Breeding brilliance: The rise of the Knabstrupper in South Africa

With their striking coats, intelligent temperaments, and surprising versatility, the Knabstrupper has long turned heads—but in South Africa, they’ve remained a rare sight. That’s changing rapidly thanks to A Spot of Elegance Stud, whose dedication to quality breeding, education, and visibility has helped this unique Danish Warmblood breed gain recognition in the show ring and beyond.

Following the most recent KNN inspection and a series of exceptional results, HQ caught up with Anlé Hartley, founder of A Spot of Elegance, to learn more about their journey—from importing the first Knabstruppers to building a stud that’s now recognised as one of the top outcross breeding programmes in the world.

A Spot of Elegance Stud

HQ: What inspired you to choose Knabstruppers and found A Spot of Elegance Stud?

Anlé: If you can believe it, it was an encyclopedia of horses that I was gifted that led me to choose Knabstruppers! I was casually paging away when I spotted (pardon the pun!) what looked like an Appaloosa, but seemed too tall and too densely boned. A quick read revealed that this was, in fact, a Knabstrupper. I delved into some research on the breed, and I found myself increasingly intrigued not only by their beautiful coat colours but also by their temperaments.

My folks and I hopped on a plane shortly after to visit the UK and decided to combine the visit with a trip to a few stud farms there to meet this breed. Love at first sight has never felt more real! Every single one of the 30-odd horses we met on that trip was friendly, inquisitive and had such a beautiful energy about them. It was decided, on that very trip, that we would breed these wonderful horses so that more people could experience their amazing qualities. They had to be shared with South Africa!

About the breed

HQ: For those unfamiliar with the breed, what makes the Knabstrupper unique, beyond the striking spotted coat?

Anlé: For sure, their rarity makes them unique, but beyond that, it has to be their versatility. They can do it all and they can do it well. There are Knabstruppers all over the world who are participating in cross-country, dressage, endurance, gymkhana, showjumping, and even driving! The fact that they also come in all sizes is unique to them – they range from miniature to over 17 hands high.

HQ: How do their temperaments and trainability compare to other Warmbloods or spotted breeds?

Anlé: I have found that they are not stubborn or ‘cold’  and their athletic ability is on par with that of our modern Warmbloods. They’re temperaments seem to be a bit more solid and unwavering than some Warmbloods, and they are incredibly intelligent. They seem to grasp what is being asked of them very, very quickly, which makes training fun, easy and very rewarding.

Breed awareness and numbers

HQ: Since the first Knabstrupper inspection in South Africa featured in HQ Magazine in 2019, how has the breed grown here?

Anlé: Since the last article, we have backed and produced a few of our Knabstruppers bred here at A Spot of Elegance Stud, and they are performing well in the competition arena. I think their unwavering temperament is what makes them such amazing horses for sport. They are so keen to learn and please that no task is too much for them.

Breeding operations have also been carried out in full force since the last KNN inspection! It was a very proud moment for us as we reminisced about the three Knabstruppers (two foals and one stallion)  and three Warmblood mares we put forward for grading in 2019, after successfully presenting 13 Knabstruppers and two Warmblood mares this year. We are a very small stud with only one stallion currently in use, so these numbers are huge for us!

Our fellow Knabstrupper breeder and enthusiast, The Majestic Knabstrupper Stud, has also done incredibly well with their breeding programme. They presented 15 Knabstruppers this year!

HQ: How many Knabstruppers are now registered in the country, and how has awareness of the breed changed since your initial imports?

Anlé: To my knowledge, there are roughly 37 registered Knabstruppers in South Africa, and it is a VERY rare breed! I believe that the fact that our Knabstruppers are now visible in the competition arena has had a significant impact. This largely unknown breed had no conclusive evidence to prove it was suitable for sport or that its temperament was as good as its breeders claimed. Now that they are being seen out and about and achieving great results, I am finding that more and more inquiries are coming in about our horses. Their spotty colour also doesn’t seem to bother most as much as it did when we started breeding. Perhaps spots are trending; if they’re not, we’ll make them so!

Performance in the sport

HQ: You mentioned that some of your horses are now active in the competition arena. What disciplines are they competing in, and how have they been received?

Anlé: Currently, most of our horses are competing in dressage. I am not a showjumper myself (too much of a scaredy cat!), but when some of our horses come of age, they will absolutely be taking on the jumping scene.

In terms of their reception, it has been an educational process for both spectators and judges. We’ve had to explain that they are not Appaloosas, but actually a rare breed of spotted horse, the Danish Warmblood. Other than that, they do turn heads, and I think because they are doing so well, more people are starting to become open to the idea of owning a spotted horse.

HQ: Are there particular riders or horses that are helping to showcase the breed’s talent in South Africa that you would like to tell us about?

Anlé: Our first born, Elegant Dazzling Deisy, who is my absolute world, is my dressage partner. Together, we have progressed from the Walk/Trot level and are now competing successfully at the Medium level. We were all a bit blown away by how quickly she took to the work and how easy she finds it.

Her full sister, Elegant Dizzy Miss Lizzy, was backed earlier this year by our work rider and team member, Lauren Miller, and also found the whole riding process a lot of fun. She is already competing in Walk/Trot classes and scoring well over 70% in these.

We have sold some horses who are competing at lower-level dressage and doing very well. Perhaps the best thing for a breeder is to hear how much fun the owners and riders are having on them and how safe they feel on them at shows.

The recent breed inspection

HQ: Can you tell us more about the recent 2024 inspections and gradings in Cape Town? What was the purpose and process?

Anlé: To say the admin involved before this inspection was a mammoth task is an understatement! Each and every Knabstrupper must have had its birth registered, been vet checked and microchipped as a foal, DNA tested to verify parentage, and the breeder/owner must be a paid-up member of the KNN to have their horses presented.

The purpose of the grading is to confirm the suitability of mares, fillies, stallions and colts for future breeding endeavours in terms of continuing the breed standards of the KNN, as well as for stallions to obtain their breeding license. The grading of youngstock intended for sale is also done in an attempt to serve as further proof to potential buyers that they are purchasing a horse of outstanding quality that conforms to the breed standards of the KNN. The value of the horses also increases as a result of their successful grading.

The process of the grading of foals and youngstock is as follows:

• Horses are stood up to have their conformation assessed. A mark out of 10 is given for type, frame and limbs.
• They are then walked and trotted in hand, with foals alongside their dams and youngstock on their own, after which they are turned loose to show loose movement. A mark is awarded for movement, and an overall mark is given where all the marks are taken into consideration.

To grade mares and outcross mares, the process is as follows:

• Mares and outcross mares (those are mares of a permitted breed that may be used to breed Knabstruppers) are graded in the same manner as foals and youngstock, with there being a few more areas they are marked: type, head and neck, shoulders and withers, topline and hindquarters, front limbs, hind limbs.

To assess stallions for their two-year breeding license, the process is as follows:

• Stallions must be presented for a two-year breeding licence before they can participate in their one-day performance test, which is conducted when they are a minimum of four years old. Their grading is the same as that of mares, with the addition of a mark out of 10 for veterinary inspection and a loose jumping phase where they are awarded a mark out of 10 for jumping technique and for jumping potential.

We had two of our mares, Elegant Dazzling Deisy and Elegant Dizzy Miss Lizzy,  complete the rigorous Day One Performance Test on the final day of grading. This test is the same as the stallion one-day performance test; however, we opted to exclude the showjumping phase. This test takes the following form:

• The showjumping phase starts with a loose jumping phase, where the horses are required to jump a lane of three jumps, up to 1m in height. A mark is given for technique, potential and behaviour.
• Thereafter, they are presented under saddle for a dressage display and awarded a mark for walk, trot, canter and behaviour. They are then immediately ridden by a test rider who has never ridden the horses before. They then give the horse a mark for rideability and potential. The guidelines from the KNN indicate that a mark of 9 or 10 for potential suggests that the horse has the potential for international competition.
• Once the dressage phase is complete, they are presented for a gruelling endurance phase: 500m at the walk within five minutes, 2500m at trot within ten minutes and 1000m at canter within two minutes. 0.1 points are deducted for every second over the allowed time, and a score is given for behaviour and willingness. Once complete, riders immediately dismount, and a veterinarian quickly steps in to measure their heart rate and breathing rate. After a 10-minute walk in hand, the vet re-measures the heart rate and breathing rate, and a mark is given for recovery and behaviour during the vet inspection.
• The total mark for the test is out of 1000, and for mares and geldings, a minimum score of 650 is required.

Our girls did a stellar job and scored 870,71 and 825, respectively. We opted to conduct the performance test with them as further proof of their rideability and to provide assurance to anyone who may purchase their future offspring.

The results of the grading of our foals, youngstock and mares were also impressive; all our horses scored First Premium (an overall mark of 8, 9 or 10), and our young stallion was awarded his two-year breeding license. As a small stud, these results mean so very much!

HQ: How did the South African-born horses perform compared to international expectations or breed benchmarks?

Anlé: The three Danish judges complimented us on the top-class mares we selected and told us that we were considered one of the best outcross Knabstrupper breeding programmes worldwide! This was a huge accolade for us! We are very limited with our choice of Knabstrupper mares locally, so we rely heavily on our selection of mares of a permitted breed for outcrossing, so imagine our delight to be told we have selected well.

As far as our locally bred Knabstruppers’ grading results, they are absolutely on par with those seen internationally, and the results serve to prove that, in terms of breed standards, we are on track and doing well.

HQ: What are your breeding goals in terms of temperament, movement, and sporthorse aptitude?

Anlé: Though we don’t officially have a slogan, it may as well be: “Temperament first, movement and ability are a bonus”.  We have chosen our mares so well, though, that our horses seem to all have above-average movement, proving again how vital your mares are to a breeding programme.

Their beautiful temperaments enhance their aptitude for sports; they truly try their hearts out and enjoy challenges.

Challenges and opportunities

HQ: What have been some of the challenges of developing a rare breed in a country where they were relatively unknown originally?

Anlé: Having a very limited choice of Knabstrupper mares locally meant that we had to import in order to breed more purebred Knabstruppers. This obviously added a huge expense to the operation. We are now facing a similar scenario where we need to add new blood to our breeding programme, but we will have to import again in an effort to create a bigger gene pool and bring some new lines into South Africa.

The public and judges mistaking them for Appaloosas has also been quite a challenge. There seemed to be a prejudice that they weren’t athletic, and we also found that judges often judged them as Appaloosa, especially in the showing ring. This, of course, meant they didn’t score well, as the conformation and breed standards of the Appaloosa are vastly different from those of the Knabstrupper.

Support

HQ: What support structures helped you grow the stud and promote the breed locally? Is there anyone you’d like us to thank on your behalf in the magazine?

Anlé: Without a doubt, the input, guidance and knowledge of Jaco Fourie have been pivotal in the quality of the horses we breed, the growth of our stud, the reputation we have and the quality of the production that goes into our ridden horses.

Jaco has been my coach for many, many years, and the transition to friend, sounding board, and advisor was a seamless one. Our core values as a Stud aligned so beautifully, and what we lacked in knowledge, Jaco made up for. His talent as a remarkable coach ensures that the schooling we provide for our horses is of the highest standard, and we are giving our horses the best chance at a long, healthy, and sound competitive career.

Of course, A Spot of Elegance would not exist were it not for the undying support and enthusiasm from my Mom and Dad, Rólana and Trevor Hartley. From day one, they were as excited as I was about this breed, and they constantly fund ideas to help grow awareness of our Stud. They even get stuck into the dirty work and are both always there when the foals are born, ready to help and prepared to share in that moment of pride when both foal and mare are safe.

Our two freelance work riders, Lauren Miller and Jamie Behrens, have also played a significant role in growing our public awareness. These two ladies are absolute professionals at social media! Any business knows that a social media following is crucial for growth. Not only do they keep the public informed about our activities, but they also breed and care for our horses, treating them with the same care and affection as if they were their own. They are an asset to this stud, and we are so privileged to have them be part of the Elegant Family.

Future goals

HQ: What’s next for A Spot of Elegance Stud — in terms of breeding plans, sport partnerships, or promotion?

Anlé: A trip to Denmark to hunt for some new mares to add to our stud is in the cards for the near future, and perhaps we will find another stallion to add to the herd.

As for promotion, we initiated an effort here in the Western Cape three years ago to not only promote our stud but also to grow the sport of dressage. It also allows our riders to perfect their freestyles before showcasing them at SA Champs. We call it The Dancing Dressage Series, and it is a series of three shows that offer freestyle classes, where riders earn points. At the end of the three legs, the overall winner of each respective group wins a cash prize of R8000.

I hope that this series, along with the awareness of our stud and our horses, will grow to become even bigger! More prize money, more prizes, international judges, riders attending from all over the country and ultimately, the most fun had at a show!

HQ: How can people interested in the breed learn more about it?

Anlé: Readers can visit www.knabstrupper.dk for more information on the breed’s history, the breed standard, and additional interesting details. For those interested in our Spot of Elegance horses, please follow us on social media to keep up to date with breeding events, births, show results and general news. On Facebook, we’re at A Spot of Elegance Stud, and on Instagram, our handle is @a_spot_of_elegance_stud.

HQ: Finally, what do you wish more people knew about Knabstruppers?

Anlé: That they are just as good as the Warmbloods with the fancy bloodlines, and they DO sometimes have solid coat colours! So if the spots aren’t your thing, no problem. Though spots are in right now, so get yours now to stay trending…

Thanks so much, Anlé! We wish you all the very best and hope to hear of a successful trip to Denmark in the near future.