By Sally Reid
Photography: HSI

Meyer, principal of Hengststation Jens Meyer in Dorum and consultant to Blue Hors Stud, doubtless needs no introduction to European readers, but it was his first New Zealand inspection tour. Robin Potter, the NZHS’s studbook keeper, said, “Jens’s knowledge was vast, and his sharing of this knowledge with the breeders – new and established – was generous. He was very big on ‘type and foundation’. His catch phrase was always the same: ‘Function comes from construction’. He knew exactly what he would see from the way the mares and foals looked and how they stood. Another saying – ‘they move the way they stand’.”

Mares: repeat success for River Park

“There were 22 Hanoverian mares, six pre-studbook and 13 Rheinland, which was a record number,” said Potter, adding, “It comes from the chance to register foals from Warmblood mares covered by Hanoverian stallions, which, in the past, was not possible.”
The majority (23) of the mares presented were dressage-bred, 13 were bred for jumping, while five were Thoroughbreds.
The best Hanoverian mare honour went for the second year in succession to a horse bred by Renai Hart at River Park Stud near Auckland. The very beautiful recipient, River Park Bellasaria (Benicio - Remi London Attraction x Londonderry), has super maternal bloodlines to complement those of the wonderful Benicio. Her dam, Remi London Attraction, was bred in Australia by Remi Stud, and is an ‘elite’ mare out of another ‘elite’ mare, Remi Fatal Attraction, who in turn is out of the elite Remi World Vision (Wolkenstein II x Winterkoenig). Reinforcing the fact that River Park and Renai Hart breed excellent mares, with River Park Waikiki (Worldly x Rock of Gibraltar xx), was a very close second to her stablemate, RP Bellasaria, this year.
Just one more fact about RP Bellasaria: she was a premium foal in the 2017 inspection under Dr Ludwig Christmann.
And there are several more exciting facts about Bellasaria’s dam, Remi London Attraction, who is now 13 years old, and who scored 9.50 for type, 9.50 for walk and 9.50 for trot at her own classification in Australia. She is also the dam of River Park Waileah (Worldly), who was the best mare in the 2019 Hanoverian tour, and of 2018’s best mare, Waimarie MH, who was bred by Matthews Hanoverians and is a full sister to RP Waileah. London Attraction was on lease to Matthews Hanoverians at the time.
But that’s not all! Her latest baby, River Park Belafonte (Belantis) shared top Hanoverian foal honours this year (see below). Renai Hart believes this young boy will be exceptional, and he has recently been purchased.
“We purchased ‘Beanie’ as a two-and-a-half-year-old from Australia. She has been a fabulous broodmare for us, and it’s been exciting that her first prize-winning filly is by my own stallion, Worldly, who we also imported – he came from Germany about nine years ago. That filly, River Park Waileah, is just starting her riding career.
“We then bred her to the wonderful stallion Benicio – this also resulted in a prize-winning filly, River Park Bellasaria. Beanie has also produced a premium colt by another of our own stallions, Swarovski, who we imported about four years ago.
“Our highlight this year was Beanie producing the first-equal foal of the Hanoverian tour, who is by Belantis. This coming year, we’re expecting a foal by Total Hope. Beanie is a little mare with a huge heart and an amazing nature; she is a fabulous mother and a treasure to own.”

Best Pre-studbook mare *

This honour went to Dakarra WHS (Dakar VDL - Qualine de Kergane SF x Elf d’Or SF), bred and owned by Angie and Christian Hillary of WHS Sport Horses. Her dam, Qualine de Kergane is an imported Selle Français, bred by Louis Menier’s Elevage de Kergane in Brittany. This mare came to New Zealand as a four-year-old and (because of the Northern/Southern Hemisphere official horse birthday differences) won several seven-year old classes when she was actually just a six-year-old. She also won the 1m35 title at Horse of the Year, competed at Grand Prix level, and was judged the ‘best mare over four’ at this year’s classifications (see below). Dakarra WHS is her ET daughter... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber

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