By Anna Nyström / SWB (translation Hillevi Brasch)
Photography: Roland Thunholm and private collection

The QRE Dressage Breeder Stud has produced several successful dressage horses, including Vividus QRE. Vividus is one of three full brothers sold at the SWB Elite foal auction in 2015. This was the start of an international career, as the gelding is now with Cathrine Laudrup Dufour.

Christian Påhlsson and Sophie Qvarnström run a smaller breeding operation between Sjöbo and Tomelilla, typically breeding one to three foals per year, although fdor the past couple of years four foals have been born on their farm. To date, the couple has had immense success with foals selected for the elite foal auctions, excellent results from the foal inspections and three-year-old tests, as well as in Breeders Trophy and WBCYH nominations.
Their goal is to produce horses that can go all the way, although they are aware of how much there is that can happen along the way there: “Anyone should be able to ride and handle our horses; excellent character and temperament is essential,” says Christian.
However, Sophie was the one with the passion for horses initially, having been an eventing rider. Christian eventually caught the horse bug, but children, the farm, and family life in general made it harder to continue riding, so focused on breeding instead.
Their first breeding year was 2007, and thanks to the acquisition of really good mares they got off to a smashing start. The mare Dittrich was purchased from Yvonne Sterntorp and has since produced some excellent offspring, including Braveheart (by Bellagio) who was born at Yvonne and Sandra Sterntorp’s farm. “Braveheart was the Swedish team horse in vaulting at WEG this summer,” said Christian.
At the stallion show presented by Tullstorp Dressage Stable in 2012, the stallion Zaladin MI caught their eye and it felt like a “perfect match”. Dittrich was bred to Zaladin MI which resulted in Blizzard QRE who received 51 points at the foal inspection and placed third in the National Foal Championships. The gelding is today on active duty with the Swedish Mounted Guard in Stockholm, a true testament to his character and temperament. “We were so happy with Blizzard that we decided to breed Dittrich to him twice more, resulting in Vividus and Delecto,” Christian adds... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber

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