Trials & Tribulations
Challenges of Competing a Breeding Stallion by Sara Brooks
Stallion owners are in the unique position to cultivate two sources of value for the Haflinger community –
their stallions help to produce the desirable physical attributes and character traits for the next generation, and they can help to enrich the competitive body in any discipline. The problem, however, is that a large population of stallion owners choose not to compete their stallions due to any number of reasons. Mary Procopio, owner of New Horizons Haflingers and Tracy Rowe, an accomplished FEI competitor and trainer based in Michigan, are an example of the special partnership that is needed to successfully stand and compete a stallion. Mary’s Haflinger stallion, Stellar TVR, was purchased as a two-yearold after he was imported from Austria alongside his dam. “He was from a modern Austrian stallion line (ST) that was fairly rare here in the United States, and based on his excellent conformation, movement and pedigree, I felt that he would cross very well with my group of select mares and have 24 Winter 2018 • Haflinger Horse
