SOUTH AFRICAN WARMBLOODS

HORSE OF THE YEAR 2023

The South African Warmblood Horse Society (SAWHS) was formed in 1989 owing to the consistent importation of European Warmbloods that had taken place from 1965 onwards. Several Hanoverian lines were also being imported from Namibia at this time, thanks to the German community of breeders there. Some of the founding studs involved in the development of the Society were Mossandi, Alzu, Cellehof and Hakahana. Later, Pohlands, Davenport and Brandenburg Studs joined. The imported European stallions were often crossed with the local Thoroughbred population, with the hope of producing progeny with improved movement and conformation for showjumping and dressage. This cross-bred generation became the base generation for most of today’s registered SA Warmbloods.

The SAWHS is the governing body for Warmbloods in South Africa and falls under the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. It is directly responsible to the Registrar of livestock improvement, which in a broad sense, entails the identification and utilisation of genetically superior horses for breeding to improve the production and performance of horses in South Africa.

The SA Warmblood horse is one of very few South African horse breeds that is government-gazetted. To attain this status, a database had to be set up for the recording of SA Warmbloods, and a set of breed standards, performance criteria and geno- and phenotypes that described the Warmblood had to be submitted and approved. The ideal SA Warmblood, according to these standards, should be a correct, powerful, yet refined horse that has presence. They can vary in type and size according to their discipline requirements (showjumping, eventing or dressage), but what they should all have in common is rideability, correct and flexible limbs, light energetic paces, and a stable temperament.

Bearing this extensive history in mind, we took a look at some of the Champion Warmbloods at this year’s Horse of the Year. There were clearly exceptional specimens on display as the Champion Mare, Stallion and Gelding all made it to the top 10 of their All Breeds Supreme Classes!

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF WHAT ARE CONSIDERED FOUNDING SIRES FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN WARMBLOOD:

Admiral HANN 1969 Abermals/ ValentinoXX / Athos (Namibian)

Anschluss HANN 1997 Abzats/ Weiler / Domitz (Namibian)

Attila HANN 1980 Akzent II / Ferdinand / Friesennkonig Hakahana Stud

Aurelius HANN 1985 Attlas / Wedekind / Frustra Mossandi Stud

Bahadur XX TB 1972 Noble Chieftan / Adaban II / Satur II Davenport Stud

Craftsman XX TB 1978 Trocadero / Olean / Chesham Davenport Stud

Doornkaat HANN 1971 Lanndrost/ Dominik / Senator Theo Laros

Drabant Swedish 1970 Urabino 430 / Magnat 383 / Biarritz 294 (Selected by Charlotte Stubbs)

Eichbaum HANN 1976 Eisenthertz / Cid / Ast Namibian

Landjunker HOLST 1983 Landgraf I / Rigatello / Waldjunker Alzu Stud

Thaddeus HANN 1985 Tanneberg / Wiesennbaum / Duktus Cellehof Stud

Wachmann III HANN 1979 Wedekind / Frustra II / Wintersport Alzu Stud

The Horse of the Year SA Warmblood Grand Champion 2023

Saratoga Summertime

The Winner of the SA Warmblood Grand Champion In-Hand was the five year-old mare Saratoga Summertime, bred by Saratoga Stud and owned by Samantha Sader. Saratoga Summertime is by the imported dressage stallion Senergy (Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) out of Aniara’s Hope, a daughter to Ronnie Lawrence’s top Thoroughbred jumper High Hopes! Although Senergy is predominantly dressage bred, he has produced versatile offspring who have had success in the showjumping and dressage arenas and now the show ring as well! Saratoga Summertime was also crowned the SA Showing Association Champion Adult Novice Show Horse, Champion Overall Show Horse and was 3rd in the Supreme Ridden Horse of the Year. She was then also awarded Reserve Supreme Champion All Breeds Horse of the Year! It was certainly a very successful show for her!

FAST FACT: Mares must reach 15.1hh (1.55m) and stallions 15.3hh (1.60m) to be an approved SA Warmblood but over 16hh is preferable.

SA Warmblood Grand Reserve Champion

Ceto D and Kelly O'Connor

This was awarded to Ceto D, owned by Celeste Lochoff and shown by Kelly O’Connor. The “D” comes from Celeste’s (Kelly’s Mom’s) previous Pony Stud Dakkam. Ceto D is by Cornet Damiro, a recently Licenced SAW Stallion out of Aurora (Atlanticus x Cellehof’s Thaddeus) and Thaddeus is one of the SAW foundation sires! Kelly was given the ride on Cornet Damiro at a Young Horse Show and, having thoroughly enjoyed the ride decided to breed with him. The product is a compact mare with good size and an outstanding temperament. She is set to be an ideal all-rounder who Kelly will produce and potentially hand over to her niece as a first junior horse!

SA Warmblood Colt/Stallion

Geloven BB and Amelia Campbell Horne

This Champion title was awarded to Amelia Campbell Horne’s imported Show Jumping Stallion Geloven BB, who is by Zacahrov (Clinton x Lord Z) out of a Goodtimes mare. He went on to finish in the top 10 of the Supreme Champion All Breeds Horse.

The Reserve Champion went to Mythos I’m A Charmer, bred by Charne Gerber of Mythos Stud and owned by Alecia Barnard. He is by Diamond’s Incognito (I’m Special de Muze) out of an Eagle’s Lucky Charm. His dam line again proves a successful combination of Warmblood and Thoroughbred breeding and goes back to two of our foundation sires, Wachmann III and Anschluss.

Champion Warmblood Foal

Konri Capital Klooney

The Champion Warmblood Foal was awarded to the threeand-a-half-month-old Konri Capital Klooney by Capital Kronos van het Poeleind out of Capital Donzora (Capital Don Cumarco) owned by Kostas Kontos and Sinead Rice. Capital Donzora was carefully selected from the Capital Auction in foal to Capital Kronos. Klooney goes back to two of the SAW foundation sires, with both Bahadur XX and Wachmann III appearing in his dam line. Kostas noted the importance of showing young horses in that it exposes them to handling, turn-out, boxing and the competition environment from a young age. With solid conformation and a stable but inquisitive mind, we can’t wait to see what is in store for this youngster.

SA Warmblood Gelding

Ambeck Royal

This was won by Ambeck Royal by Revolution out of Compton House Helvita (His Highness). Ambeck Royal was bred by Dr Alexandra Becker and is now owned by Sarah Boughey. Having just turned three, both breeder and owner were over the moon that he progressed from here to finish in the top eight of the All Breeds Gelding Supreme.

SA Warmblood Groom Utility Class

Kloppers Ngome

Won by Kloppers Ngome of Martini Stud handling Martini Frangelica. Kloppers told us the following:

“In Zimbabwe, I had a donkey cart and liked the donkeys. In 2008 I joined by brother at Phantom Park as a groom. I went home to Zimbabwe and on my return, I worked for Fourways Riding School from 2010 to 2016. I went home again and on my return in 2017 I found employment at Hippo Gallops where I learnt to turn out horses for showing and dressage. In 2020, I did a course in turn-out and received a certificate. Moses taught me to plait and turnout horses and Claire Martin taught me to do the In-Hand work with Frangelica, who is four years old and not scared of new things. In 2022, I did an advanced turnout course. In HOY 2023 Frangelica came first In-Hand in Working Riding as she is not scared to go through the obstacles. My favourite horse is Pixel.”

SA Warmblood Groom Handler

Won by Tobias Ngwenya, handling Gondor UFO owned by the Blaauw Family. Tobias Ngwenya has been very successful in Groom Handler classes. He worked for Megan Hay and started in the Grooms Classes in 2006, where he came second. He has gone on to win with regularity!

Champion SA Warmblood Riding Horse

Martini Ebony Rose and Claire Martin

This was won by Simone Vermeulen’s Heir to the Throne who is by Ballymacash Saint Silbersee out of Send me an Angel XX (Temptation Time XX x Divine King XX). This represents another successful combination of Warmblood and Thoroughbred. The Reserve Champion Riding Horse was awarded to Claire Martin’s Martini Ebony Rose, who is by Berghof Eragon out of La Bamba, another successful Warmblood x Thoroughbred combination.

Champion and Reserve Champion SA Warmblood Potential Derby/Working Hunter

This prize went to Shaneen Kryzna and SK Equestrian’s Midgard Saphyr, who you may remember as the winners of last year’s SA Derby’s Compleat Horse. Saphyr is by the successful breeding stallion Consuelo. This pair also won Overall Supreme Working Riding Horse.

SK Equestrian's Midgard Saphyr and Shaneen Kryzna

The Reserve Champion went to Claire Martin’s Martini Pixel, another Derby Compleat Horse Competitor. Pixel is by Rivervale’s Parco’s Son who is one of the few South African bred stallions to have received a Premium Licensing. She is out of the same Warmblood cross Thoroughbred mare as Martini Ebony Rose.

Congratulations

Congratulations to all competitors and Studs on their successful SA Warmblood sport horses!