2005 Danish Warmblood Stallion Licensing

Danish Dressage Breeding Needs Stimulation

March 15, 2005

By Eurodressage correspondent Thomas Bach Jensen.

A record breaking 39,139 visitors found their way to Europe’s largest equine show – the Danish Warmblood stallion licensing in Herning – on 10-13 March 2005. Eurodressage correspondent Thomas Bach Jensen was on the scene to follow the new collection of dressage breeding stallions as well as the older ones competing under the rider.

The Danish Warmblood has always been best known for its breeding of excellent dressage horses. Two years ago a specific programme was initiated in order not to get behind on the international scene of the breeding of show jumpers. At this years stallion licensing one could be tempted to think that this programme is not at all needed but that a similar one for the improvement of the breeding of dressage horses could be useful!

Right from the beginning it was very clear that the young lot included a large number of very good jumping colts and a smaller collection of dressage prospects. Most of the young dressage imports did not make the cut and for once the most impressive and convincing dressage prospects were to be found among the Danish born colts.

What really attracts the attention of the audience in Herning each year is the premium ring of 3 year old stallions and the question which colt will be this year's champion. Two of the dressage premiums shone throughout the weekend : Valløs de Baron (De Niro x Feiner Stern) and Gagarin (French Kiss x Michelangelo). They are both highly modern, elegant and refined types with excellent conformation and outstanding movements.

The black stallion De Baron stood out of the crowd with his long legs and slim, large-framed appearance with big and graceful movements. This wonderful De Niro son took the champion title as best 3 year old dressage horse and got highly praised by the Licensing Committee for his modern type and elastic gaits.

Eurodressage spoke to the overwhelmed breeder Mrs Iben Kamp, Fredensborg, who runs a stud farm with top dressage lines and breeding with five world class mares. Mrs Kamp was thrilled with the very honourable result of the black De Niro colt that she sold at auction in 2003 fetching top price like the full brother did the previous year. Mrs Kamp is now extremely pleased to have a two years old full sister to De Baron in her stable. The Feiner Stern dam is pregnant to Don Schufro for 2005.

Runner-up in the dressage lot, Gagarin, seemed to be the crowd’s favourite. At each presentation he entered the show ring with lots of confidence, and apart from an attractive confirmation this colt also has very powerful hind legs. French Kiss/Michelangelo indicates a big dressage potential but Gagarin seems to be double talented descending from a very strong dam lineage and achieving 2 x 8 for his jumping. This promising dark bay is owned by York Stutteri and was bred by Mikala Bagge.

At the stallion station York they are confident that Gagarin will develop to become one of their strongest assets in the warmblood breeding. Mrs Mikala Bagge who bred Gagarin has an interesting story to tell about the dam line behind the young stallion. She went to Germany herself to pick up Gagarin’s great grand dam more than 20 years ago and since the import of this remarkable broodmare many international competition horses have evolved from this mare family.

Moving on to the four year old dressage horses Eurodressage spoke to another ecstatic female breeder of a true champion. Best four year old dressage stallion Cassidy (Blue Hors Cavan x Earl of Roland xx) is outstanding in type and refinement. His breeder Ms Lisbeth Andersen has had an immence success with the thoroughbred mare Red Rose xx who already sired highly decorated stallions and mares. Cassidy is one of her star babies and he has performed very convincingly at his 70 days test.

It is worth mentioning that the last son out of Red Rose xx is now three years old and became one of the three dressage premium stallions in Herning this year. Ms Andersen handled her own stallions in the ring and after the big successes she came out of the arena in a state of emotions; happiness and pride. She lost her best broodmare Red Rose xx nearly two years ago and now the two last sons of this fabulous mare are both premium stallions in Herning. The elder brother, Cassidy, was awarded the highly coveted trophy of Aage Ravn for best four year old Danish bred stallion 2005.

Blue Hors dressage had the best four year old dressage stallion of the lot that had only passed a 30 days test and, therefore, could only get approved for 2005. Blue Hors Leredo (Leandro x Rafa-L) already became the three year old champion in 2004 and, yet again, he trottet so convincingly and this year carrying his rider, Andreas Helgstrand. This is a stallion that demonstrates a lot of self-carriage and natural rhythm.

American owned His Highness made it clear what a true champion looks like. The deliciously black beauty was awarded 10 for type and 10 for overall impression! The Danish judges commented on his exceptionally harmonious conformation and very elastic paces. His Highness was shown under the rider and showed three very good gaits and good rhythm but less power from behind The American owners Louise and Doug Leatherdale were truly thrilled with the results of their dear beauty at the Danish licensing and they told Eurodressage how magical it was to take part in the stallion show in Herning and not least to be present at the fantastic gala show.

The champions and premiums of dressage bloodlines

• Valløs de Baron by De Niro - Feiner Stern. Owner: Worre-Jensen, Køge. Breeder: Iben Leere Kamp, Fredensborg. Premium stallion. Champion dressage stallion.
• Gagarin by French Kiss - Michelangelo. Owner: York Stutteri, Hørsholm. Breeder: Mikala Bagge, Lynge. Premium stallion.
• La Cour by Loudini - Earl of Roland XX. Owner and breeder: Lisbeth B. Andersen, Skals. Premium stallion.
• Cassidy by Blue Hors Cavan - Earl of Roland XX. Bred and owned by Lisbeth B. Andersen, Skals. Awarded the main premium and the Trophy of Aage Ravn for best Danish bred and fully licensed 4 year old dressage stallion. 70 days test – fully licensed with a silver medal.
• Blue Hors Leredo by Leandro - Rafa-L. Owned by Blue Hors Aps. Randbøl and bred by Kent L. Sørensen, Holsted. 30 days test – approved for 2005. Proclaimed best 4 year old dressage prospect.
• His Highness by Hohenstein – Donnerhall. Presented by Jens Meyer and bred in Germany. Champion stallion with 10 for type and overall impression.

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