If you’re thinking of swerving the more established names, and putting your mare to an upcoming, young stallion standing in Britain, here are nine stallions all aged under seven that you might want to consider…
Donnarumma Blue is standing in Britain this year and has a pedigree bursting with big names. His sire Dominator Z is a hugely successful showjumper, having accumulated numerous international grand prix wins and top placings with Germany’s Christian Ahlmann. He in turn is the son of Diamant De Semilly, who has been second in the world jumping sire rankings for the past two years, and grandson of the great Le Tot De Semilly. Meanwhile Donnarumma Blue’s damsire, Chacco-Blue, topped the world sire rankings in 2021, just as he has done since 2017, as well as being a grand prix winner himself.
Jacondrik (Jaguar Mail x Contendro I)
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This exciting young stallion, who is nearly 70% blood, comes from illustrious lines and is certain to get British breeders excited. His sire is Olympic jumping stallion Jaguar Mail, currently the world number one ranked eventing sire, while his dam Cosima is by Contendro I, who has topped the eventing sire rankings himself on numerous occasions and currently sits at number five. Jacondrik will begin his own eventing career in 2022, under none other than Oliver Townend, with his first crop of foals expected this year as well.
This young stallion is standing in Britain and available for the first time to breeders in 2022. He is home-bred by Breen Equestrian and is already impressing Shane Breen with his attitude and scope. His sire Golden Hawk has been a prolific winner at international five-star level, while BE Quila’s dam is Fragile D’Or, who jumped at 1.45m level herself with Shane. The youngster qualified for the five-year-old finals at Hickstead and Bolesworth in 2021 and will contest six-year-old classes this year
Blue Hors Zackorado (Blue Hors Zack x Florencio I)
This Blue Hors Zack son could be one of the most exciting young stallions in Britain right now, standing at Elite Stallions in Devon for the 2022 breeding season, and perhaps beyond. Zackorado’s sire is the phenomenally successful grand prix dressage stallion Blue Hors Zack, who finished 11th individually and was the best breeding stallion at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Zackorado himself was champion of his licensing in 2018, and was the fifth most used breeding stallion in Denmark in 2020.
This exciting young British stallion, who boasts outstanding jumping bloodlines and whose first crop of foals are due on the ground in 2022, was fourth in the four-year-old championship at the Al Shira’aa Bolesworth Young Horse Championships in 2020, and the highest-placed British-bred horse. Pegasus’ super technique and work ethic is backed up by his pedigree – Balou De Rouet is one the most popular and successful showjumping sires of all time, while his dam Tolita has had a glittering career herself, being placed 17 times at 1.60m.
Future Hepsilon (Upsilon x Heraldik xx)
JP Sheffield riding our 4yr old stallion Future Hepsilon
As the only licensed son of the record-breaking eventing stallion Upsilon standing in the UK, the powerful, athletic Hepsilon is sure to be busy in 2022, his third year of breeding. His dam, Heraldik Girl-W has already produced two international event horses and her sire, the legendary Heraldik, topped the WBFSH sire rankings for eventing for five consecutive years.
Described as the “British Glamourdale”, this striking young son of Lottie Fry’s 2018 seven-year-old world champion stallion, who recently scored over 80% at international grand prix, has plenty to get dressage breeders excited. Under Elly Darling, Lestingdale topped the four-year-old championship at the NEXGEN Young Horse Series in 2020 and is now frequently scoring plus-70% at elementary, having been crowned elementary freestyle regional champion in 2022. His first year at stud was 2020, and three of his foals born in 2021 were awarded gold premium status.
Britannia’s Bijou (Littledale Bright Star x Mr Big Cat xx)
Out of Bella’s Britannia – one of four embryo transfer daughters of Lucinda Fredericks’ legendary eventing mare Headley Britannia – this young stallion is already showing exciting ability under saddle. His sire is top pony stallion Littledale Bright Star, who is only 12.2hh but has sired international progeny in all three Olympic disciplines. Bijou received gold premium status in the 2020 Futurity series and also from the Sports Pony Studbook Society (SPSS). He enjoyed a successful 2021 in showjumping, eventing and four-year-old classes, and will continue his sport career in 2022 alongside covering mares.
A son of the 2020 Bundeschampion Secret, whose sire is none other than the triple world champion Sezuan, this exciting young stallion standing in Britain this year has performance running through his veins. Sequoia is out of Kiss, a daughter of the Olympic dressage horse Imperio and whose Trakehner line has produced many generations of successful stallions.
‘It was a lovely sight when both mares started foaling one after the other’
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