By Liis Ira / ESH
Photography: Ago Ruus; Kristi Riis Koppel; Riina Pill private collection
It might have been considered a miracle that three ESH horses competed at the same time at the Tokyo 2020 [2021] Olympic Games, and fortune might have played a key role. However, having four ESH horses competing among the world’s elite at the most prestigious shows, including the Longines League of Nations Cup 2024 in Abu Dhabi, is no coincidence!
Eleven countries and 44 horses from 11 different studbooks participated in the above-mentioned competition, the most numerous being KWPN with nine horses. According to WBFSH annual member reports, some 11,000 foals are born to this studbook each year (as at 2022). In the same year Selle Français registered 8,200 foals, and BWP 3,630 - each represented by six horses; Zangersheide (8,645) - five horses; while Holsteiner (2,899 foals) and ESH (396 foals - of which only 250 are sport horses), equally fielded four horses!
Two of our super horses belong to team Belgium: Ace of Hearts (Aliandro B - Ra xConcorde) with Gregory Wathelet, and Bonne Amie (A Big Boy x Landfriese) with Abdel Saïd. One is currently competing for Great Britain - Q Paravatti N (Quality Time x Indoctro) with Jack Whitaker; and last but not least, Alfons Ra (Aromats x False Pass) for team Brazil with Yuri Mansur. Already participating in such a competition is an achievement in itself but, moreover, the Estonian Sport Horses did not let their teams down - three out of the four jumped faultlessly in the first round.
Four super horses with different back stories
Although each of our super horses have quite different background stories, there is one thing they all share: the breeders.
The quartet were born between 2007 and 2012, and each of their breeders has contributed to the success of the ESH brand since the studbook’s early years. Trojan Horses OÜ (Bonne Amie), Kaasiku talupidajad [Farmers of Kaasik] (Q Paravatti) and family. Barake (Ace Of Hearts) has stopped active breeding; the breeders of Alfons Ra’s Rebala stables registered foals last year.
The quantitative indicators of the breeders’ production are quite different, varying from a number that can be counted on the fingers of two hands, to around 100 horses. But one thing united each and every one - a genuine interest in breeding top quality showjumping horses... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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