Top UK Competition Stallions Parade

At Horse View UK in recent months, we have written and highlighted some of the top thoroughbred stallions standing at stud in the UK, In this article we look at some of the top sport horse stallions based in the UK. At Addington, the British Breeding Federation put on a display of about 90 stallions in association with the Competition Stallion publication. Each stallion was given five minutes to show off their paces in the arena. Spectators were also invited to meet and discuss the stallions with the owners in the stables. The event was sponsored by Baileys Horse Feeds once again. This annual event attracts quite a large audience, but many thought that numbers were down a little on previous years.

In our opinion, the stallions presented, were not necessarily the best available in the UK, (except of course Big Star) as the majority were very young and so had neither had the time to do anything themselves in the competition arena nor have any progeny of note. However, what they all had was superb blood lines and all looked the part. Without doubt, the stallions on show have all got the breeding and paces to become top competition horses in their own right as well as being sires of future top horses.

In the list below, we have picked out, in our opinion, were the best stallions on show. This does not mean the others were not worth looking at – quite the opposite – but the ones we have listed are those which in the main have achieved success themselves or produced progeny of note. They appear in alphabetical order.

The show itself was very well run and many commented that it was a pity that the audience, despite being invited on several occasions to join in with applause and participation – didn’t – which made the displays seem rather flat. However, in the stables though, there was a real buzz.

Our Selection of Stallions

Big Star (KWPN)

This is the stallion of the show. He is not placed first in the list because of this, although it is quite reasonable he should, but he is the earliest in the alphabet in our list. Big Star is the current Olympic Champion Showjumper. He won Individual Gold Medal at the Rio Olympics in 2016 with Nick Skelton CBE on board. He was also Olympic Team Gold Medallist in London in 2012. In 2013, Big Star jumped 11 consecutive clear rounds for Great Britain in the Nations Cup series. In 2013, he won the Grand Prix of Aachen and two other 5 star events in Antwerp and Hamburg. He is by the most successful show jumping sire Quick Star out of a Nimmerdor mare, Jolanda. Big Star has few foals on the ground over four years old, but his progeny are very impressive so far including C Star WW, Babe W and Jay Star etc etc. Big Star was born in 2003. He stands 16.2HH and is based with Stallion AI Services

Caretino Glory (Belgian Warmblood)

This stallion is the oldest in our list as he was born in 1998. He is truly a sire for all the main equine disciplines. He has off-spring competing at the highest levels of eventing, show jumping and dressage. He was a champion at several venues as a youngster including Hickstead and HOYS. His best known progeny is arguably Liberty and Glory who competed with Tom Crisp at the 2019 Badminton Horse Trials scoring clears in the cross country and show jumping sections as well as several other CCI’s in Europe. Caretino Glory is by Cheenook out of Glorieuze. He stands 16.3HH and is based at the Brebdon Stud in Sussex.

El Thuder (Belgian Warmblood)

Born 2004, this stallion has performed at international level as has his offspring with some degree of success. He has a wonderful showjumping pedigree with Langraff appearing close up on the female side and Argentinus on the sire’s side. He was third in the Hickstead Speed Derby at only seven years old and was selected to represent the champion young horse classes as a 5,6 and 7 year old. He stands 16.2 HH and is at stud near Hickstead in Sussex.

Franz Ferdinand (Warmblood)

This stallion was born in 2012 and although he has not really achieved anything in his own right, he does have a magnificent pedigree. He is by Fuest Heinrich by Florestan and out of Elite Domnroeshen by Dimaggio. Dimaggio was the World Champion Young Dressage Horse. Furst Heinrich was also the World Champion Young Horse. Franz Ferdinand’s full sister was another Young Horse World Champion – Woodlander Farouche. As one would expect, with a pedigree stuffed full of world champions, Ferdinand completed his stallion testing with flying colours. He stands 16.3HH and is based at The Woodlander Stud near Worcester.

Future Gravitas (Trakehner X TB)

Born in 2010, this stallion has competed and won in both dressage and 2 star level eventing. Despite his relatively young age, he is the sire of several good winners in both the show ring and dressage circuit. He is by Grafenstoltz out of Juswith Genoa (Elite). Future Class Act and Flying Gravitas are just two of the champions he is father to among others. He stands at stud in East Yorkshire and is 16.2 HH.

Future Guilty Pleasure (Holsteiner X TB)

This is a very young stallion, born in 2016. He is on the list as he produced excellent results for his stallion performance at licensing with 9.5 for trot, 9.25 for canter and 9 for walk. He has good continental lines in his pedigree being by Levison and out of Future Guilty Secret who is dam of several top class horses and is sister to USA star eventer Winsom Andante, gold medallist at WEG and silver at the Olympics. He  stands at stud in East Yorkshire and is 16.3 HH.

Jamhoori (Thoroughbred)

This is a pure thoroughbred stallion born in 2008. He won seven times and ran 52 times – an astonishing record number of runs. Among his placings was over hurdles. He ran over distances from 6 furlongs to 2.1 miles. He is by Tiger Hill by Danehill out of Tanazie out of Cadeaux Genereux. His first crop were foals in 2019 and he stands 16.2 HH. He is at stud in North Wiltshire.

Je T’aime Flamenco (BWP)

Now retired, this 16.3HH stallion was ridden by Billy Twomey and won several showjumping CSI’s at 5 star level. He won at Valencia, Barcelona, Amsterdam, St Gallen and HOYS. As a youngster, he was national champion at the BSJA Festival and was reserve champion at Maulberge for the international six year olds. In 2009 and 2010, he was the leading money winner in the UK and Ireland. He as produced several international showjumpers including Kimba Flamenco, Quick J’aime and J’adore Salsa. He is by Flamenco De Semilly out of Quansie Van De Halhoeve. He is available by contacting Stallion AI Services.

Jonagold (Warmblood)

This stallion was born in 2014 and has a fantastic back pedigree with both Heatbreaker as his paternal grand sire and Burggraaff as his maternal grand sire. He is by Cidane out of Rosalina. Jonagold has won many championships including at Hickstead, Weston Lawns and Bicton. He stands 16.3 HH and is based in North Wiltshire. He has his first foals expected in 2020.

Kippure Lancelot (Connemara SSPS)

This is a Connemara pony stallion and has stood champion graded stallion for the SSPS in 2016. His progeny have continued his success as they have been placed well in Futurity classes including Barrowby Thunder Rebel and Barrowby Horizen, both who collected premium/gold status. He is by Frederiksminde Hazy Merlin out of Kippure Kim and stands 147 cms high. He is based in North Yorkshire.

Prometheus (British Sports Pony)

This little pony stallion is full of promise for the future. He is really a pony who thinks and behaves like a horse. Born in 2013, he had his first outings in 2017 and proved himself very versatile in eventing. In 2019, he also started to compete in dressage where in his first four outings, he was unbeaten. He is by Romulus out of A Pinch of Pepper and stands 14.2 HH and is registered SPSS Elite. He stands in Uckfield in East Sussex.

Sir Shutterfly (Hanoverian Verband)

One of the really exciting stallions in this group. Sir Shutterfly is full brother to the famous Olympic and WEG winning Shutterfly ridden by Meredith Michael Beebaum for Germany. Sir Shutterfly himself scored 10s in his licensing and qualified for the Bundeschampionat at five years old. He is by Silvio I who is by the very successful Sandro and out of Famm. He was born in 2002 and has bred many horses of note in the eventing world. He stands 16.2 HH and is based near Bristol.

Tiger Attack (British Sports Horse)

Tiger Attack was supreme in hand champion at all the top showing classes in the UK including The Cuddy Champion at HOYS three times. He has also  started eventing and qualified for the Mitsubishi Motors Cup at Badminton in 2018. He is obviously passing on his looks as he is sire of many champions – in 2019 in fact there were 25 of them with a further 4 as reserve champions. He stands 16.1 HH. He is by Dolphin Supreme out of Tiger Lily IV. He stands at Catherston Stud in Hampshire.

Timolin (British Warmblood)

He won several championships at shows as a youngster in hand including the Royal Bath and West and The Devon County show where her was Sports Horse Champion on both occasions. He has also competed successfully at dressage winning the Blue Chip Championship and in eventing more recently has collected two novice wins on his way to becoming an advanced eventing horse. His progeny have been successful in that he has no less than 10 off-spring given elite status in the young horse Futurity classes together with several individual champions. Tomolin is by Totilas out of Samira and stands 16.3HH. He is based at Catherston Stud in Hampshire.

Waldo Van Dungen (Warmblood)

This stallion was born in 2003 and also has a great showjumping pedigree with Concorde and Voltaire and Polydor on the dam’s side and Chin Chin and Constant on the sire’s side. He is by Tolano Van Reohof out of Okra. Waldo’s progeny have excelled in 5 star CSI showjumping classes and has a particularly promising eventer with Piggy French – Emerald Jonny – who was reserve champion at the World Breeding Eventers Championships in Lion d’Angers as a six year old.He stand 16.3HH and is based at stud in North Wiltshire.

Welton Double Cracker (15/16 Thoroughbred)

This stallion was born in 2000 and is registered with the SHB. He is by the thoroughbred and prolific long distance horse Double Trigger out of Baby Welton. He was successful at national and international eventing and has passed on his abilities to his off spring. He is 16.1HH and stands at the West Kington Stud on Wiltshire.

Woodlander Sir Gorgeous (Hanoverian X Welsh)

This pony stallion is a Hannoverian X Welsh stallion. He was born in 2012 and as a foal was awarded an Elite Primium. He qualified for British Dressage Pony Championship in 2016 where he became reserve Champion. He is currently competing at advanced level of dressage and has qualified for BD winter Championships in 2020. He is by Santana who on turn is by Sir Donnerhall and is out of Synod Galina. He is 14.3HH and is based at The Woodlander Stud near Worcester.

Woodlander Wavavoom (Warmblood)

As a young horse, this stallion has won and been champion of several young horse competitions in the UK. He was reserve champion in the Shearwater British Dressage 5 year old Championships. He is Life Approved by the Bundeschampionat in Germany and since competing in dressage classes he has gained 86% at Advanced Medium level – quite an achievement for such a young horse. He has already got several progeny of note including Woodlander Wild Child a double Futurity Elite horse and was supreme champion foal. Woodlander Wavavoom was born in 2008 and stand 16.1HH. He is by Weltregent H whose sire if the great Weltmeyer himself. Wavavoon is out of St Pr Louisiano who is by Longchamp. His close pedigree has both World Cup and Donnerhall, well recognised top dressage horses. He is based at The Woodlander Stud near Worcester.

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