Christopher Hector takes a look at the WBFSH 2025 studbook rankings
DRESSAGE
Yet again the Dutch breeders dominate the dressage studbook rankings, and this year the rankings are also a triumph for the Trakehner who came to The Netherlands from Germany, Gribaldi.
Gribaldi
The success of the black Trakehner is closely followed by that of the Dutch bred Bordeaux who is by one of the stars of Dutch breeding, United, but out of a mare by Gribaldi. There’s even a touch, on Bordeaux’s mare line, of the great Donnerhall who dominated these rankings for so many years, now just a shadow of his former glory.
Bordeaux
The Gribaldi son Totilas is the sire of Gotilas du Feuillard (Ferro), holding sixth place in the Dutch team.While Bordeaux is the sire of Carl Hester’s Fame (Rhodium), the third highest ranked of the Dutch contingent.
Fame (FEI – Leanjo de Koster)
British dressage star Carl Hester is full of praise for the chestnut stallion, he told Horse & Hounds “Bordeaux almost has a Guinness Book of World Records appeal for the number of Grand Prix horses he’s produced – from a range of mares. What it all boils down to is one thing: that he’s given them all a work ethic to be Grand Prix, whatever their shape and size. My Grand Prix horse Fame’s best quality is his Duracell battery work ethic, which I see when I look at the others by Bordeaux.”
Glamourdale (Rebecca Ashton)
Not surprisingly the number one in the KWPN team is Glamourdale, by the Rheinlander Lord Leatherdale, but out of the solidly Dutch, Thuja by Negro out of an Ahorn mare.
Bluetooth (Rebecca Ashton)
The Oldenburg book takes out second place, with their team headed up by the Bordeaux son, Bluetooth. Bluetooth is out of one of Paul Schockemöhle’s celebrated broodmares, Loreana, who is by Don Schufro out of Loretta (Ramino/Welt As) the dam of the Hit brothers, Sandro and Diamond Hit.
Total Hope
Second highest point scorer is Total Hope, by Totilas out of the great Weihegold (Don Schufro / Sandro Hit). Total Hope is easily the best of the seventeen foals Isabell Werth’s former superstar has produced.
Denoix
Ranked third is Denoix, by Destano a son of Desperados. Denoix is out of a daughter of Pik Noir – now there’s a blast from the past, Donnerhall over Pik Bube!
Maxima Bella (Photo – Rebecca Ashton)
Number four in the Oldenburg team is Maxima Bella by Millennium by Easy Game by Gribaldi, out of a mare by Christ.
Both Bordeaux and Gribaldi were discovered by master breeder Joep van Uytert.
Joep says it was love at first sight . “When I first saw Gribaldi, it was 25 years ago, he was two and a half years old, he was already a real stallion, a real stallion type, he was the winner at the Trakehner stallion show. We bought him there and then he came to Holland, he did a good performance test, then the first crop of his foals came one year later. At the time they said Trakehners were a bit normal, nice types but trouble with the canter and hind leg, but a lot of breeders were still interested in him and bred every year with him.”
Easy Game
“Then his first horses came under the saddle and by the time they were six or seven, you saw that they had a lot of potential for the piaffe / passage, and that is the strong thing of Trakehner. You see a lot of Trakehner horses who have a bit normal movement, but when they come back they have a really good cadence in piaffe / passage, and that’s the highlight of the breeding of Gribaldi – and also, of course, his son, Easy Game.”
Bordeaux has a wonderfully balanced pedigree. He is by United who combines the blood of two of Anky van Grunsven’s Grand Prix stars, Krack C and Partout, with(more!) Gribaldi. Bordeaux’s dam line takes us across the border to Germany, introducing the blood of the great Donnerhall, while the bottom line takes us to Adone, the dam of Nicole Uphoff’s wonderful Rembrandt.
Again, Joep was immediately smitten: “The first moment I saw Bordeaux in the paddock as a foal, he was a horse that packaged his stride so effortlessly and had a smooth flowing topline, showing ample technique and interconnection between his forehand and hindquarters, which also emerged in training.”
Toto Junior
The once mighty Hanoverian book has slipped to third, with the help of a couple of descendants of Gribaldi. Their second highest representative is Toto Junior who was born in Holland, out of a mare by the De Niro son, Desperados who died at the age of nineteen, and we can only ponder just how influential the black stallion might have been had he not died so young. Third in their team is the Toto Junior son, Taminiau out of a daughter of Sandro Hit another stallion who has slipped from sight. The Hanoverian grouping also highlights another fading line, the Westfalien F line. The top Hanoverian is the mighty Freestyle by Fidermark out of a Donnerhall mare while their group is rounded up by First Class, by the Florestan grandson Fürstenball.
Freestyle (FEI/Pernilla Hägg)
SHOWJUMPING
Twenty years ago when the free trade rules of the European Common Market, forced French breeding authorities to open the studbook, there were howls of outrage from the traditionalists, the noble French horse was doomed, yet two decades later, a period that also saw the disappearance of the once all-powerful state studs, the Selle Français book seems to be surviving quite well. They are once again the champion jumping studbook, with traditional rivals Holstein and the Dutch in second and third. Even more amazing in this day and age, the six horses whose points ensured the French victory, are, with one exception, recognizably French.
Donatello d’Auge (FEI/Benjamin Clark)
Leading the charge is Donatello d’Auge an international superstar with Julien Epaillard, their best this year was a prize of €172,500 for a first at Basel. Donatello d’Auge’s breeding even celebrates one of the neglected streams of French breeding, the Anglo-Arab, through his sire, Jarnac by Ryan d’Anzex aa. The dam line is equally Gallic with two crosses of the great Almé through Olisco and Galoubet A.
The gelding was homebred by Julien’s wife Susana, out of Tequila d’Auge, who after injuring herself became a broodmare, her sire Hello Pierville was campaigned to five star level by Susana.
Bond Jamesbond de Hay (FEI_Kim C Lundin)
If the leading horse in the SF team is a ‘blue blood’ the second, Bond Jamesbond de Hay (breeder, Jean-Luc ‘Helgouarc’h) is very much a ‘bastard’ to use the terminology of French breeding expert Arnaud Evain. His top line through the stallion that dominates the SF team, Diamant de Sémilly, is solidly French while his dam combines Hanover and Holland, through Kannan, with Holstein thanks to Capitol II. Ridden by Belgian, Gregory Wathelet, the stallion’s best result this year was €125,000 for a win at Windsor.
Diamant de Semilly
The third ranked in the SF team is Dexter de Kerglenn by French star, Mylord Carthago who is by the great Holsteiner, Carthago, out of a mare who is arguably the greatest jumping broodmare of all time, Fragance de Chalus (Jalisco/Fury de la Cense) though it must be noted that Fragance has the great advantage of the unique skill set of her owner Joris de Brabander. The Belgian vet was one of the pioneers of embryo transfer, and his uncanny ability to pick the right ‘cross’, combined that with Joris’ passion for harness racing generating an endless supply of roomy recipient mares, has produced a string of international jumping stars. Fragance is the dam of 34 foals, including two French top ten stallions, Mylord and the Centro son, Nortond’Eole and five and six star competitors too numerous to mention.
Dexter (FEI/Leanjo de Koster)
Dexter’s dam Shana de Kerglenn carries some of the finest French jumping blood, she’s by Diamant de Sémilly out of a mare by world champion, Quito de Baussy. Dexter’s full brother, Darius, is a 1.60 jumper, while his sister, Dana, competes 1.55.
Ermitage Kalone (FEI/Benjamin Clarke)
The fourth ranked Ermitage Kalone was bred in France but has been claimed by the Belgians and proclaimed a BWP Ambassadeur. He is by the Holsteiner, Catoki, a grandson of the great Caletto I, out of Bellaventure Kalone by Kannan, out of an Anglo Arab mare by Veloce de Favi.
The next Selle Français representative, Dynastie de Beaufour reminds us of two things, the first is the crucial role of her sire Diamant de Sémilly in modern French jumping breeding, indeed the mare was bred by Eric Levallois whose name is inextricably intertwined with the career of the great stallion. It also suggests that those Brussels bureaucrats might have done the French breeders a favour back in 1994 when they opened the breeding borders, since the mare is out of a Holstein bred mare by Cassini I, with a Calvados II dam.
Kannan
Rounding out the French contingent w have Vitalhorse Fleur d’Oz by the Kannan son, Olimbus Merze out of a mare by Papillon Rouge.
The Holstein Book takes second spot on this year’s rankings, this is another breeding association that had to be dragged kicking and screaming into a world of cross border fertilization, but once again, the result would seem to justify the move. Their number one is Bull Run’s Jireh, by the Dutch stallion Uriko who is by Untouchable by Hors la Loi II the French stallion that proves Joep van Uytert has an eye for jumping horses as well as the dressage ones, since he spotted Hors la Loi II at the age of three and a half and installed him in his stud. Jireh is out of a mare of exemplary Holsteiner breeding, Colman over Contender.
Monaco NOP ©FEI/Lukasz Kowalski
The second ranked Holsteiner is Harrie Smolders’ jumping machine, Monaco . The gelding is by Cassini II out of a Contender mare whose dam was by the great Thoroughbred, Heraldik who is better known as a sire of eventers.
Monaco was bred by Ralf Luetje, a second generation Holsteiner breeder and breeder of the year in 2023, who is a little amazed to find himself the breeder of an international superstar. “Over the years, our family has bred a number of foals and most of them have become breeding horses or high-end leisure partners. In view of this, it is really special for one of our horses to be so successful at international level. Whenever I see Monaco on the telly, my palms get sweaty.”
Third to Conor Swail’s gelding Casturano (Castelan I / Canturo) a nicely balanced mix of the Cs the made Holstein famous, the power of Capitol and the cleverness of Cor de la Bryere, and in the last line, one of the greats of yesteryear, Landgraf.
For Pleasure
Fourth to For Gold by For Fashion a son of the great Hanoverian jumper and sire, For Pleasure, out of an Heraldik xx mare.
With our fifth Holsteiner representative, Lyjanair we are well and truly back in the Schleswig-Holstein Marshes with a pedigree that features most of the Holsteiner greats. The gelding’s sire Lyjanero is a grandson of Lord, out of a Casall mare, Lyjanair’s dam, Villa, combines Coriano and Contender.
Sixth in the Holstein team is My Lady Lavista by Mylord Carthago, who we have already met, out of the Holsteiner mare Tina II by Levisto, with a pedigree that features a trio of the greats – Landgraf, Caletto I, Corrado.
EVENTING
The old myth that you can’t breed eventers has been well and truly put to rest, and looking at the world’s top horse trials right now you see in the winner’s circle a series of purpose-bred and wonderful eventers, and the eventer who heads the winning Holstein team, is London, the world’s number one eventer, a megastar with Britain’s Laura Collett.
London
London is by Landos, a son of the half-blood Lord, out of a mare by Calypso I (Cor de la Bryere). Calypso I was never as famous as his brother Calypso II who introduced Holsteiner blood to Hanover, but unusually for Holsteiners both produced more dressage horses than jumpers – the older brother sired six Grand Prix jumpers but twelve dressage horses who went on the Grand Prix.
London is out of Vernante by Quinar by the great Selle Français sire Quidam de Revel (by the Alme son Jalisco B). Quinar is out of Adele, a grand-daughter of Alme, and hello, there is another cross of Calypso I on the mare line. Vernante’s dam, Legende VII is by Cassini I out of a Sacramento Song xx mare.
Ladykiller
It would seem the Holstein breeders are drawing on the legacy of that group of Thoroughbreds – Ladykiller, Cottage Son, Sacramento Song – that helped transform the Holsteiner from a workhorse to a modern sporthorse. All those stallions feature on London’s pedigree…
London was bred by Ocke Riewerts, a small family breeder based on the island of Föhr. He has won the WBFSH eventing breeder of the year award,twice, in 2021 and again this year.
JL Dublin
Next in the Holstein team, another of the world’s best, Tom McEwan’s JL Dublin. The gelding is by Diarado, who has had something of a chequered career. He was initially hailed as the ultimate fusion combining the best of the French with the best of Holstein, by Diamant de Sémilly out of a Corrado mare.. The stallion was given a dream start, jointly promoted by the Holstein Verband, Joep van Eytert and Paul Schockemöhle to a huge book of quality mares. Diarado was not a success in the competition ring, and while he has produced a couple of showjumping frontliners, the result was somewhat underwhelming, though he now seems to have found his niche as an eventing sire.
JL Dublin is out of Zarinna by the 1.60 jumper, Canto out of a mare by the Landgraf son, Lombard.
Carlitos Quidditch and Malin Hansen-Hotoop (FEI – Benjamin Clark)
Third ranked Holsteiner is Carlitos Quidditch K, by Quiwi Dream, another fusion, by Quidam de Revel out of a Contender mare. Carlitos is out of a mare by Cassini I.
Number four is Vitali by the great Contender (Calypso II/Ramiro) out of an Heraldik xx mare
Next, Commando 3, by the Casall son, Connor. Commando is out of the Holsteiner mare R-Adelgunde by the Thoroughbred Amigo.
Laura Collett rounds out the Holstein team, this time riding Dacapo, another son of Diarado out of a Canturo mare.
The Irish Studbook is second on this year’s rankings with an interesting mix of traditional Irish blood and the imports that rescued the Irish horse from the closed studbook induced doldrums.
Brookfield Quality (Libby Law)
Number one in their team is another Tom McEwan ride, Brookfield Quality, by the son of French jumping star,Quick Star, Obos Quality who has been oh so influential in shaping modern Irish sporthorses. Brookfield Quality is out of a mare by another stallion who has produced scores of top eventers, Cavalier Royale, a Holstein import by Cor de la Bryere.
Cooley Rosalent,
The second highest ranked Irish horse is Cooley Rosalent, but here a word of caution, you might, seeing the prefix Cooley over and over in eventing results, imagine that there is a stud called Cooley with the most amazingly successful breeding program. Wrong, the talented duo behind Cooley, Richard Sheane and Georgina Phillips breed no horses at all, finding talented future eventers all over Ireland. Their operation started in 2004 and now their client base reads like a who’s who of international eventing.
Cooley Rosalent is no exception to the duo’s program. He was bred by J. W. Rosbothan in Armagh and is by the imported Dutch stallion, Valent (Hors la Loi / Lux Z) out of a Thoroughbred mare. Rosalent has had a sensational career with Ollie Townhend, with last year’s highlight her win at Lexington 5*.
Next to Jack of Diamonds by the Swedish stallion Irco Mena out of a mare that combines two of the legendary sires of eventers, Imperius xx and King of Diamonds.
Cooley Snapchat (FEI-Libby Law)
The next three horses in the Irish team show the crucial role of ‘foreign’ stallions. Cooley Snapchat (Kannan / Arkansas VDL), CSF Mr Kroon (Kroongraaf KWPN/ Cavalier Royale) out of an Obos Quality mare, and finally Black Ice who is by a Dutch stallion Vechta (Voltaire) out of Brookhall Lady by the Galoubet A son, Touchdown.
Britain is spiritual home of eventing, and right from a start there were a few brave breeders who deliberately bred for the discipline rather than relying on luck. It’s no surprise then that the Sporthorse Breeding of Great Britain book takes third place, though unlike the pioneers of British eventing breeding like Sam Barr, this time the breeders have relied heavily on blood from continental Europe.
Lordships Graffalo (FEI- Libby Law)
Number one in the SHBSB team is another superstar in the mighty British team, Ros Canter’s Lordships Graffalo who is by the Trakehner stallion who evented three star with Michi Jung, Grafenstolz (Polarion TSF / Camelot) but out of a mare whose breeding features two of the early British British eventing stallions, Ben Faerie xx and Just A Monarch xx.
Jaguar Mail
The second ranked eventer is Colorado Blue, who like the fifth, Treworra, is by Jaguar Mail, an enormously successful sire of eventers. I am sure that Bernard le Courtois was aiming for a showjumper when he bred Jaguar Mail, an indeed the stallion was a member of the Swedish Olympic showjumping team, but looking at his pedigree he would seem ideal as a sire of eventers. Jaguar Mail is 7/8ths Thoroughbred. His Thoroughbred sire, Hand in Glove was a 1.60 jumper and competed Prix St Georges dressage. The dam sire is the last European Thoroughbred Grand Prix showjumping star, Laudanum, bred to a mare that combines two jumping immortals, Almé and Gotthard.
Add to that another of Laura Collett’s frontliners, Bling by Kannan (it seems no ranking is complete without a Kannan somewhere) and let’s end on a cutting edge note.
Chilli Morning IV (FEI-Ecary)
The final member of the SHGB team is a clone, Gemma Stevens’ up and coming, Chilli Morning IV who like her famous sire? brother? is by Phantomic xx out of a Kolibri mare. There are four Chilli Morning clones, and unlike previous attempts at cloning, they all look promising…
