Text: Amelia Campbell-Horne
Images: Crystal Baldwin Photography
The South African Warmblood Horse Society hosted its 14th annual Free-Jumping and Loose-Movement show in November at United Equestrian in Kyalami. With several young horses on display with a variety of interesting pedigrees, it was exciting to see what South African breeding has to offer.
Free-Jumping
In the Free-Jumping section, the two locally bred Candy de Nantuel offspring shone through, winning Champion and Reserve Champion Free Jumpers.
The Champion Free Jumper for 2023 was the two-year-old filly Martini Chilli Chocolatier (Candy de Nantuel x Argentinus x Drosselbart) owned and bred by Claire and Janet Martin of Martini Stud. Argentinus in the dam line has produced a variety of exceptional performers and broodmares in South Africa, including Callaho Casco Grey and Callaho Talana, who have Argentinus as their dam sire, as well as Martini Cortina, who is a half-sister to Chilli Chocolatier, who was the 2021 Champion Free-Jumper. The judges commented that this filly still has much more to show and that they look forward to seeing her in the future!
Martini Stud had an exceptional show, as they also picked up second place in the three-year-old Free-Jumping with homebred gelding Martini Ever Scott. Ever Scott is by Elvis ter Putte, a Belgian Warmblood (BWP) Ambassador, and out of Callaho For Scotty (For Joy x Crown Collection xx), which makes him a half-brother to Callaho Lariscott (Larison x For Joy), who currently leads the Gauteng Junior 1.30m rankings. Claire Martin liked this combination so much that she used it again and has an exceptional two-year-old filly, Martini Emiscott, at the stud.
Did you know?
To become an Ambassador for the BWP, the stallion himself or one of his offspring must have competed in the final of the World Equestrian Games or the Olympic Games. Alternatively, the stallion must have at least five offspring within the top 100 on the WBSHF Stallion Rankings.
Martini Stud also picked up third place in the two-year-old Free Jumping with Martini I’m Imperial Vella (Rivervale’s I’m All Yours x For Joy x Raphael). Rivervale’s I’m All Yours was a locally bred stallion and is by I’m Special de Muze. Another locally bred stallion by I’m Special du Muze with progeny on display was Diamond’s Incognito. He sired Saltash Infinity (Incognito x For Joy x Ubergabe), who was second overall in the two-year-old Loose Movement and was described as “uphill, elastic, elegant and balanced” by the judges.
The Reserve Champion Free Jumper was awarded to Anthon Hoek’s three-year-old filly, Cornerstone Countess de la Candy (Candy x Ulano van Lobos x Fedor). Once again, this filly displayed Candy’s canter and impressive jump. This filly’s dam sire is Ulano van Lobos, who is the sire of one of our World Cup Showjumping contenders, Ultimo WC, who competes with Shari Michaelis!
Did you know?
The stallion Candy de Nantuel (Luidam x Diamant de Semilly), at just eleven years old, is proving himself to not only be an exceptional showjumper, having placed at 1.55m with Penelope Leprevost but also has some exceptional progeny coming up the grades in Europe, with many of his six to seven-year-olds already jumping at the 1.35m level. According to GFE, he passes on his flexibility and canter to his offspring and produces better with mares with frame and size.
In second place in the two-year-old Free Jumping was the exciting young Emerald Van’t Ruytershof colt bred by Willow Stud; El Ghoku Z. Emerald is a son of Diamant de Semilly and the sire of I’m Special du Muze. He is also a BWP Ambassador, having competed in the Olympic Games in Brazil in 2016 and has nearly 40 progeny that have competed and won at 1.60m-1.70m. With El Ghoku’s sire and dam (MT Evolution) being striking chestnuts with white legs and faces, it is unsurprising that he looks just the same. The judges noted that he had a very balanced and rhythmical canter, which is just what you need for a future showjumping champion.
Willow Stud also presented Luigi’s Lad Z in the Under one-year-old Loose Movement. He is a half-brother to El Ghoku and by the up-and-coming stallion Luigi D’Eclipse (Catoki Calato). He received super scores and was described as having “an uphill and active canter, being well balanced and rhythmical with a strong hindquarter”. He is another top prospect for the future.
Another relatively new stud, Ancaro Warmblood Stud, was also well-represented at the event. The young stallion Ancaro’s Lorelock Claudius (Locarno Chaccoelo x Countdown x Contender), who was last year’s Champion Free Jumper, placed tied third in his class, with Anca’s filly Ancaro’s C’est La Vie (Cornet Damiro x Always One R x Belmondo). C’est La Vie holds a special place in owner and breeder Anca Roode’s heart as she competed her dam up to the 1.20m. It was also lovely to see that the stallion and mare were able to be transported together and came in together for their prizes; this speaks volumes of Claudius’ temperament and Ancara Stud’s management and handling of their young stock.
Douglas DC-3 also made an appearance, and this young stallion, who has certainly taken more than just his looks from his sire, Douglas M, impressed the judges and took home the prize for the best turned out. Congratulations to his groom, Thomas Maphuting, on winning this prize. Douglas M is a son of ARD VDL Douglas, who has produced several Olympic and World Championship Showjumpers, and his dam sire is Narcos II, who has also produced a multitude of top showjumpers and eventers and over 50 licensed progeny.
Douglas M was licensed by SAWHS in 2018 and, following his untimely retirement from the competition arena, was exported to Namibia, where he now stands at stud. Marlene Sinclair, one of his riders with whom he had great success, said, “I miss this boy! Throughout his career, he earned a reputation as one of the top showjumpers in South Africa. Sadly, due to an early injury, he peaked at 1.45m but had everything needed to be a successful 1.50m horse. His ability to navigate challenging courses with precision and courage made him a force to be reckoned with. Dougy’s focus and determination were unwavering. When the bell rang, he was only about his job. I’ve never experienced this level of competitiveness in a partner, in a horse.” DC-3’s dam, Gitana (Gipsy King du Coty x Davenport Peter Pan), presents some of South Africa’s finest bloodlines. SAWHS premium licensed Gipsy King himself competed successfully at A Grade with Debbie Adams and has produced several open jumpers in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Loose Movement
As for the Loose Movement, it was incredibly exciting to see the new dressage bloodlines available in South Africa. The four-year-old winner was the stallion Elangeni Dei Gratia. He is by the Olympic Team Bronze winning stallion Everdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro) out of a Flemmingh x Farrington mare. At just fourteen years old, Everdale already has 11 Grand Prix Progeny, including Imhotep, who has had several GP wins with Charlotte Dujardin this year. Flemmingh has also been an exceptional dressage sire, with over 100 progeny competing at PSG and above. This young colt, who was described as “a very modern type”, is definitely a potential breeding and competition prospect for the future.
The Champion Warmblood Loose Mover for 2023 was awarded to Maxine de Villiers’ flashy homebred one-year-old colt Adela Glamero who is by Glamourdale (Lord Leatherdale x Negro) out of a Sunset Hit x Come Back II mare. Glamourdale is a two-time Grand Prix World Champion with Charlotte Fry, and the pair are currently ranked second overall in the FEI Dressage World Rankings. Glamero’s dam was imported from Denmark, and despite being under saddle for only two years due to breeding duties, she has had several wins and rarely scores under 80%. Adela Stud also bred the three-year-old runner-up, Adela’s Van Helsing (Vinducath x Rosario x Donnerhall).
Did you know?
Glamourdale has won 65% of the Prix St George to Grand Prix competitions he has ever competed in.
The Reserve Champion Loose Mover was awarded to three-year-old Micosi Grand Slam G, who is by Elias van T’Godselbos out of Midgrad Geena S. Geena S shares the same dam line as Midgrad Grannus and Midgard Glamour, who both competed at 1.50m here in South Africa. He was bred by Micosi Stud, and Franziska Lienberger purchased him after being impressed by his movement and jumping ability, as seen when he decided to jump out of the 1.40m arena! The judges did note that he was very “powerful, elastic and athletic!”.
The under-one-year-old Loose-Movement class was won by Agbenoir Stud’s Bonamicio (Legacy Bonheur x Furst Romancier x Don Frederico), who will certainly be a future dressage prospect. The same can be said for the two-year-old winner Franc-Swella’s Justified Glory (Justus de Jeu x Attila x Damnatz), who showed off his uphill and powerful movement.
Finally, Alois Kambarami was the groom of the Best Turned-Out Loose-Mover, as he turned out Willow’s Euclase to perfection, scoring 10/10 from the judges!
Conclusion
Congratulations to this year’s winners; we are excited to see these young horses in the showjumping and dressage rings in the near future! South Africa certainly has a lot to look forward to.