THE FIRST 1.50M FEELING – ALEX RIC-HANSEN AND CALLAHO LAIOS

Huge congratulations go to Alex Ric-Hansen and Callaho Laios on jumping their first 1.50m at Heartland.

Callaho Laois was produced by Ray Körber and was introduced to the Open grades before starting his journey with young rider Alex Ric-Hansen. Together, the pair have gone from the 1.30m level to jumping their inaugural 1.50m just a few weeks ago. In August 2021, the partnership jumped their first 1.40m and went clear. Fast forward two years, and they go around their first 1.50m together. Alex took to Instagram to praise the lovely chestnut gelding: “To the horse that has taken me around my first 1.30,1.35,1.40 and now 1.50 – I owe you the world.”

Callaho Laois is by Callaho Lissabon, who long since secured his title as a superior sire. Yet, the last few months have seen him cement his place even more firmly in the history books. With his offspring’s success at the 2023 UAG Derby, Alex Ric-Hansen joining the 1.50m ranks at Heartland and then his 2023 Summer Callaho Auction daughter selling for an impressive R1.38 million, there’s a lot to celebrate.

Callaho Laois’s damsire is Almé. Almé is one of the all-time greats; his offspring include Jalisco B, the father of Quidam de Revel; Galoubet, who is Baloubet du Rouet’s sire; and Ahorn Z, who brought Almé’s genes into Holstein breeding. Almé’s father, Ibrahim, has been said by many to be the greatest of all jumping sires. Almé competed at the international level under François Mathy and Johan Heins. Without Ibrahim and Almé, the showjumping world would look very different.

What an achievement for Alex, her team, and Callaho Stud. Congratulations!