available through IHB.
Top dressage sires
Benicio comes in second in the top list of breeding stallions for dressage with (141). Sir Donnerhall 1 is scored at (139), Furstenball (138), Foundation (136), Furst Romancier (136), Borsalino (127), Fidertanz (122), Quantensprung (122) and San Amour (121).
Fürstenball is also recognised as the number one sire for conformation or ‘typyness’.
Vitalis is the number one for stallions with the highest level achieved (HLA) in competition with (185). Then comes Sir Donnerhall 1(180), Foundation (162), Fürstenball (161), San Amour (159), Fidertanz (157), Benicio (147), Furst Belissaro (123) and Borsalino (124). These stallions have achieved in competition themselves, and perhaps more importantly, so have their offspring.
Top dressage stallions listed in Young Horse Classes are Escamillo (158), Benicio (155) Foundation (151), Fürstenball (148) Vitalis (145), Sir Donnerhall 1 (140) Quantensprung (137), Furst Belissaro (133), Borsalino (132), Diacontinus (127), San Amour (127), Edward (125) and Fidertanz (123).
“It’s not a mistake that two jumping sires are listed as top sires in the list of dressage horses,” observes Glenis. “Diacontinus and Edward throw good dressage horses too!”
Top jumping sires
Stolzenberg from Celle is number one jumping sire with (142), then Balou du Rouet (145) at number two, Perigueux (145) is number three, and Casallco (142) is number five. Also in the top list are Chacoon Blue (137), Diarado (136), Grey Top (135), Diacontinus (134), Chacfly (133), Edward (129), and Karajan (120).
Top scorers for jumping sires in Young Horse Classes include: Diacontinus (150), Perigueux (145), Grey Top (144), Stolzenberg (138), Casallco (135), Diarado (134), Edward (133), Karajan (131) Balou du Rouet (130), Chacoon Blue (130) and Chacfly (129).
The list for top jumping stallions with highest level achieved (HLA) are Casallco (143), Balou du Rouet (142), Perigueux (136), Diarado (131), Stolzenberg (126), Chacoon Bue (125), Grey Top (124) and Diacontinus (122).
There are also a number of stallions which can pass on correctness of limbs with accuracy for both dressage and jumping, including Vitalis (159), Benicio (143), Diacontinus (137) and Grey Top (135).
“For those of you who really like statistics, for each stallion listed, under their individual Breeding Values you can also find out by how much he passes on improvement in various categories of conformation, movement and rideability,” notes Glenis. “For jumpers, categories include jumping scope and technique. When thinking about what aspects of your mare needs improving, this sort of information can be helpful when choosing a stallion.”
Popular sires
Some of IHB’s most popular sires are amongst the ones with a high breeding index – such as Fürstenball, Escamillo, Fidertanz, Foundation, Furst Belissaro, Sir Donnerhall 1, Vitalis, Balou du Rouet, Chacoon Blue, Casallco and Diarado.
There are some other popular stallions from Paul Schockemöhle’s stables, such as Escanto PS (Escamillo x Fürstenball x Totilas), Conkanno PS (Conthargos x Chacco-Blue x Kannan), Diablue PS (Diaron x Stakkato x Chacco-Blue), Sebastino PS (Secret x Vivaldi x Sir Donnerhall 1) and Total Hope (Totilas x Don Schufro x Sandro Hit), who carry the most fabulous bloodlines of so many great sires and dam sires. And, of course, Totilas, the legend himself, is also available through P.S.I.
The Danish stallions from Helgstrand Dressage are also very popular. For example, V-Power, Dynamic Dream, Franklin, and Proud James, bringing in some different bloodlines from Europe into the mix of choice for breeders here in Australia.
From Klosterhof Medingen comes Escaneno, De Niro, Karajan, Global Hope and the Trakehners Caprimond, Abentanz, Helium and Hohenstein.
For eventing, breeders can’t go past Diarado, Polartanz and Diacontinus.
IHB offers all these above-mentioned stallions and more. See their large range of some of the best breeding stallions from some of the best stallion stations in Europe on their website at www.ihb.com.au.
Breed for Success – Breed with IHB
Contact Glenis Dyason
Phone: 0427 400 357
Email: sales@ihb.com.au
