An event rider and producer is hoping to change the way performance horses are bought and sold in Scotland with the launch of a new auction.

Sonya Cunningham, owner of Rockrose Equestrian Centre, East Lothian, is hosting the first Scottish Sports Horse Auction, in partnership with Caledonian Marts, on 30 September.

Sonya told H&H she came up with the idea having been to auctions in Ireland in the past, and she believes that the current sales system in Scotland is “broken” for both buyers and sellers.

“I think auctions are a fantastic way to buy and sell horses, and we don’t have anything like it here for performance horses,” she said.

“You might get the occasional dispersal sale where a riding school has closed down for example, but to my knowledge there aren’t any auctions for competition horses in Scotland or the north of England – or places to go and see more than one or two horses unless you go to a dealer’s yard. It’s difficult for private sellers and small-time producers to get people to come up here – the minute you put Scotland on an advert everyone says it’s too far.

“We’ve got some great horses here so I thought let’s get them in one place, and make it worthwhile for people to come and see them.”

There are 30 horses registered for the auction, including yearlings and youngstock, and competition horses across the disciplines.

“The day will be organised to give buyers plenty of time to watch the horses being ridden and also to try them out. The auction itself will be later in the day with the option to bid online if required,” said Sonya.

“All the horses will be inspected by a vet on arrival, and vendors are strongly encouraged to bring full vetting certificates and x-rays as appropriate. It’s as much about educating people how to sell at auction as how to buy.”

Sonya said the auction is open to spectators.

“Even if you aren’t intending to buy, we are encouraging people to come, enjoy the day and learn how the system works to build confidence in future auctions. It’s a fantastic environment to network with breeders, producers, friends and other professionals in the industry,” she said.

“We hope in the future to build on this and host auctions with 50-60 horses, either quarterly or six-monthly. I buy almost all my horses at auction now, including my current three-star eventer. Auctions work brilliantly in most other countries and are a fantastic, and thoroughly enjoyable, way to buy or sell a horse.”

View the auction catalouge.

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Sandro Hit has topped the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horses (WBFSH) dressage sire rankings for the first time – as Chacco-Blue retains his title in the showjumping rankings for a fifth consecutive year.

Oldenburg stallion Sandro Hit, who died in August from an infection aged 28, moved up the from third place in 2020. Former leader Johnson is now 2nd, and Jazz is third. While Sandro Hit has been in the top three since 2016, he has never taken the top spot before.

Bred by Reinhold Harder, Sandro Hit was bought by Paul Schockemöhle at auction in 1993. He went on to have more than 200 licensed sons, including top breeding stallions San Amour, San Remo and Sir Donnerhall I, and also has more than 490 daughters who have been awarded state premium status – including Poetin, the world champion and double Bundeschampion.

“Our celebration of the breeding achievements of the great Sandro Hit is tinged with a little sadness, as he passed away only days after we witnessed outstanding performances by his progeny at this year’s Tokyo Olympics, which saw the entire US dressage team mounted on horses that were either direct descendants, or grandsons. On the gold winning German team, we enjoyed a wonderful performance of Showtime FRH under the saddle of Dorothee Schneider, with Salvino, ridden by Adrienne Lyle, helping to secure silver for the US team,” said a WBFSH spokesman.

“In this year’s rankings we encounter his genetics twice more in the top 10 with his son Sir Donnerhall I in fourth and his grandson Spielberg in eight.”

Chacco-Blue, sire of Tokyo Olympic champion Explosion W, has retained his top spot in the showjumping sire rankings for the fifth consecutive year. Diamant De Semilly takes second place, and Casall is third. Bred by Karl-Heinz Köpp, the Mecklenburger stallion Chacco-Blue by Chambertin out of a Contender mare was the most represented stallion at the Tokyo Olympics with five offspring.

Selle Francais stallion Jaguar Mail climbed to the top of the eventing sire rankings from third. Diarado remains in second and last year’s leader Grafenstolz is now third. By Hand in Glove XX out of a Ladanum X mare, Jaguar Mail’s offspring include Andrew Hoy’s Olympic team silver and individual bronze medal-winning ride Vassily de Lassos and Austin O’Connor’s Olympic ride Colorado Blue.

You might also be interested in:

‘He was something very special’: legendary stallion dies following an infection

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A leading figure in the sport horse breeding world has died following a short illness.

Richard Matson was the senior partner at the pioneering Twemlows Stud in Shropshire, which this year was at the centre of the return of specialist test-tube technology to the UK.

A well-known and respected member of the equestrian community, Mr Matson was involved in the running of a number of major equine bodies.

He was a panel judge for the Sport Horse Breeding Society of Great Britain, a council member of the British Horse Foundation and until recently, was vice-chairman of the National Equine Forum (NEF).

In March this year, he was among eight others to become the first honorary fellows of the NEF.

As well as his involvement in the equestrian world, Mr Matson was also a vice-president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England and honorary treasurer for many years.

In recent years, he became chairman of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust — a charity that was was always close to his heart.

Mr Matson hunted all his life and was a former master of the Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn’s.

He enjoyed breeding his own hunters and seeing them cross the country.

Michael Clayton, former editor of Horse & Hound, paid tribute to him.

“Richard inherited his parents’ talents in selecting and producing some of the best hunters you would find anywhere,” he said.

“He was devoted to improving the quality of British riding horses and made a great contribution to this cause.

“He was one of the keenest hunting men, thoroughly appreciating the scope offered by the wonderful Wynnstay country.

“I was indeed fortunate to be so well mounted by the Matson family on my visits made in the course of my visits as a hunting correspondent writing Foxford’s Hunting Diary.”

Originally a traditional livestock farmer, Mr Matson diversified away from farming and into equine in 1990.

He kept a close interest in farming through his connections with Harper Adams University College, of which he was chairman of governors from 1994-1999.

He was also awarded fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies.

Mr Matson died on 11 December.

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The breeders of British gold medal-winning dressage star Valegro have been honoured at an international awards ceremony — for the third year running.

The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) celebrated the breeders of the top dressage, showjumping and event horses of the year on 12 December in Geneva.

Martje and Joop Hanse, who bred Valegro, won the WBFSH Rolex breeder rankings dressage prize for a third consecutive year.

The Dutch couple sent their mare, Maifleur (by Gershwin), to the stallion Negro in 2001 and the result was Valegro.

Negro’s owner, Gertjan van Olst, bought the now dressage superstar and prepared him for the KWPN stallion show where he was spotted by Carl Hester in 2004.

The dark bay gelding — owned by Carl, Roly Luard and Anne Barrott — went on to win team and individual gold with Charlotte Dujardin at the London 2012 Olympics.

Since then, he has won both grand prix and the grand prix special titles at the 2013 and 2015 European Dressage Championships and individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in 2014.

He beat his own world record in the grand prix special at Olympia in 2014 scoring 93.4% and also won his second World Cup in Las Vegas in April.

Valegro will not be at Olympia this week, but is being aimed for the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The prize for the breeders of the number one showjumping horse went to Belgium’s Willy Taets for Hello Sanctos.

Sanctos and his rider, Scott Brash, made showjumping history this year when they became the first combination to win the Rolex Grand Slam — winning the grands prix at Geneva, Aachen and Spruce Meadows consecutively.

By the international jumping stallion Quasimodo vd Molendreef, Hello Sanctos was bred out of Nasia van het Gravenhof (by Nabab de Rêve) in 2002.

His grand dam, Balin, was bought by Mr Taets in 1978 and he also evented her.

Hello Sanctos, who also won team gold at London 2012, is owned by Lord and Lady Harris and Lord and Lady Kirkham.

Taking the award for breeding this year’s top event horse was Dr Rolf Lück for Ingrid Klimke’s European team gold medal-winning ride Horseware Hale Bob.

The 11-year-old gelding, by Helokon xx, won Pau CCI4* in 2014 and this year has been runner-up at Badminton, Luhmühlen CIC3* and Aachen CICIO3*.

His dam, Goldige, is by Noble Champion xx.

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A new saddle study has shown an unexpectedly high degree of lameness in sport horses — with nearly half of those assessed being lame or stiff.

Dr Sue Dyson, head of clinical orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and Line Greve, a PhD student, looked at 506 working sport horses. They were all assumed by their owners to be sound.

The horses were videoed in-hand and ridden, including in 20m circles in both trot and canter. The study showed 46% of horses were lame or had a stiff, stilted canter.

Dr Dyson said she was “shocked” by the results.

Saddle slip occurred in 12% of all the horses studied — mainly in those with hind limb (30%) as opposed to forelimb lameness (5%).

“The results showed that horses with hindlimb lameness and gait abnormalities are more than 50 times more likely to have saddle slip than other horses,”said Line Greve.

With nearly half of those studied being lame, Ms Greve said many horses with lameness “are clearly going unnoticed”.

She added that the study shows further education of riders and trainers is needed to help them identify saddle slip as an indicator of lameness.

The new study reinforces previous research published in 2012, which showed hindlimb lameness is often the cause of saddle slip (news, 25 October 2012 and vet, 13 December 2012).

That study, carried out on horses at the AHT, concluded the saddle consistently slipped to the side in 54% of horses with hindlimb lameness.

Anne Bondi, director of the Saddle Research Trust — which supported the AHT in both studies — says all riders should be aware their horses might not be as sound as they assume.

“Saddle slip can be an early warning of a problem with a horse,” she warned.

The full results of the study will be presented at the second Saddle Research Trust International Conference, held on 29 November at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge.

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Contender, one of the top stallions in the world, has died. Foaled in 1984, the Holstein sire would have celebrated his 30th birthday this year.

His showjumping progeny include Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum’s Checkmate 4, Nick Skelton’s former ride Carlo 273 and Ludger Beerbaum’s top mare Chiara 222.

Contender was one of the most influential sons of Calypso II — who was an advanced showjumper with Michael Rüping before retiring to stud.

He was out of the Ramiro daughter, Gofine, who was in turn by the great Thoroughbred sire, Ladykiller.

He was reserve champion at his 1986 licensing and won the 1987 Adelheidsdorf stallion performance test with a jumping index of 146.62.

He leaves behind 127 approved sons, including Contendro I.

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Respected Scottish sport horse breeder, Dugald Low-Mitchell died on 14 November. He was 91.

A former cattle farmer who set up Balcormo Stud in Fife in 1970, he was one of the first British breeders to import a Dutch warmblood colt. The stallion, Secundus, went on to sire top performers in every discipline.

An acknowledged artificial insemination expert, Dugald — whose first love was hunting — was a founder member and honorary president of the Scottish Sports Horse studbook.

He leaves a wife, Jacky, and daughters Sandra and Jennifer, who all competed at top level.

This article first appeared in H&H 28 November 2013.

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Horse & Hound’s 40-page sport horse special (part 2, on sale 7 April, 2011) includes an interview with Henk Minderman, the charismatic founder of the Anglo European Society; a feature that unravels common breeding myths; a behind-the-scenes look at Touchwood Stud’s stallions; why top riders choose particular breeding lines; what’s next for the competition warmblood; and why attention to detail is so important at Groomsbridge Stud.

Click on the image below to view the digital edition.

Owners of sports horses have the chance to compete in a new showing series this year, due to kick off in April.

The WINERGY Equilibrium Flat Ridden Sport Horse of the Year series, launched by the feed company and the Sports Horse Breeding Society, has been tailored specifically for sports horses that do not fit into a traditional ridden showing class.

In the series each competitor must elect a discipline — dressage, showjumping or eventing — and will be awarded a separate mark based on the horse’s suitability for the chosen discipline.

“There is no jumping involved,” explained Marian Eydmann of the Sport Horse Breeding Society, “but each competitor will perform an individual show, including a gallop.

“Marks will be divided between confirmation, quality of paces and their suitability for the chosen discipline.”

The series, which is open to four-, five- and six-year-olds, will feature 12 qualifying competitions held throughout the country, culminating at the national hunter supreme championship show at Addington Manor Equestrian Centre in September.

“The class has been very popular,” continued Marian. “In fact, we’ve had more shows wanting to host the competitions than we’ve had qualifiers available!”

Prize money will be offered to all those placed from 1st to 3rd, and to the highest placed four-year-old.

In addition, those placed from 1st to 6th will be able to take part in ‘WE is on trial’, a WINERGY Equilibrium feed trial which offers a month’s free feed in return for feedback.

For further information, visit www.sporthorsegb.co.uk

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Buyers and sellers of horses in the show jumping, eventing, dressage and leisure markets are being asked to help with a study of the sport horse breeds of Europe.

Karen Hennessy, an event rider, PhD student and lecturer at University College Dublin (UCD) is investigating the connections between people’s perceptions of Anglo Europeans, Belgian and Dutch Warmbloods, Hanoverians, Holsteiners, Irish Sport Horses and Selle Francais and their performances in the marketplace.

“A horse’s breed holds image associations among buyers within the industry such as being sound, being good jumpers, having a good temperament and so on,” explained Ms Hennessy.

“I’m looking at how people feel about those breeds — their perceptions of how the different sport horse breeds perform, what breeds form what percentage of the sport horse market and then what breeders get in return for their horses.”

To take part in the survey, which is anonymous, visit www.ucd.ie/equine by 31 May.

The questionnaire will take up to 20 minutes to complete, and all successfully completed surveys will be entered into a draw for a pair of tickets for either Burghley Horse Trials or Horse of the Year Show.

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The Danish Warmblood Elite Foal Auction in Denmark proved to be a great success with a record number of foals up for sale and some reaching record prices.

A total of 60 foals — many of which were regional show winners — went under the hammer on 6 September and more than 80% of them were sold.

A new overall price record was achieved with nine foals selling for over 100,000dkk, equivalent to £10,771.

Top prices went to dressage colt of the year Møllegårdens Attention by Abanos/Bøgelys Camaro/Loran who sold for 500,000 dkk (£53,855) and jumper colt of the year F.A. Cordeau by Colman/Quinar/Catago, who fetched the price of 400,000 dkk (£43,076). Both were sold to Tailormade Horses, Denmark.

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Although some super young horses went under the hammer at Brightwells European Sale of Show Jumpers at Addington Manor, Buckinghamshire (20 November), no records were broken this year. The top price was £31,000, with some bargains to be had for canny buyers, who included European visitors.

The horse who impressed a full house most did not appear in the catalogue at all. The three-year-old Hanoverian Classic, a tall, strong horse with a superb technique over a fence, was a wildcard entry.

There was strong competition for this Contendro stallion, whose damline is that of Paul Schockemohle’s great Deister, before he went to an anonymous local bidder.

Another German-bred horse, the two-year-old Holsteiner Capitall, impressed too and sold for £20,000. This strong Cassini I colt was light off the floor and showed huge scope.

The runner-up in the bidding stakes was another entire three-year-old. The flashy Casallo Z (by Casall out of a Carthago Z mare) is a lovely type with ample ability.

A big two-year-old Concorde colt, Acorde O was the subject of spirited bidding before being knocked down to an overseas buyer for £22,000.

Bidders had to wait until the end of the evening for the best mare. The three-year-old Westphalian Ilka, a daughter of the Selle Francais Its Me Du Mesnil, could have been a steal at £21,000.

The top gelding also went for £21,000. This was the Dutch-bred three-year-old Zantos (Cantos-Hamlet), who showed the biggest jump of the night.

Some horses failed to reach their reserve. These included a potential sales-topper Chabot Z (Calvino Z-Happy Wind D’Hof Bos) — unsold at £26,000.

Quainton Stud could have a good buy in Zingaro (Rash R-Grosso Z), who went for £10,000, while it would not be surprising to see the Quick Du Domaine-Atlantus mare Matildas Law at shows next year — a smart buy for international rider Lee Williams at £6,700.

This report was first published in Horse & Hound (3 January, ’07)

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An online breeding auction in aid of Breast Cancer will be launched on 14 February. The Breast Cancer Research Stallion Breeding Auction is the brainchild of Marie-Ann Davies who hopes to raise thousands of pounds for Breast Cancer Research.

“The grassroots horse world is predominantly female and the large majority of us are touched by breast cancer in some way every year,” explained Ms Davies. “I thought an auction would be an exciting way to raise money for Breast Cancer Research.”

The auction is largely centred round Arabian stallions – owners are invited to offer their stallion’s semen for auction. Each stallion will have an online page supplying potential bidders with photos and breeding details. Bids can be made online between the 14 February and 14 March.

Ms Davies has already received a large response: “We had 27 new stallions added in one week,” she explained. “It is impossible to say how much the auction will raise but with starting bids a minimum of £250, we are already looking at over £7000.”

For more information, to offer your stallion or to place a bid visit:

http://www.freewebs.com/stallionbreeding/index.htm

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John Lanni’s bidding arm was busy at the Brightwells’ elite show jumping sale. Buying for himself and Arena UK’s new properietors, Norman Oley and his daughter, Lauren Humphries, John secured five lots, including the highest-priced horse of the evening.

Valentaire O, a three-year-old by Voltaire — the stallion with the most offspring competing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics — out of the Damiro mare Halita, also attracted the attention of Sue Ricketts, who bid against John until he secured the gelding for £17,000.

The Dutch Warmblood will be produced for next year’s style and performance classes by John’s daughter, Sarah Watson, and Lauren Humphries.

“He has a lovely temperament,” said Sarah. “He’s a real ladies’ horse, with a proper jump.”

The connection between Voltaire’s former owner, Dutch vet and breeder Jan Greve, and John Lanni did not stop there. John secured a second lot for Norman and Lauren in Jan’s Warandasj, a two-year-old gelding by Karandasj out of a Frisbee Kerellec mare, for £5,800.

“We’ll start from the beginning before producing him for four-year-old classes in 2007,” said Sarah. “He’ll be a versatile horse who is going to do everything, not just be a show jumper.”

John snapped up another two-year-old, the Karendasj-Mytens gelding Wesko, for his son Matthew at £6,000. But geldings weren’t all John was interested in and the hammer fell in his favour for the Heartbreaker-Voltaire stallion Wady-Lady (£8,000) and the Calvados-Zeolite stallion Villeroy (£6,500).

“We’ve bought the two stallions with a view to starting a stud,” said Matthew Lanni, who is now based near Peterborough. “The value for money of these bloodlines is exceptional.”

Tom Restorick — who is in his last season of pony jumping — gained a new ride through the second highest-priced lot (£13,500), the Westphalian four-year-old Pilot Pur Of Kenia-Libero H gelding Pilot’s Pleasure, courtesy of new West Country owner Minster Tippers.

Former competitor Mark Pearce, of Minster Tippers, said: “Tom rode the horse and it went nicely for him. It also has good breeding. We’ve watched Tom all the way through ponies and we are hoping he’ll do some age classes next season with Pilot’s Pleasure.”

The bidding on the three-year-old Oklund stallion Verdi reached £29,000 but, unfortunately, this was just under the reserve. However, Verdi’s two-year-old full-brother Wessel was sold later in the day for £9,000.

This report was first published in Horse & Hound (8 December,’05)

Keystone Dimaggio moves to Germany

The former World Young Dressage Horse champion Keystone Dimaggio will stand at stud at Gestut Vorwerk in Cappeln, Germany, for the 2004 breeding season. Keystone Dimaggio, is by Don Primero and won the five-year-old division of the Young Horse World Championships in 2000 with his owner/rider Suzanne Davies.

Accondy stands in Wiltshire

Doreen Allison’s well-known Thoroughbred stallion, Accondy, will stand at West Kingston Stud, Wiltshire, for the 2004 season, where he will be available for AI and natural coverings. Mares are also welcome at Accondy’s home base at Summerhill Stud, Lanarkshire, for AI.

New British-bred young sire

Heidi Tronseck’s Lenski, who won the Rhinegold Six-Year-Old Potential Dressage Horse Championships at Hickstead last year, has had his semen frozen over the winter, in preparation for the forthcoming season. He will be competing at medium level this year.

German sire comes to Scotland

Romanno Stud in Lanarkshire has bought the top young German stallion Rubin Star from Paul Schockemöhle. The Oldenberg stallion is a son of Rubenstein I out of a Ramiro mare. He has competed to intermediate I level and headed his 100-day performance test. He will stand at Stallion AI Services in Shropshire for the coming season.

Ben Faerie’s line lives on

The genes of Diana Scott’s legendary stallion Ben Faerie, who sired Ginny Elliot’s top rides Nightcap and Priceless as well as Pippa Funnell’s European Championship ride Walk On Star, live on through Diana’s young stallion Ben’s Affaere. Ben’s Affaere is out of a Royal Vulcan-Spartan General mare and has winners in the show ring with his progeny expected to appear soon on the eventing circuit.

Sports Pony Studbook Society online

The new website for the Sports Pony Studbook Society, which was set up to identify ponies, irrespective of type or breeding, with the sporting talent to provide the UK with top class competition ponies, is now online at: www.sportpony.org.uk.

For more sport horse breeding news, see this Thursday’s issue of Horse & Hound (26 February).

Sport horse breeders can bid for semen from elite stallions, and support the work of British Breeding at the same time, by taking part in this year’s “silent auction” of stallion nominations.

Organised by Desi Dillingham, on behalf of the Supporters of British Breeding (SBB), 2004 will see the second run of the “silent auction”, which is sponsored by Stallion AI Services.

Desi told HHO: “Last year’s auction was a huge success and raised around £8,000. This year we have semen from many more stallions, including some who are not on the open market. Bids are already starting to come in and we are hoping that the auction will raise at least double last year’s total.”

The following stallion semen is open to bids until the auction’s closing date of 1 March:

Dressage

• Successful dressage pony, Aimbry Chester, donated by Trudy Goulding
• Top young German stallion, Diamond Hit, donated by Brookhouse Stud
• Successful young dressage horse and proven sire, Pro-Set, donated by Meadow Stud
• Number one in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) list of international dressage stallions, Wie Weltmeyer, donated by Brookhouse Stud

Eventing

• Advanced eventer, Catherston Liberator, donated by Catherston Stud
• Successful Thoroughbred event sire, Criminal Law donated by Louella Stud
• Sire of the champion event foal at the Brightwells 2003 Foal Show, Devil’s Jump, donated by Sporting Horse Stud
• Winner of the 2003 lifetime achievement event stallion award, Fleetwater Opposition, donated Landford Stud
• Advanced eventer, McGuigan, donated by Alistair Holder
• Advanced eventer, Mill Law, donated by Stallion AI Services
• Successful Thoroughbred sire of eventers, Miner’s Lamp, donated by Chris Hewlett
• Sire of top eventer and top British-bred horse in the 2002 young horse evaluation series, No Complaints, donated by Jane Poole
• Rarely available young event stallion, Rock King, donated by Sarah Bullen

Show Jumping

• Number three in WBFSH list of international show jumping stallions, Arko, (pictured) donated by John and Lisa Hales
• Top BHD ranking and sire of Carnavalley, Carnaval Drum, donated by Kevin Cooper
• Exciting young stallion, Najed, donated by Old Lodge Stud
• Number one in WBFSH list of international show jumping stallions, Parco, donated by World Class Stallions

Bids for a nomination to one, or more, of the above stallions should be sent to: Desi Dillingham, 16e Randolph Crescent, London. W9 1DR; (tel: 020 7286 6925); (fax 08701 3857500); (mobile: 07785 292103); (e-mail: desi@desidillingham.co.uk).

John and Jane Poole’s well-known sport horse stallion, No Complaints, has died after contracting colic.

The 13-year-old British-bred chestnut, a son of the Hanoverian Louella Inschalla II out of a Thoroughbred Solon Morn mare, was an international show jumper, winning numerous competitions and taking part in Nations Cup teams with Jackson Reed-Stephenson and Di Lampard.

He then successfully turned to eventing — his dam was closely related to Goodwill — before concentrating on his stud career.

He sired winners in all disciplines, including No Illusion, who was overall reserve champion in the inaugural young horse evaluation finals at last year’s HOYS.

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