A legacy in the making

Breeding for brilliance

All photos by Tracy Robertson

Text: Tweet Gainsborough-Waring

Tucked away in the undulating hills of the Van der Stel Pass near Botriver lies a hidden gem capturing the attention of the international equestrian world. The Majestic Knabstrupper Stud, renowned for its rare, spotted horses and an award-winning stallion, is quietly building a legacy of excellence in South Africa.

At the helm is Dr Marna Smith-Stofberg, a specialist animal geneticist by training and a horsewoman by heart. Her lifelong passion for spotted horses inspired her to begin breeding Knabstruppers three decades ago. Today, her stud is a beacon for those seeking to preserve the classical lines and regal bearing of this rare Danish breed.

Marna’s scientific approach to breeding is grounded in her deep understanding of genetics and unwavering commitment to preserving the original lineage of the Knabstrupper. By selecting only the finest bloodlines and prioritising both physical soundness and mental aptitude, she has consistently produced horses of rare quality.

This dedication was recently validated during her second Knabstrupperforeningen for Danmark (KNN) evaluation – an international benchmarking process for the breed. Of the 20 horses presented, 90% achieved Premium status, a remarkable feat in any breeding program.

The KNN evaluation is an exhaustive process conducted by a judging panel that includes three travelling Danish judges, and an accredited equine veterinarian. Horses are assessed according to their age and development stage, with a range of evaluations designed to test conformation, movement, soundness, and performance ability for modern horse disciplines.

Before a stallion can apply for evaluation to obtain its KNN stallion licencing, a pre-vetting is necessary upon application, with a known and proven approved pedigree. This enables male animals free of known equine genetic disorders to be eliminated from performance testing.

Each component of each test (movement, jumping, endurance and even temperament) is scored on a scale from 1 to 10, with temperament given particular weight in the final grading. “Temperament is essential,” says Marna. “A good mind is just as important as athleticism”.

Leading the male herd was her young “porcelain” stallion Majestic Don Giovanni, who was awarded a coveted 9 overall – a distinction held by only 10% of inspected stallions worldwide. His majestic presence, both genetic and athletic, exemplifies the breed’s potential. “It was a proud day for all of us,” Marna shared. “A celebration of how far we’ve come.”

However, this comes as no surprise to the stud since dedicated breeding decisions and great dam lines make for a great stallion. Don Giovanni is the only direct son of her late beloved and world-renowned Danish full performance tested stallion, Figaro af Hallundbaek, and the KNN recognized Gold Medal mare, Sartor Danish Design,here in SA. Don Giovanni now steps into the role of a senior stud stallion, representing the next generation of modern spotted excellence.

However this was not the only accomplishment in the stallion category! Majestic Orpheus (7/8), considered by the KNN as true- to-type and a rare find for an almost extinct breed, obtained a premium status with an overall 8 for his stallion licencing, together with Majestic Dreamz Time, who was granted a special pre-licence due to his young age. A delighted Marna said “All three of these young stallions contribute in their own unique way to the Knabstrupper gene pool and enable me as a breeder to apply selective breeding to amplify breed characteristics here in South Africa”.

For Marna, the Knabstrupper’s rich lineage and strict governing body is part of what makes the breed so exceptional. “Their performance history of the last 50 years is documented in written studbooks, giving the breed a sense of permanence and nobility,” she explains. To have a breed as old as the Knabstrupper withstand change over time you need to have access to these records in real time enabling us to observe phenotypes associated with different era purposes (Cavalry, Agricultural and Entertainment) and performance records linked to their genotype for selective breeding decisions.

Though the breed’s existence has waxed and waned and past breeding often neglected genetic soundness. It is a few committed breeders like Marna who have revived the original elegant classical cavalry type: a well-balanced, light-footed, bold and intelligent riding horse. Through strategic imports and careful pairings, Marna has re-established the genetic integrity of this endangered breed in South Africa, suitable for modern-day riding.

The Majestic Stud’s horses are bred with purpose, putting special focus on the Knabstrupper mares at the stud. Any stud’s success lies deeply embedded in their dam lines. The stud imported a uniform mare herd together with the original two divergent stud stallions, placing the stud in a category of its own with well-established Knabstrupper dam lines. Nine Knabstrupper mares with some very purebred lineage (6/8 to 8/8) were added to the stud’s breeding herd after the 2025 KNN inspections. Results of the recent KNN inspection, where several individuals and progeny groups were presented, illustrated the consistency of the stud’s offspring quality.

 The KNN is one of the very few governing bodies acknowledging and awarding a stallion or mare based on their consistency for producing progeny true to Knabstrupper type. Statistically, this type of presentation is extremely rare with only one mare group presentation and two stallion group presentations world-wide last year, as recorded by the KNN. Four progeny groups were presented by the stud here in SA this year, with some group sizes ranging from 3 to 8 individuals per group. Every sire and dam participant at the stud received medals ranging from silver to bronze, with one gold (two in the world) obtained during the last inspection. This puts the stud in a league of its own when it comes to superior genetics.

What underpins this consistent success apart from genetics? “The environment of course, our land itself plays a massive role,” says Marna. “The hilly terrain and mineral-rich soil of the Overberg is ideal for raising strong, healthy foals. Our young horses are given time to grow, with space to roam and as such develop naturally. Safe paddocks, with natural stimulatory components like dams, streams and and different types of vegetation, allow intuitive growth, and attentive youngsters, enthusiastic and optimistic about life. Foals are handled twice a week in a stress-free environment with a positive reinforcement system to enable optimal brain development creating a thinking work candidate willing to work in a modern environment riddled with different pressures. Our backing system alone takes up to two years, where youngsters are trailed with lead mares for several months. There is no rush on development for these crafted horses. They’re emotionally balanced, physically tough, and mentally sound.”

South Africa has the advantage of space, terrain and staff to breed the best horses in the world, which has recently been proven in the Knabstrupper. Although Europe implemented horse performance testing, which has become increasingly vital for their success as equine Olympic athletes, we have the advantage of piggy-backing on this already developed science based system. With a strong database of test results, breeders can predict breeding values with greater accuracy, refining traits such as rideability, conformation, and performance. For the Knabstrupper, this process is non-negotiable: a licence is only granted if the horse meets exacting standards across multiple disciplines.