By Christopher Hector (Tables prepared by Gemma Alexander) PLEASE NOTE - TO VIEW THE TABLES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ARTICLE PLEASE USE THE ONLINE EDITION OF BREEDING NEWS
The first thing to be said about this year's Hanoverian dressage stallions' rankings is that, once again, the dominant influence on the modern dressage horse is a stallion from France – you know, the place where they can't breed dressage horses – Furioso II. Furioso II is by the Thoroughbred (Thoroughbred, you know those horses that can't do dressage) stallion, Furioso out of the Selle Français (yes, the ones with no mouth!) mare, Dame de Ranville.
Although there is no doubt that master breeder, Georg Vorwerk imported Furioso II in 1968 with jumping in mind, and Furioso II has been an extraordinarily influential stallion in the world of showjumping, his blood dominates dressage, even today, 53 years after the stallion’s death.
Of the 20 top dressage sires in this year's Hanoverian Stallion Book, seven descend from Furioso II, all of them via his grandson, Florestan (Fidelio x Rheingold), with two more sitting in 21st and 22nd – Fürstbischof (Fürst Romancier x Plaisir d'Amour) and Fidertanz (Fidermark x Frühlingstraum II).
It is also noteworthy how consolidated the other lines are on the pedigrees of these stallions. Over and over again, we see the same names, it is a bit like the consolidated bloodlines we have become used to on jumping pedigrees. Gone, gone, gone are the days when the dressage horse was a fluke, the one that was no good over a fence.
Perfect ‘F’ example
The highest ranked ‘F’ stallion, Floriscount in third, is a perfect example of this. Floriscount's sire, the Florestan son, Florencio (himself a world champion young dressage horse two years running) is out of a Weltmeyer mare. Floriscount's dam, Arkon is by Donnerhall, but the final mare line is enriched by two of the Thoroughbred stallions that played such a key role in transforming the Oldenberger from coach horse to equestrian athlete, Tin Rod xx and Vollkorn xx... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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