The Big Issues – Page 14 – The Horse Magazine

Bundeschampionate 2014 – Looking at the Bloodlines…

September 18th, 2014
Words by Christopher Hector & Photos by Kiki Beelitz and Roslyn Neave Alas, this year as the Bundeschampionate clashed with the WEG, I was not there to see the action, but I hope this little analysis of the breeding of the finalists is of use to the serious breeder and all the other pedigree freaks out […] Read Article 2 Comments »

WEG 2014 competitors – A Breeding Analysis

September 5th, 2014
Christopher Hector looks at the bloodlines on show at Caen D is for Dressage – D is for Donnerhall When we look at the start list for the dressage at the WEG, the first thing we need to observe – yet again – is the outright dominance of the Donnerhall line. He, himself, is represented […] Read Article Comments Off

2014 Dutch Breeding Values… What’s New?

August 26th, 2014
Story by Christopher Hector Photos by Roz Neave & Jacob Melissen The latest KWPN breeding values have been released, and once again, Jazz (Cocktail / Ulster) heads the dressage standings for stallions with a reliability index of 90% or better. Jazz has a breeding value of 196 and a reliability of 97%. Once again, Jazz […] Read Article Comments Off

Dressage Stallions at the 2014 KWPN stallion show

February 9th, 2014
The decision in the dressage section of the KWPN stallion show went right down to the wire. Even the chairman of the dressage panel, Wim Ermes admitted that right until the final third round, he expected the son of Totilas out of the full-sister to Parzival would win but he looked a bit flat on […] Read Article Comments Off

Jumping Stallions at the 2014 KWPN stallion show

February 8th, 2014
It is as usual a feast of fine horse flesh, and the Dutch breeders prove again that they are the masters of getting the ‘mix’ right, of picking where the action is and taking the best-of-the-best into their breeding ranks. On the first day of viewing the jumping colts, there are four stallions each with […] Read Article Comments Off

The Bundeschampionate 2013

December 11th, 2013
The Bundeschampionate – the German National Championships – is simply one of the world’s great equestrian experiences; it is a time to greet old friends, to chat and share a glass of wine… But most of all it is a chance to watch the most wonderful selection of horses that comes together anywhere in the […] Read Article Comments Off

Breeding Eventers – Blood will out

October 1st, 2013
Eventing – blood will out! I suspect that it is one of the most persistent myths of equestrian sport, that eventers are freaks, accidents – that you cannot breed to produce eventing horses. As I see it, this is just plain wrong. The limited number of people who have tried to breed for eventing have […] Read Article 5 Comments »

German Breeding Values 2012 – what do they mean?

January 24th, 2013
The German Breeding Values are supposed to be a guide to the top Sporthorse stalliions - but are they? Looking at this year's top ranking there are a few very undistinguished horses in the list... Read Article 1 Comment »

London Olympic Games – Breeding Analysis

October 10th, 2012
This article examines the bloodlines of the horses at the London Olympic Games... Read Article Comments Off

French Breeding in Crisis

The breeding scene in France was for so long the most regimented and formalised in Europe. STORY: Chris Hector & PHOTOS: Roz Neave and Archives A network of National Studs (Haras Nationaux) covered the land, headed by god-like Breeding Directors and supported by a vast bureaucracy to administer the bewildering profusion of regulations and rules. […] Read Article 2 Comments »