Foundation Sire: Ahorn

Here is the next installment of Warmblood Stallions of North America’s Foundation Friday.  Every other Friday we will be featuring a foundation sire - one who has been influential in the development of warmblood breeds. We pull from the incredible archive of The Horse Magazine, published by Chris Hector of Australia. Thank you, Chris, for permission to draw on your expertise!

1982–1999
167 cm
Bay

When the famous Dutch breeder Wiepke van de Lageweg found the Ladykiller mare Hyazinthe, he secured a veritable gold mine. The tall, elegant mare produced no less than three licensed stallion sons: Ahorn, Denver (Belgium) and Farmer (Britain). Two of her other foals became national level showjumpers, while another competed to Z level. Ahorn was himself an international performer, placing at a number of top European shows including Donaueschingen, Den Bosch, Winschoten and The Hague – as well as finishing 8th in the Dutch championship. Ahorn comes from the legendary 242 Holstein line, considered one of the best of that famous group of jumping bloodlines, and through that Ahorn is related to Joost, Alcatraz, Roderik, and Locarno. Ahorn was granted Preferent status in 2001 and is the sire of ten approved stallion sons including AK High Valley Z; High Valley’s full-brother, Noble Boy; Furore; Ohorn and Hattrick. Ahorn had four approved grandsons, including Kelvin (by Flemmingh). International jumpers by Ahorn include Dublin (Astrid Wöss), Feizal (Mario Deslauriers) and Ivor (François Mathy Jr). Ahorn’s daughter Ursula XII (Papageno) carried Scott Brash to 3rd place in the 2014 World Cup final in Lyon, and in 2016 the pair won the Rolex Grand Prix of Calgary. In 2017, Ursula returned to competition, with a Grand Prix win in Doha. On the 2015/16 KWPN breeding values for jumping stallions with a reliability of 90%+, Ahorn is ranked 24th, three places below his illustrious sire, with a value of 134 (90%). He sired 1288 progeny over four years old, with 396 going on to compete – 30.745%. On the 2016/17 KWPN values, Ahorn is 23rd, with a jumping breeding value of 135 (conformation – 105, conformation – 105, free movement – 103, freejumping – 104). He has produced 1288 progeny four years and older, with 397 competitors (30.82%).

---

To read the entire article, with pedigree, details of Ahorn's sons and daughters, on the Horse Magazine website, click here.

There are several stallion descendants of Ahorn in North America. Click on the following links to read about each of the ones on WarmbloodStallionsNA.com:

GK Calucci

Glamourdale

La Marque

Foundation Sire: Inschallah

Here is the next installment of Warmblood Stallions of North America’s Foundation Friday.  Every other Friday we will be featuring a foundation sire - one who has been influential in the development of warmblood breeds. We pull from the incredible archive of The Horse Magazine, published by Chris Hector of Australia. Thank you, Chris, for permission to draw on your expertise!

1968–1990
169 cm
Grey
Breeder - J. Guicheney 

Inschallah was a French-bred grey Anglo Arab (36% Arab) who was exported from France to Oldenburg, where he became the most important sire next to Furioso II at the famous Vorwerk stallion station in Cappeln. Inschallah stood from 1970 to 1990 at Gestüt Vorwerk.

In 1972 he won his stallion performance test in Westercelle. Among his 30-some licensed sons are Indonese, a highly successful Grand Prix stallion, Ile de Bourbon and Inervall, two advanced (S) level winning show jumpers, and Inselfürst, who won his stallion performance test. He was the sire of the Swedish Olympic horse Inferno. Inschallah AA also sired more than 70 premium mares and a great number of horses that were highly successful in sport. Inschallah was approved for breeding by the Oldenburg Verband as well as Hanoverian Verband, Trakehner, Westfalen, Hessichen (Hessen) and Rhineland Verbands. Inschallah was a large-framed horse with enormous gaits, producing a more rounded movement, with higher knee action and a reaching forward stride as opposed to the flat leg movement of earlier times. His progeny’s winnings in Europe amounted to almost one million DM. He sired over 30 licensed sons but has emerged as a more important broodmare sire – Rohdiamant and his full brother, Royal Diamond, are both out of Inschallah mares. In 1995, Germany’s former Oldenburg breeding manager, Dr Roland Ramsauer, said “Inschallah blood is currently very popular with European breeders. Inschallah's impeccable temperament has been successfully and consistently showing up in generation after generation of his offspring. Breeders have discovered that although there are excellent moving stallions available, there have been some problems with unsuitable temperament. The Inschallah blood produces enormous gaits and solid conformation, but it also produces very suitable sport horse temperament.” Inschallah’s son, Istafan, who was represented at the European Showjumping Championships 2015 by his son Isti, is very much a product of the breeding program of the great Georg Vorwerk: by Inschallah, out of a mare by Furioso II out of a mare by the Verwerk’s great Thoroughbred sire, More Magic xx.

---

To read the entire article, with pedigree, details of Inschallah's sons and daughters, on the Horse Magazine website, click here.

There are several stallion descendants of Inschallah in North America. Click on the following links to read about each of the ones on WarmbloodStallionsNA.com:

Fairbanks

Royal Prince

Royal Prinz

Tempel Farms Showcases Rare Brown Lipizzan

The Lipizzan breeding and performance programs at Tempel Farms were featured in a recent article in the Chicago Tribune newspaper. The article focused on the eight Lipizzan foals born this year, the 60th anniversary of Tempel Farms, and the work they have done in preserving the Lipizzan breed. 

It was in 1958 that Tempel and Esther Smith brought 20 Lipizzans to Illinois from Austria. They founded Tempel Farms with the goal of not only breeding the famous white horses, but recreating the whole tradition, exemplified by the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, in the suburbs of Chicago. They brought the horses, began a breeding program, brought in trainers (including later the legendary Karl Mikola, who sadly passed away this year), and built a lovely performance arena. Tempel Lipizzans have been continuing to preserve and perform the tradition of classical dressage and the "airs above the ground" for 60 years. 

Also specially featured in the article is Maestoso Batrina - a rare bay Lipizzan who will be performing this year. According to the article, he took part in the performances as a foal, as a young stallion, and now will be part of the grand finale and perform the challenging courbette.

The 2019 performance schedule is now available on the Tempel Farms website and will continue now through September 8.

To read the Tribune article, click here.

Wisdom From Dr. Ludwig Christmann

Dr. Ludwig Christmann has been a welcome guest in North America for decades because of his sensible insights into breeding. His knowledge of bloodlines is phenomenal, and his generosity in sharing his knowledge is an inspiration.

Christopher Hector, of The Horse Magazine, interviewed Dr. Christmann this year, and they touched on many general breeding topics, and many specific examples for illustration. His far-ranging opinions - what works and what doesn't, his thoughts on Dutch vs. Hanoverian horses, how WFFS was handled, modern trends in breeding, why the Hanoverian has been successful, and the dangers of breeding to young but untested stallions - are all well worth the read.

For example, the creation of superstar young stallions who are not really proven in either breeding or sport is a huge phenomenon. Dr. Christmann's understated response to a young dressage stallion who had 600 mares in his first year: "I would like to see a little less excitement."

Another interesting point was the difference he drew between breeding a saleable horse and breeding a Grand Prix horse. He said that in Germany, "There are some breeders who want to breed a Grand Prix horse, but the majority want a horse that is saleable, a horse that is a super young horse." Inherent in that is the recognition that a horse that is saleable as a young horse - flashy, lots of front end movement - is not necessarily the horse that has the talent for FEI work. 

I believe it is a world-wide problem - that riders are too easily swayed by flashy movement in a young horse. It has led to flashy movement as a breeding goal, perhaps at the expense of other, more desirable traits.

Read the thought-provoking interview with Dr. Christmann here.

Devon: Your Next Champion, Easier Scheduling, Ponies in the Dixon and the Parade of Breeds is Back!

Mature Horse Champion: Lionel, 4-year-old Danish Warmblood.

Dressage at Devon Breed Show Breed Division

September 24 – 26, 2019

June 6, 2019  (Devon, PA) - Dressage at Devon (www.dresssageatdevon.org) is well-known for attracting top performers to the famed Dixon Oval. But the first three days of the show features the largest open breed show in the world, attracting many top breeders, of all sizes.

Scheduling

Tuesday

To make the schedule easier on competitors, the Individual Breed classes (IBC) will be held on Tuesday, Sept 24, to facilitate a more relaxed time schedule and increase the safety of horses and riders.

There's still time to sponsor your favorite breed or to sponsor the Parade of Breeds! Contact Melanie Sloyer, Chair of the Breed Show, msloyer@dressageatdevon.org for more details.

The Tuesday schedule also now includes the group classes such as Breeders Group, Get of Sire, and Produce of Dam. This scheduling change allowed us to reintroduce the popular Parade of Breeds at the conclusion of the IBC classes.

New this year! All owners and handlers are invited for wine and cheese Tuesday night!

Wednesday

Young (sport horse prospects), Mature (Breeding Stock) horses, and Materiale (under saddle) classes will be held on Wednesday, September 25. These classes will be qualifiers for the Dressage at Devon Championships and the United States Dressage Federation Breeders Championships - East Coast Series.

Thursday

Championships will be held on Thursday, leading into the start of the performance division in the afternoon. Make sure your favorite breed is represented.

Attention Pony Breeders

In response to the increasing popularity of ponies in the dressage ring, in 2018, DAD introduced pony only classes that ‘mirror’ the breed division in-hand classes. “While we've always included ponies in the breed show, these classes allow pony breeders a more level playing field – as well as an opportunity to truly show off the qualities of pony breeds. Classes will include the Colt, Filly, Foal, Mare, Stallion Championships – based on qualifier classes – just as we have held for the horses,” said Melanie Sloyer, chair of the Breed Division.  

“Plus, as a result of our partnership with the National Dressage Pony Cup, points earned at Dressage at Devon will count towards year end awards, ” added Sloyer.

For measurement and show requirements please visit https://www.dressageponycup.com/breed-show.html.

For more information, contact Melanie Sloyer, Chairman of the Breed Show, at msloyer@dressageatdevon.org. The prize list will be available in late June.

Looking for Your Next Equine Champion?

Many of the horses (and ponies) brought to DAD’s Breed Show are the future stars of dressage. But many others will excel in other equestrian disciplines.

“The breeders at Dressage at Devon have had top quality horses for years, if not decades,” said Melanie Sloyer. “Many go on to top dressage levels. But many others find their niche in hunters, jumpers and all other equestrian disciplines. Prospective buyers shouldn’t miss the championship classes on Thursday.”

Horses that are for sale will be identified with green tags. So stop by Tuesday through Thursday at Dressage at Devon to meet your new champion.

The 2019 Dressage at Devon will take place September 24-September 29 at the Devon Horse Show Grounds in Devon, PA. For reserved seating, visit dressageatdevon.org/box-office.

About Dressage at Devon (www.dressageatdevon.org)

Dressage at Devon has been a premier North American Equestrian event since its founding in 1975.  It combines world-class dressage competition and the world’s largest open breed show with the international Fall Festival show and special activities for the entire family.  The six-day event attracts hundreds of riders from around the world and thousands of spectators.  Dressage at Devon is a 501(c) (3) PA non-profit organization, benefitting equine education.

Spotted Foal by Totilas

One of the top stories in British breeding news? A spotted foal by Totilas! As reported in Horse & Hound, the new foal is called Spotilas, and was born mid-May. He's by Totilas out of Luna Af Nyskoven, a Knabstrupper mare. And yes, he does indeed have spots.

Click here for the story and photos.