Alex Hua Tian and Grafenstolz
This year just short of a thousand people entered the doors of Hartpury College for the annual British Bred Sport Horse Stallion Event where sixty-three graded stallions were showcased in the indoor arena for dressage, endurance, show jumping and eventing. The event was a great opportunity to see what really was the best of British, and of the twenty-one eventing stallions that took part there were a few that really stood out from the crowd.
The Stallion Company’s Grafenstolz and Rubicell were both stunning. Grafenstolz is the only horse in history to qualify for a Championship in dressage, show jumping and eventing and has offspring competing internationally in all three disciplines. He was chosen by Mary King for her mare King’s Temptress, and showed that he still had it when he wowed crowds at last year’s Express Eventing final at The Horse of the Year Show where he put in a truly breathtaking dressage performance.
Rubicell’s best son to date is Michael Jung’s River of Joy currently ranked 14th in the world. Shown in hand he had huge presence in the arena with great conformation and manners. Grafenstolz, Royaldik and Esteban were ridded and jumped by China’s Olympic hopeful Alex Hua Tian. Both on the flat and over fences they all looked very smart and demonstrated a good strong jump and fantastic paces.
Oliver Townend and Nina Barbour had all five of their Harthill Stud stallions parading. Harthill Stud was launched at Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire last October and the pair are aiming for their stallions to be the foundation for many competition horses in the future.
Power Blade, Honour Cruise and Stormhill Miller were shown in the eventer’s section. Power Blade was shown in hand and proved to the crowd that he wasn’t feeling his age with his exuberant behaviour in the arena. Oliver rode his progeny 5-year-old Power Drive who although young and green jumped with determination and grace and will surely be one to watch in the future. Stormhill Miller also looked a picture in the arena with his playful spirit and attitude. Having never been backed he was also shown in hand, but has proved himself having sired Australian Event rider Paul Tapner’s Stormhill Michael who was 10th at Badminton in 2010.
- Oliver Townend and Honour Cruise
EWW’s favourite of the Harthill stallions to be showcased was Honour Cruise a 16.2hh grey by Cruising Clover and Hillsky Boy. Honour Cruise is being produced by Oliver to begin his eventing career this coming season. He had a bold and careful jump over coloured poles and good confirmation and paces on the flat.
Leading event rider Lucy Weigersma rode both of her evening stallions, Brief Encounter who is full brother to Andrew Nicholson’s successful event horse Henry Tankerville, and Wish Upon a Star. On the flat and over the poles both had huge scope and beautiful paces and looked very classy in the arena. The pair are currently standing at the Grafham Stud.
Janette Brakewell’s Advanced stallion Take It To The Limit also caught the eye. Having jumped clear at every cross country three star, he has over 297 BE points and is standing at Hartpury Home Farm Stud. Clayton Frederick’s Mr Big Cat by Tamango is also now competing at two star level and looked the complete showman again.
Mark Todd put the five-year-old stallion Opposition Supremacy through his paces to show the crowds his amazing flexibility and durability both on the flat and over fences. This stallion is by the well known Fleetwater Opposition, sire of Nicola Wilson’s campaigner Opposition Buzz. Paul Tapner rode his stunning three star stallion Wickstead Didgeridoo by Mayhill who he hopes to ride at four star level within twelve months and is currently the only horse Paul has qualified for London 2012. He stands at Wickstead Farm where Paul runs his string of event horses.
Mark Todd and Opposition Supremacy
With around twenty tradestands the stud companies were on hand to offer help and advice, information, sweets, champagne and homemade cakes! Next year’s British Bred Sport Horse Stallion Event is on Saturday 27th January 2013, at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire.
Report and images: Lucy Hall
