KER: Study Links Foal Growth, Radiograph Data to Sales and Racing Performance

Kentucky Equine Research has just released the results of a pilot study of growth and skeletal disease in horses. Their study specifically studied Thoroughbreds, but it's very possible that the results are applicable across breeds.

The pilot study involved 318 foals, and tracked growth in body weight and also radiographic data, and correlated them. "Of particular interest to the researchers was the incidence of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) and sesamoiditis." One goal was to determine the optimal rate of growth for prevention of OCD and other bone diseases. "The study showed that extremes in body weight and height, either too big or too small, are not ideal for racetrack performance."

The study also correlated the weight of young Thoroughbreds at the sales with how well they sold. Unfortunately, it turns out that "greater body weight and height are rewarded at sales by higher sale prices." This leads to people feeding to get the best price, rather than feeding for bone health.

Also interesting was that the month the foal was born "proved a critical factor in how foals grow and may play an important role in the development of both OCD and sesamoiditis."

To read the KER article, click here.

FEH and YEH Championship Judges and Qualifications Announced

USEA/Jessica Duffy Photo.

The US Eventing Association's Future Event Horse (FEH) and Young Event Horse (YEH) programs have around 30 qualifier competitions each, and youngsters around the country are about to begin their seasons aimed at Championships. Continue Reading

Foundation Sire: Ahorn Z

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!

1979–
172 cm
Bay
Breeder: Leon Melchior, Zangersheide

The genes from the great French sire Almé flowed to the rest of Europe through a curious portal – Zangersheide, a studfarm established by a Belgian businessman who had made a fortune building hospitals and was then bitten by the showjumping bug, a visionary who set out to breed the ultimate jumping machine.

It was at Melchoir’s Zangersheide that Almé’s licensed sons Alexis, Almeo, Athlet and Ahorn Z saw light of day. By 1989 they were in the German top 10 sires rankings of their respective age classes, according to the winnings of their progeny.

Ahorn inherited his extraordinary movement from his dam sire, Ganeff …

Ahorn Z was an immediate success at stud, producing state premium mares and a string of stallion sons, as well as successful competitors.

Ahorn Z competed internationally as did his licensed sons ….

One of his first sons, Acord I was a noted sire in Bavaria before moving to the United States, and his full-brother Acord II was reserve champion of the 5 year olds at the Bundeschampionate in 1992. In 1996 Acord III, the youngest full-brother, became the Brazilian champion stallion.

As a broodmare sire, Ahorn Z has also been very successful. …

Some measure of the influence of Ahorn Z may be seen in the latest issue of Jacob Melissen’s Dutch directory, The Leading Stallions of 2007. Amongst this line up of prominent stallions, we find Acapulco, by Acorado by Acord II by Ahorn Z; Broere VDL Atlantic, by Acord II; Cartano, by Carthago but out of E-Dream Girl by Alasca by Ahorn Z; Casantos, by Cantos out of the Ahorn Z grand-daughter, Cassima; VDL Indorado is by Corrado out of Aida, a daughter of Ahorn Z; Numero Uno, by Libero H out of Jolanda, a grand-daughter of Ahorn Z; VDL Prestige, by Silvano, out of a grand-daughter of Ahorn Z and VDL Sydney is by Goodtimes out of a grand-daughter of Ahorn Z.

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

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

GK Calucci

La Marque

Westminster VDL

Offspring of Amazing, 2020 Report

Three Successful Offspring by Amazing

by Ahna Phelps

Amuzing, by Amazing
photo: Naimark Photography

It was the middle of the night on my birthday, 2008… and my horse was finally home! When that sweet little awkward three year old walked into my barn that night, I had no idea the impact he would have on my life….and so many others. I bought Amazing hoping he would be my next show partner. The idea of standing a stallion was not really something I had ever wanted to do. Luckily I was blessed with, quite possibly, one of the sweetest stallions there ever was. Not only was he a fabulous show partner for me, but he also allowed me to learn all the ins and outs of what owning and standing a stallion entails. When he bred his first mares ten years ago, I knew he had the bloodlines, temperament, and athletic ability to pass along and I hoped his foals would inherit all those qualities. With his older foals now well along into their lives and careers, one thing makes me happier than all else: what fantastic partners they are for their amateur riders and how much their owners love them!


As time has passed, I am seeing Amazing offspring consistently show that they have in fact inherited dad’s kind, willing to please demeanor. A large majority of them are owned, shown successfully, and ridden almost exclusively by their amateur owners.

Amuzing

Amuzing, aka Junior, by Amazing
photo: Naimark Photography

One of example of this is my own homebred Amuzing, known as “Junior." Junior was bought by Jill Hardie when he was born, and has lived at home with her his entire life. Jill started him under saddle, and has done the majority of the riding and training with him herself. Junior is a very successful Adult Amateur Hunter and Equitation horse, and regularly brings home Champion in good company. According to Jill, “Junior is one of the nicest horses I have ever owned. So much about him is just wonderful. To start, he’s beautiful and not a show goes by that I don’t get stopped so someone can tell me how stunning he is. On top of that, he is just a great guy to have around. He’s sweet and easy going and rarely dramatic. He’s got such a soft and quiet way about him and is NEVER in a hurry. I love him so much I bought another Amazing baby to bring along!” As his breeder, this is exactly what I had hoped for!

Amaze Me

Amaze Me, aka Derby

Amaze Me by Amazing
photo: Andrew Ryback Photography

Emily Kowit owns Amaze Me, and has had an extremely successful year in the Amateur Owner Hunters and Equitation with her “Derby”. Emily and Derby have been partners for a couple of years now, and she says, “I got Derby when he was 6 turning 7. He was a bit green but so willing to learn his job. I wasn’t looking to get a new horse, but I couldn’t let this one go. I felt something super special in him. At first, I really didn’t have any set goals in mind as it was my first project horse, but he was quickly exceeding all of our expectations and was learning by the day. I am incredibly impressed by the “amazing” brain that he has!! He is such a willing, accepting guy that is extremely tolerant of my amateur mistakes. He has even been hacked and groomed by the tiny riders at the farm. I am so thrilled with this horse by Amazing, I couldn’t ask for anything else. Best. Brain. Ever!”

Amplitude MFH


Amp at home.

Amplitude MFH by Amazing

Amplitude MFH is just another member of Brittney Cline’s family, and is perfect example of what wonderful amateur horses the Amazing babies are. Brittney purchased Amp when he was a yearling from breeder Christina Burke, and she knew from the minute she saw him that he was the horse for her. Brittney says “From day one he proved to have his sire’s incredible temperament and brain. He is SO amateur-friendly, that even my young daughter was able to sit on him as a 3 year old (and has continued to ride him ever since!). It doesn’t matter how much time “off’ he gets between rides, he always comes out exactly the same with zero prep. He will be 6 this summer, and I absolutely couldn’t imagine our lives without him!”


Hearing stories like this makes all the hard work and sacrifice so worth it for me. As a trainer myself, I can’t emphasize enough what a difference it makes to have kind, willing, reliable amateur horses to work with. I am so proud of what Amazing has produced over the years! I’m also excited to see what the future holds for all of his offspring, and feel so blessed to have made an impact on so many people’s lives through Amazing.

Please visit Amazing's profile to learn more about him - click here.

Interested in breeding to Amazing, or have questions? Click here to contact owner Ahna Cafaro.

Amazing's story is pretty special! Click here to read his Stallion Story.

Amazing

The 2020 Future Event Horse Calendar is Now Available

USEA photo.

The USEA Future Event Horse Program (FEH) is growing – it has more qualifiers on the calendar, expert judges on the judges list, higher quality horses at the Championships, and new educational resources on the USEA website. This year, the FEH calendar has over 28 competitions across the country and three Championships.

Read the full article here.

World Breeding News for Sport Horses February Edition Posted

World Breeding News for Sport Horses has just posted their February 2020 issue, with articles on the deaths of legendary stallions Jazz, Kannan, and Don Schufro; the KWPN stallion approvals; and more. The article on horse/animal welfare is a must-read.

Of special interest to North American breeders are articles on SWANA, the Swedish Warmblood Association of North America, written by Hillevi Brasch; and Chris Gould's article on the Canadian Warmblood Foal Futurities. 

Enjoy!

Links:

World Breeding News for Sport Horses

February issue of WBNSH

Subscribe to WBNSH

Hyperion Stud News, February 2020

Hyperion Stud's Winter 2020 Newsletter

Europe's Finest Made in America

2020 DIGITAL STALLION ROSTER

The 2020 Hyperion Stud Digital Stallion Roster is now available, the interactive digital version provides detailed information about the 30+ international quality stallions Hyperion Stud Represents.


CLICK TO VIEW

BREEDING DISCOUNTS

Early Booking: 

(Dakota VDL, Vegas, Twisther, Victor E, Cicera’s Icewater, Chin Quidam VDL)

Before January 1, 2020 | $100.00 off stud fee

Between Jan 1 – March 31, 2020 | $50.00 off stud fee

Return Clients:

Vegas | $100.00 off stud fee

Imothep | $100.00 off stud fee

Dakota | $75.00 off stud fee

Cicera’s Icewater | $75.00 off stud fee

Chin Quidam VDL |  $75.00 off stud fee

Multiple Mares: TBD based on # of mares

States Premium, Star, Keur, Elite, Preferent, Prestiate Mares: $125.00 off stud fee

International & National Sport records: $100.00 (subject to approval)

* One discount applies per booking

Please contact Hyperion Stud at hyperionstudllc@gmail.com for more information about discounts and booking.

Imothep

Cool Jazz

HYPERION STUD WELCOMES OLYMPIC IMOTHEP AND COOL JAZZ TO AMERICA

Olympic competitor and breeding stallion Imothep has returned to the United States and was joined by Hyperion Stud’s Holsteiner approved stallion Cool Jazz. “This officially marks Imothep’s retirement from sport and we are excited to offer North American Breeders access to this super stallion for the first time in many years via fresh collections,” said Hyperion Stud owner Vicky Castegren.



READ MORE

Leviathan HS

Urthago. Janne Bugtrup photo.

HYPERION STUD STALLIONS URTHAGO HS AND LEVIATHAN HS APPROVED BY EUROPEAN STUDBOOKS

Hyperion Stud stallions Urthago HS and Leviathan HS were recently selected to attend stallion approval in Germany. Hyperion Stud bred and owned Urthago HS (v. Uriko/My Lord Carthago/Casall/Carthago), from stamm 474a, attended the Holsteiner Verband stallion approvals in Neumünster, Germany where he was approved and received his breeding license. Hyperion owned Leviathan HS (v. Livello/Casall/Calando I), from stamm 741, attended the Mecklenberg stallion approval in Redefin, Germany where he was approved and received his breeding license.



READ MORE

Urthago HS with Vicky Castegren and Gunnar Mohr

Click to learn more about these Hyperion stallions:

Cool Jazz HS

Imothep

Dakota

Vegas

Victor E

Twisther

Cicera's Icewater

Darthus

HH Copin van de Broy

HH Dark de la Hart

HH Himself

Plutot de Beaufour

HH Radco

HH Rebozo

Orlando

Chin Quidam VDL

Asterix E Z

Foundation Friday: Calido I

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!

1991–
165 cm
Grey
Breeder: Matthias Kahler
Licensed 1993 in Neumünster

Calido I is the star of one of Holstein’s most important private stallion stations, Hengststation Maas J. Hell, one of the best known in Europe under the direction of Maas J. Hell, who played a major rôle in the transformation of the agricultural  Holstein horse to its modern sporthorse self. …

At his performance test in Adelheidsdorf, Calido … was first in the jumping standings with 140.40 …; his jumping scores included a score of 10.

In 1996 he won 22 showjumping classes up to intermediate level.

Calido was the standout sire in the jumping at the 2004 Bundeschampionate, ….

Calido is another representative of that enormously influential Holstein C line of Cor de la Bryère with no influence from the other C line of Capitol. In the words of the famed Dutch breeder Jan Greve, this is selecting the “careful” Holstein C line, not the “power” C line.

But then again, Calido might be getting quite enough power and attitude on his dam lines, since they feature a double cross of the Ramzes son, Roman …

In the 2018 Hanoverian book, his progeny earnings [were] €3,703,796 with 1445 competitors. …

His 2017 German FN index as a sire of young horse jumping competitors is 141, while his value as a sire of open competition horses is rated at 123.

Calido I is the sire of 31 horses with winnings of more than €15,000, …he was represented by three of his offspring at the Beijing Games, … and he is the sire of more than 50 licensed sons.

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

There are a couple of stallion descendants of Calido I in North America. Click on the following links to read about each of the ones on WarmbloodStallionsNA.com:

Calito

GK Calucci