By Christopher Hector
Photography: FEI

The dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses (WBCYH) would seem to contradict the facile assumption that young horse stars never go on to Grand Prix, they also confirm that the leading sires, are, well, the leading sires.

Admittedly, out of the five-year-old class at the first championships in 1999, there is only one notable Grand Prix Performer, Wahajama (Warkant x Acapulco), but out of the six-year-old class that year, there are several stars – most notably the ninth placegetter, Dutch entry, Lingh (Flemmingh x Columbus), and the fourth-placed Le Bo (Lauries Crusador xx x Eisenherz I) who joined the German team as reserve horse for the 2007 European championships. Ainsley's Quicksilver (Latano II x Touch of Fairway xx) who competer Grand Prix for Holland was 10th, and the reserve champion, Del Piero (Donnerhall x Matcho aa) enjoyed a moderately successful Grand Prix career before being sold to a Danish young rider.
The following year, the six-year-old championship was won by Laurentianer (Lauries Crusador xx x Grande) who later competed at an FEI level with Marlies van Baalen, although he never went as well for her as he did for his rider at the young-horse championships, Michael Farwick. The third placegetter, Ratino (Rubinstein x Schampus xx) competed Grand Prix successfully with Martina Hannöver while the fifth placegetter, Donatha (Donnerhall x Pik Bube) had a wonderful Grand Prix career with Ellen Schulten-Baumer. Seventh placed Montecristo combined some of the most influential early Dutch dressage stallions – he was by Grand Prix competitor, El Corona (by Amor, out of a mare by Doruto, who at one stage had produced more FEI dressage horses than any other stallion in the world). El Corona was out of a mare by another Grand Prix stallion, Clavecimbel by Statuar (Tamersale xx) out of a mare by Apple King xx. Montecristo went on the compete Grand Prix with Kirsten Beckers.
Another in the top 10, Richard Kimble (Ribbeck x Rheingold) went Grand Prix with Isabell Werth. That's at least 50%; and while we’re at it, the amount of close-up Thoroughbred blood is noteworthy.
The 2000 five-year-old championship also tells much the same story. The winner, Dimaggio competed Small Tour with his owner, and then became a very influential sire of dressage horses. Second, third and fourth to Roman Nature (Rohdiamant x Ehrentusch), Placido (Prestige Pilot x Watzmann), and Quantum Tyme (Quattro B x Argentinus) – all went on to compete in international classes.
Much the same story in 2001: The top two both progressed to compete at an international level. The winner, Rubels (Rafürstinels x Amethirst), despite an injury-interrupted career, went FEI with Hans Peter Minderhoud, while the second placed, Wanesco (Weltmeyer x Werther) rode Intermediaire II with Holga Finken before going to Ulla Saltzgeber. Seemingly it was not a happy marriage and the gelding disappeared...
The percentage to go on is even higher in the six-year-old age group. The winner, Cherie (Don Primero x Lanthan) had a spectacularly successful Prix St George career with Karen Rehbein and was starting Grand Prix when Mrs. Rehbein lost the ride.
The reserve champion, Münchhausen (Hohenstein x Königstein) become a member of the Danish dressage team with Fie Skarsoe, while third placegetter, Placido went on to be a successful young-rider horse for Laura Tomlinson. The fifth placegetter, Quando Quando (Quattro B x Akzent II) was a member of the Australian dressage team at WEG and the Olympic Games, while sixth placegetter, Negro (Ferro x Variant) was a Grand Prix winner with Ann van Olst before siring Valegro – one of the more famous dressage competitors of modern times.
Cut to 2002, when the five-year-old championship went to Don Davidoff (Don Gregory x Rubinstein) who after failing to make it as a breeding stallion – there was nothing wrong with his foals, just that they were very few and far between – enjoyed an FEI career with Laura Bechtolscheimer.
The reserve champion, Diamond Hit (Don Schufro x Ramino) was a wonderful Grand Prix competitor and went on to be an important sire, while sixth-placed Comic B (Come On x Platon) competed Grand Prix with Carola Koppelmann before disappearing into the USA.
The six-year-old title was won by Rubels, with Wanesco in reserve. Fourth to Weltissimo (Welt Hit II x Barsoi xx) who became a Grand Prix star with Hubertus Schmidt. And right down in 16th place was Hexigons Ollright (Rubiquil x El Corona), who became a member of the Dutch team... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber

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