12 stallions standing in Britain that breeders need on their radar *H&H Plus*

We take a look at some of the best stallions across the disciplines that are standing in Britain at the moment...

Je T’Aime Flamenco (Flamenco De Semilly x Landetto)

This former international showjumper has continued to prove the strength in his bloodlines, having triumphed in no fewer than seven grands prix around the world, under Ireland’s Billy Twomey. He passes on his scope and careful jumping technique to his offspring, who include the eight-year-old J’Adore Flamenco, a winner of multiple titles as a young horse who later sold at Goresbridge for €130,000.

Age: 21
Studbook: Belgian warmblood
Stud fee: £900 + VAT stallionai.co.uk

Durable (Spielberg x Tango)

Having made a very successful grand prix debut with Nikki Barker in 2020, and going on to score almost 72% at the Grand Prix National Championships in December, this impressive, powerful dressage stallion looks set to prove a real asset to British breeding. Among his current stock, which he stamps with trainability and temperament, is the 2019 novice freestyle winter national champion Dan Icarus, also a regional champion at elementary last year.

Age: 13
Studbook: KWPN
Stud fee: £1,350 — contact Nikki Barker on 07775 811918

Woodlander Double Bubble (Don Frederic x Rousseau)

This huge-moving young stallion is as impressive as his pedigree would suggest. Don Frederic was champion of his licensing and has produced 33 licensed sons, while damsire Rousseau is the sire of the famous Blue Hors Zack. With expressive paces and a talent for the collected work, Double Bubble looks to have the ability to make it to the top of the sport, and is now in training with British-based Portuguese international rider Luis Principe.

Age: seven
Studbook: British Warmblood Society
Stud fee: £500 woodlanderstud.com

Timolin (Totilas x Sion)

A son of the legendary Totilas, this elegant, athletic stallion is turning heads as both an eventer and a dressage horse — now competing successfully at inter II. He already has several offspring that have been awarded Elite status within the Futurity scheme — they have all inherited his super paces, conformation and presence.

Age: 10
Studbook: British Warmblood Society
Stud fee: From £1,000 catherstonstud.com

Ashdale Legend (Luidam x Lux Z)

Credit: ACP Andreas Pantel

A son of the great Luidam, Billy Twomey’s winning grand prix and Nations Cup horse, Ashdale Legend also boasts the Olympic showjumper Lux Z, winner of over €1m in prize money, as his damsire. This young jumping stallion is already competing internationally himself and proving to be brave and scopey, with super technique.

Age: eight
Studbook: AES
Stud fee: £600 stallionai.co.uk

Gemini’s Classic Opera (Classic Primitive x Weltmeyer)

A champion show horse as a three-year-old and Cuddy finalist at Horse of the Year Show, Classic Opera is a true multi-discipline sire, whose full brother, The Classic Composer, events at CCI4*. Classic Opera comes from superior eventing line: his grandsire is Chico’s Coy — sire of Gemma Tattersall’s Bramham CIC3* winner Chico Bella P. His progeny are also making waves on the showing circuit, with 13 county level wins in 2019.

Age: nine
Studbook: SHBGB
Stud fee: £850 thegeministud.com

Britannia Royal (Royaldik x Jumbo)

Age: eight
Studbook: SHB(GB)
Stud fee: £650 britanniaroyal.co.uk
Britannia Royal is not only a good-looking, modern stallion with 70% thoroughbred blood, but is also a son of the Olympic silver medal-winning mare Headley Britannia, who won Badminton, Burghley and Kentucky during her career with Lucinda Fredericks. He is eventing at intermediate level himself, finishing sixth on his last outing at the level, and passes on his calm, trainable temperament to his progeny.

U-Genius (Uthopia x Negro)

Dressage bloodlines don’t come much better than that of U-Genius, the son of Carl Hester’s Olympic gold medallist Uthopia and whose dam is Weidyfleur II — the full sister to double Olympic champion and multiple record holder Valegro. U-Genius has been competed lightly up to advanced medium, with scores up to 74%, and has already sired several high-quality offspring.

Age: 10
Studbook: AES
Stud fee: £1,500 contact Claire Hester on 07803 303548

Murka’s Gem (Good Twist x Noble Jay)

This 10-year-old stallion is a hugely exciting clone of one of the most successful showjumpers of all time, Gem Twist — a double Olympic silver medallist and winner of more than €800,000 in prize money. The full thoroughbred Murka’s Gem boasts an identical genetic profile to Gem Twist and, although he will not compete himself, he has shown himself to be a talented, careful jumper with a great work ethic.

Age: 10
Studbook: AES
Stud fee: £800+VAT stallionai.co.uk

Kippure Lancelot (Frederiksminde Hazy Merlin x Thunder Bay)

An exciting, well-built pony stallion standing 147cm, who boasts a super competition record across the disciplines, including standing reserve champion Connemara stallion at the Royal Dublin Horse Show; he is currently jumping at Foxhunter. He also has an impressive number of champion and premium foals among his offspring.

Age: 15
Studbook: SPSS
Stud fee: £400 barrowbyconnemaras.co.uk

Comfort (Christian x Last Liberty)

This elegant, athletic stallion, by 1.60m showjumper Christian and from a proven damline, already has an international victory under his belt, winning a 1.25m age class on the Sunshine Tour in 2019. A two-year-old son of his also sold for €60,000 that same year. Comfort is now based in the UK, where he is currently jumping 1.30m, with plans to step up to 1.45m in 2021.

Age: eight
Studbook: Oldenburg
Stud fee: £800 cauntonmanorstud.com

Don Dante (Dancier x Salvano)

By Jon Stroud Media

A successful competitor, Don Dante was national champion at medium in 2014, and made his international debut in 2018 at small tour, with good placings. In 2020 he stepped up to grand prix, ridden by Owen Cooper. His progeny, the oldest of which are seven this year, have shown talent in dressage, eventing and showing, with Don Divine scoring 9.5 for trot, canter and frame in the 2018 Futurity assessments.

Age: 14
Studbook: BHHS
Stud fee: £750 strattonstud.co.uk

Don’t miss part one of the Horse & Hound sport horse breeding special, out on 18 February, for more information and features on stallions and breeding

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