Callaho Summer Edition - The Callaho Way

CALLAHO WAY

Hello

And welcome to this special edition of HQ. It has been our great privilege over the past few months to produce a series of articles for Callaho Warmblood Stud on the journey Callaho horses take from birth through to competing at the top of the sport.

For this special edition, we have combined all three articles in one place to provide a complete picture of the process that Callaho employs to create premium sporting partners for showjumpers in Southern Africa and further a eld. We have been blown away by the thoroughness and dedica tion with which Callaho approach each stage of the journey, and have nished this series with a much greater understanding of just why Callaho horses perform as they do.

The nal article featured here is our ‘Auction Review’ for the Summer Edition, on sale from the 11th to the 15th of October. Callaho appears to once again have exceeded all expectations, producing an exceptionally strong collection of young horses. We highly recommend you check out the collection online and review all the videos.

It is a real gift to have a Stud of Callaho’s calibre here on South African soil, and anyone purchasing a Callaho partner certainly has a bright future ahead of them.

Thank you Callaho for making HQ part of your journey!

love,

Lizzie and the HQ team xxx

IN

ISSUE

BUILDING A DREAM

1

BUILDING A DREAM

RAISING CHAMPIONS

Anyone who has ever had anything to do with Callaho knows that this enterprise is so much more than a family business. The passion that fuels the team, their dedication to breeding quality sporthorses and their commitment to growing the equestrian sport in South Africa are evident in every interaction with them. There is nothing cliched about it – Callaho is building a dream.

This dream begins with inspired yet proven breeding combinations. These horses are bred to be winners. And yet, Team Callaho is doing more than just breeding champions; they are nurturing, raising and educating them. This formula of unbeatable genetics and exceptional production explains why Callaho has so many equine athletes competing at the top of the game. These horses are not just bred to win, they are taught how to, and this education begins on day one.

HQ was fortunate enough to catch up with three members of the Callaho ‘development squad’Carrie-Ann Bottom, Annette Rousseau and Graham Winn. These three individuals are part of the huge team at the Stud that are responsible for bringing these young horses to the point where they are ready to enter Ray Korber’s ‘finishing school’ in preparation for auction. We have been blown away by the dedication, attention to detail and thoroughness of the production process. Huge acknowledgement must go to every single person involved. From the Breeding Manager, to the Stable Management, Medical, Maintenance and Training Teams, there are so many players who are integral to the process. People may say that horses are not investments; Callaho Warmblood Stud is proving them wrong.

YEARS 0 – 3

Everything at Callaho begins with the foaling down process, which is attended by a member of the Callaho Stable Management team comprising Marike Swanepoel, Carrie-Ann Bottom, Tani Gerber and Johnny Smith. “We look after all the horses not in training. We’re there from birth until they are three or three and a half years old, and our role is very hands-on.”

“I learned my role through the support and mentorship of Marike Swanepoel, our Stable Manager here at Callaho who has been on the farm, working with the horses for almost 14 years now. Marike knows every single horse, their breeding and where they are at in their training, and we discuss each of them,” said Carrie-Ann.

I’m constantly aware that the youngster in front of me will be somebody’s sporting partner for the rest of their lives, so this work is critical.

She tells us, “My goal with the foals is to give them as many positive interactions with humans from as early an age as possible. I’ve seen how this lays down a foundation of trust, and we then just build on that existing foundation with every interaction we have with the young horse right up to the auction. From day two or three of life, we make sure we can touch them all over, and at one week of age, we can pick up their feet. We quickly move on to brushing them and checking temperatures daily. Essentially, we make everything a game and normalise all of the questions that we’re asking of them.”

“When they are first born, they go out in a herd with other mothers with young foals, and as they all mature, we move them into bigger paddocks. Our weaning process is very gentle in that we gradually remove the mares over time so that nothing else changes for the foals – they still have their friends, remain in the same paddock and stick to the same routine. Every day, we walk through the herd, take everyone’s temperature, and look at the feet. At this stage, my goal is that I can walk up to each foal and that they are happy to have me in their presence.”

“In terms of training, I consider every interaction with the horses an opportunity to train. Gradually as they mature, I ask more and more difficult questions, but from day one, I’m focused on good manners, leading well, moving through gates safely etc. I really believe that these manners stay with the horse for the rest of their lives and that the biggest favour you can do them is to instil these right from the beginning. I want to hand over horses who are safe, willing and happy to do their job. I believe that these youngsters are exposed to so many positive interactions with people in terms of handling that they are never surprised by the questions we ask them. This sets them up for success and creates the Callaho temperament.”

When asked what she loves most about her job, Carrie-Ann replies “I love seeing the foals learn and develop their personalities. They are all individuals, and we treat them as such. I get such a sense of pride when I see them go to their first show or win their first rosette. Every season I say to Marike that I can’t love the next crop of foals as much as I loved the last one, and yet somehow I do.”

Carrie-Ann Bottom

YEARS 3.5 – 4.5

After their early years with Carrie-Ann, the horses move to their more formal training with Annette Rousseau and her team. “From three and a half years old, I work with them up until auction,” says Annette. “We follow a general process but tailor each programme to suit the individual horse – no two horses are the same, and it’s important to recognise this and adapt accordingly. I generally start with join-up and groundwork before moving on to the backing process. The backing process is usually straightforward after all of the handling from Carrie-Ann and the groundwork we do.”

“After backing, we do little bits of work, no more than 10-15 minutes at a time, to gradually build strength and avoid overfacing the horses. We start out in the lunge ring, with no contact. We move to the arena for a short time to develop steering, and then we start going out into the veld and tackling natural obstacles. These natural obstacles are things they will have encountered before in their paddocks, but we go slowly in the beginning. We might lead them over the obstacle, then ride them over the obstacle with a leader on the ground and then finally ride them over it independently. There’s no rush, and we go back a step if we realise something is missing. In addition to all the natural obstacles, we’re so lucky at Callaho to have all of the potato fields, where we can take the horses for outrides. On these rides, they get exposed to everything you can think of; people are working in the fields, other horses are playing in the paddocks, and it’s not uncommon for a deer to run out of the bushes! We want the horses to be exposed to as much as possible and feel safe and confident that they can handle whatever is thrown at them.”

I really love my job. We get to see these youngsters develop, and Ian (Callender-Easby) allows us to take the time we need to with each of them. This bi-annual auction system is great because it allows us to take the time it takes with each horse. I’ve never been told to ‘get it done’ or ‘speed it up’. In fact, the best advice I was ever given came from Callaho: ‘How long does it take to train a horse? As long as it takes’. I’m so proud of these horses, and I know that we’re setting them up in the best way possible to achieve all they are meant to.

Marike Swanepoel

At least twice a year, Graham Winn heads down from Johannesburg to observe the process and see where he can help. “I don’t feel I do an awful lot,” he says. “Carrie-Ann literally knows every single horse she cares for, and those youngsters run to her to have their temperatures taken and feet picked up. It’s remarkable! We can all learn something from Carrie-Ann and her intimate knowledge of each horse’s breeding and temperament –she misses nothing. Those horses are watched 24 hours a day. They are valuable horses, but the level of care and attention is

“For many years now, I have been coming down to Callaho a few times a year to check in on the process and give input where I can. I must say though that each year, my role becomes smaller and smaller because of the exceptional handling these horses receive from birth and then Annette’s training. Annette is one of the most naturally talented horse people around. She downplays her abilities, but her work backing the youngsters is so gentle yet effective. She has an ability to read the horse and moves at their pace. To be honest, I’m learning as much as I’m teaching.”

When I arrive at Callaho, I’m shown a smooth working system. I’m often blown away by what the horses can already do! My main role is really to help Annette with any tricky training questions, and we bounce ideas off each other. Out of forty horses, we might have five or six that need a little bit more individual attention than the others. I just give another perspective, suggest some options, and we work from there. Often, these quirky horses turn out to be the most talented! I’m in constant contact with the whole team even when I’m not at the Stud, but my job with Annette is mostly just to tell her that her work is done, and she can relax.

Graham Winn

The Callaho environment is such a gift for these youngsters. Living in these big herds is so good for the horses – there are no better disciplinarians than mothers and herd mates. Having the space to move freely is also so important, and something very few places can offer. These horses really get to be horses, which sets them up for success later down the line. The natural obstacles and cross-country elements of the training are also so important. These horses have unbelievable natural balance and know how to look after themselves. The programme at Callaho never lets the riding ‘dominate’ the horse. These horses are genetically superior, and they need to retain their natural initiative – the cross country work is a key part of this. You don’t breed this kind of natural ability to then suppress it. Callaho cultivates the natural talent to create confident, assured performers.

Annette Rousseau

I really believe that you buy an investment when you buy a Callaho horse. Callaho has bred the best and is in a position to have the experts in their field do everything in a very controlled and correct way. This formula is unbeatable, and what you pay for a Callaho horse is a fraction of what goes into making them in those early years. They are constantly being produced from day one, and Callaho has mastered the art of production. That’s their secret.

IT’S THE PASSION

This degree of dedication and commitment to excellence is not a function of a well-run business or simple pride in a job well done; it’s part of an all-consuming passion for horses and our sport. Callaho horses are genetically imbued with greatness, but more than that, they are nurtured, trained and produced with real love. Callaho call it ‘breeding magic’, but it’s so much more than that. It’s passion; it’s a dream; and it’s a gift to South African equestrians. This is our sport at its best.

PART 2

In Part 2 we chat to Ray Korber and several of the Callaho riders, who put the finishing touches to these remarkable horses before they embark on their auction journey.

BUILDING A DREAM

2

Lara Neill & Callaho Conny Will

BUILDING A DREAM

FOR AUCTION

In this second part of our series we hear how the Callaho youngsters grow up in herds, receive extensive handling, begin their training on the ground and finally undergo the backing process. We focus on the ‘Callaho Finishing School’ where these A-Grade students receive their ‘exam preparation’ under the expert tutelage of Ray Korber, Annette Rousseau and her Callaho Riding Team.

THE CALLAHO PROCESS

Leading on from our previous article, Graham Winn, who primarily focuses on the backing process, hands over going, young horses to Ray Korber for their next level of training. This stage sees these exceptional sporthorses learn to free jump, gain experience with gymnastics and courses and show just what they can do in front of the camera.

Ray spends plenty of time at the farm with Annette and the Callaho riders to tailor-make each horse’s programme and get them all up to speed on this next step in the training. After each clinic, Ray sits down with them all to discuss how each horse is going and what needs to be done to help that individual horse along in their training. The Callaho riders then work diligently on Ray’s plans in advance of his return for a subsequent clinic.

With the Auction approaching, the Callaho Competition team, consisting of Chatan Hendriks, Lara Neill, Gareth Neill, Carl Boonzaaier, and Jeanne Korber, are brought to the farm for the ‘Evaluation Week’. Depending on the size of the Collection, some or all of these Callaho professionals will come through. During this week, these showjumpers put the youngsters through their paces, ride them for the Auction videos and evaluate each individual in turn.

THE EVALUATION WEEK

From day one of life, notes are kept on each horse born at Callaho Warmblood Stud. These notes, which are handed over to the riders at the start of the Evaluation Week, include the different personality traits of each horse, what each rider should be aware of and what needs to be reinforced. While one professional is on the horse, the other riders watch and make notes. The final evaluation is then conducted as a team. Everything about the horse, from birth right through to these ridden sessions is considered as part of this holistic evaluation. This process has been seen, over the years, to produce consistently accurate ratings of each horse emerging from the ‘Callaho Finishing School.’

Callaho has a strict rating protocol. We always remain conservative and don’t bolster the scoring beyond what we see immediately in front of us, even though for many of the horses we know from their breeding what is still waiting for full expression with time, further strengthening and correct training.” - Chatan Hendriks

EXPLANATION OF THE STAR RATING SYSTEM

Please note that the star rating system used to indicate the utility of each horse is a subjective assessment by the training team in conjunction with the highly experienced Ray Korber. The evaluation is based on the temperament, conformation and athletic characteristics displayed by the horse when unrestricted, under saddle and during several free-jumping tests conducted in the course of the training period.

No Star: The horse is not rated for this discipline or has talents which overshadow aptitude here.

One Star: The horse has shown commendable ability and potential for this discipline which could improve substantially with further training and experience.

Two Star: This horse consistently displays first-class aptitude for this discipline with significant potential for the higher levels.

Three Star: Awarded to a horse with exceptional natural talent for this discipline. With appropriate training there is a high probability that this horse will excel at the very highest levels in a matched partnership with a skilled rider.

EXPLANATION OF THE COMPATIBILITY SYMBOLS AND INTERPRETATION OF TERMS

Novice: A rider that is still developing their basic skills and lacks experience or needs to build confidence.

Competent: A capable and experienced rider who posses a modicum of ‘feel’ and is adequately familiar with the training of young horses.

Skilled: A sensible rider with considerable aptitude for the correct training of young horses under saddle, substantial experience and explicit natural ‘feel’.

Professional: A highly skilled rider and horseman/ woman with years of experience.

Recommended Not recommended

Possible with further correct training and or rider expertise

THE CALLAHO COMPETITION TEAM

We spoke to four of the professional world cup riders involved in the production of these supreme young athletes, to ask what it is that they experience when they meet these youngsters and how they go about evaluating them for the Auction. Just like everything at Callaho, this process is undertaken with the upmost care, consideration and forethought with the goal of finding the best home for each horse, and the best horse for each rider.

The entire team, myself included, are very proud of what we’re producing. I think the work shows in the ring, and as we’ve said before ‘the proof is in the pudding’. The horses are jumping all the way up to the 1.40m/1.50m classes. I have a very good feeling about the future for Callaho Warmblood Stud.

- Ray Korber

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Speaking to the team about what they look for in these youngsters, it becomes clear quickly that rideability is the name of the game at Callaho. Chatan states “Once we get to the ridden stage, for me, it’s really important with our modern-day courses to find a horse with extremely good rideability. Rideability is at the end of the day what makes a good horse into a great horse; it offers you the opportunity to train a horse to the best of its ability.”

Of course, a natural talent for their discipline, a good uphill canter, a strong hind leg and, for jumpers in particular, a good shape in the air, are all key elements, but the team are united in their view that without rideability these attributes hold less worth. “For our sport, rideability is very important” reiterates Lara.

This makes the rideability score awarded at the Evaluation Week a particular focus of the team. “We try to be as conservative as possible with regards to riders’ compatibility notes as it is imperative to us that the horses are matched with the correct level rider. Obviously, it is an auction and there is no control over who buys the horses but if we have been clear in the rider criteria and these are adhered to, then the process should create a successful partnership”, said Gareth Neill.

The process at Callaho is an exceptional one. The people involved at Callaho have a special level of dedication to the work they do, and nothing is left to chance. This degree of preparation and the attention to detail applied in the foundation training, means that rideability is actively cultivated in all the youngsters at Callaho from their early days. As Lara summarises, “the horses are well adapted and have been exposed to almost all situations a new owner will encounter with them. This often makes them very brave and confident in their demeanour.”

A key element of fostering rideability is developing this confidence in these young horses. The team describe finding many of these Callaho youngsters to have a degree of presence and assuredness about them that far exceeds that of other young horses. Ray sheds some light on one of the reasons these horses are so well-adjusted and balanced: “In all the years I’ve known Ian he has always asked that we go at the horse’s pace. He doesn’t want to push the horses, but to take the time they need. As a result, these horses are all sound horses that are keen to work. The process is easy on them and they enjoy it.”

Gareth Neill & Callaho Tobasco

THE CALLAHO PROMISE

There is no doubt that one of the greatest elements of the Callaho Auction Process is their honest and open-book approach to providing information on each of the horses on offer. This transparency ensures that everybody can get the horse they want and need, without the risk of hidden surprises. Pedigrees, vet reports, free jumping and ridden videos, and, of course, the critical scoring system, ensure that prospective buyers can leave no stone unturned in their search for their perfect match. The abundance of information available, along with the fact that many of these horses have siblings performing in the sport as added evidence of their ability, is a real asset for anyone looking to buy a young horse.

Annette Rousseau, who is part of the horses’ lives from day one to the day they leave the farm after Auction, said it best her in last interview: I’m proud of what these youngsters go onto achieve. I believe in the process and see how well it works.

Rainer Körber & Callaho’s Lord Luzius

Jeanne Körber & Callaho Talana

THIS COLLECTION

The team are united in their view that this collection is an impressive one. These youngsters have had the advantage of a further six months of training from the Callaho Team and the benefits really show. Ray, in particular, knows these horses especially well:

This particular collection has a lot of sizey horses in it, and a lot of jumpers. This is a very exciting group! Three horses that really impressed me throughout the training, including the free jumping and ridden work, are Callaho El Greco, Callaho Con Veloce and Callaho Rainer K. El Greco is by Equinox de Chalusse and he’s a big type, scopey horse and he looks like he’s going to jump big jumps one day. Then there’s Con Veloce who is a Con Coriano out of an Anglo-Arab mare. He’s a careful, showjumping type and reminds me very much of Con Coriano himself. As I rode Con Coriano I can tell you this horse jumps in the same way, with the same shape and the same level of care. Then there is a gelding called Rainer K who is by Cartier out of a really good Lissabon x Cassini mare. He’s a beautiful grey gelding, who just jumps for fun and floats over the ground. He’s very much like his father Cartier, who I also ride. There’s a lot of Cartier’s characteristics in him. I’m excited about this gelding as Cartier is really coming into his own at the moment, and his talent is so evident.

Callaho El Greco Equinox De Chalusse/Casparon/Argentinus

Callaho Con Veloce Con Coriano/Olala de Buissy/Veloce de Favi

Callaho Rainer K Cartier/Lissabon/Cassini I

BUILDING THE DREAM

When you look at what goes into the production of every single horse on the Callaho Auction, you realise just how lucky we are as South Africans to have breeders and trainers of this calibre on home-soil. From the bloodline research, through to the purchasing of stallions and mares, to the foaling down, to the handling of the youngsters, and the backing, riding and preparation for Auction, every step is covered with exemplary professionalism and dedication. The Callaho Warmblood Stud Team have built a dream they can be very proud of.

Chatan Hendriks & Callaho’s Larsison

BUILDING A DREAM

3

BUILDING A DREAM

LIFE AFTER THE AUCTION

The Team at Callaho are more than just breeders and producers of sporthorses. They are a family, and for them, the real reward lies not in the selling of the horse on the Auction but in seeing the value that their horses bring to the lives of their new owners. This sense of purpose and community extends throughout everything Callaho Stud has done over its 23 year history and continues to do today.

Over the past two parts of our Building A Dream series with Callaho we have seen just how much Callaho invest in each part of the process. From the breeding and foaling down of the mares, to the handling of the foals, the backing process and the preparation for Auction, no part of a Callaho horse’s journey is left to chance.

In this final part of our Building A Dream series, we move beyond the Auction to look at the journey Callaho takes with each of the families and riders who own these special horses. In this edition, we speak to three riders who have produced Callaho horses from Auction to the top of the showjumping sport. Zdenek Muchna, Tamara Rueda and Martyn Swanepoel and their respective Callaho partners Callaho Le Padre (2014 Auction), Callaho Liantos (2016 Auction) and Callaho Falvio (2017 Auction) are all evidence of the Stud’s talent for not only breeding exceptional sporthorses but also providing continued support and encouragement to each and every buyer. HQ caught up with these three riders to hear more about their journey with their Callaho partners since the Auction.

ZDENEK MUCHNA – CALLAHO LE PADRE

Lissabon/ Padinus/ Calato by Capitol I – 2014 Auction

What led you to purchase Callaho Le Padre from the Auction?

At the time, Ronelle Gilbert, an owner I ride for, was keen on buying a young horse and walking the production road with them, so we went to the tryouts, and I rode 12 of the horses on offer. I didn’t try Callaho Le Padre, but Carl Boonzaaier was riding him, and Ronelle really liked him. My concern was that I thought he was too flashy and would be outside our budget. Luckily, we were still able to get him.

Can you tell us a bit about Le Padre?

Le Padre is such an intelligent and sensitive horse. He’s lovely to ride on the flat, and when it comes to getting over the fence, he always pricks his ears and locks on. He’s keen to do his job, and you can’t fault his technique when doing it. He jumps with textbook front-end action, and he finishes a jump perfectly behind. He’s very photogenic. If you look through his pictures, you’ll see he always looks good over a fence. He’s been like that since day one, and he’s taken very little training in terms of jumping technique.

In terms of his personality, he’s a spunky horse who loves a buck and a play. Yet, in reality he’s still an absolute sweetheart. He’s lovely to handle, and the grooms always enjoy him; he’s a very polite horse to work with. Everyone at Manor D’Or always teases that he’s the poster boy because he’s such a gentleman to be around, and I’m sure that has a lot to do with how he was handled at Callaho.

Please describe your journey with Le Padre since the Auction. How did you produce him to where he is now?

We gave him a bit of a breather after the Auction and started him slowly. From then, his production process went very smoothly. We spent time getting him used to different arenas and equipment. He went to his first little training show at Burlington in the 70cm. He never touched a pole and just cantered around in his usual playful way.

Since then, we’ve climbed the grades, and he’s always been a clear round jumper, not the fastest horse, but consistently clear. Unfortunately, about three years after the Auction, he had a health scare, necessitating a year off while we monitored him. In the end, this turned out to be a good thing for him as he had some time to grow up and grow into his body. After that, he came back even better.

I’ve always been a bit nervous about going up the grades with him as he jumps the jumps perfectly but never clears by miles. My concerns were completely unfounded, though, as he’s stepped up easily each time. His technique is really his best asset, and it just makes it all so easy for him. We’re currently in the 1.45m classes, and whilst we’ve had time faults, he’s been clear.

Ian Callender-Easby has always had a soft spot for Le Padre’s dam (the Padinus mare), and he’s followed our journey closely. So far, he’s impressed all of us with results and where he’s got to.

What are your goals with Le Padre?

My goal with him this year was always to keep him in the 1.40m and 1.45m. If he’s happy to make the step up to the 1.50m, then we’ll do it, but as I say, he’s gone up the grades easily every single time, so I don’t anticipate a problem. He really impresses me.

What are your views on the Callaho production process and the horse currently in the sport?

I think Callaho is forever adapting their approach to the younger horses, and they have a very holistic approach to how they train the horses and what they expose them to. You only have to look at the number of Callaho horses in every class, especially the open classes to know that the process is successful. And more to the point, if you look at the number of Callaho horses in the prize-givings, you can see that the horses hold their own and are really successful.

75% of the buyers on the last Callaho Auction acquired the horse without even trying them. Does this surprise you, considering you also didn’t try Le Padre?

It doesn’t surprise me. The videos give you a true reflection of what the horses can do. People watch the videos and read the comments and if the vettings are sufficient, they can feel pretty confident in going ahead and buying the horses from Callaho. Plus, the relationships Callaho has with the trainers mean that clients can be guided by their coaches, the professionals, who know their riding best. The trainers are really invested at Callaho, and Callaho involves them in the process – that is also a great aspect.

What led you to purchase Callaho Liantos from the Auction?

At the time, I had a few going horses, and I was really keen to buy a young horse that I could produce from a young age. An obvious choice was a Callaho, as we’d always loved the horses that we’d seen from them in the past. My mom and I went to the Auction; it was the first Auction we had been to, and we were lucky enough to find Callaho Liantos.

Did you try Liantos before buying him?

I hadn’t been to the tryouts, and originally when we went to the Auction, I was keen on buying another horse. Unfortunately, we couldn’t buy her, so we looked at the catalogue in detail and bought Liantos as a bit of an impulse buy, to be honest. It was the best buy I could ever have made – he’s the best thing that ever happened to me.

75% of the buyers on the last Callaho Auction acquired the horse without even trying them. Does this surprise you?

No, it’s very interesting to me as I think that even though it is very valuable to sit on the young horses, Callaho have set up a great process in that the videos show every aspect of the horses –the trot, the canter and the jump – and the write-ups are very accurate. I’ve bought a few horses from the Callaho Auction and have compared their write-ups to the horse I’ve received, and they are excellent representations. This is because so many professionals have input into the writeups and ratings of the youngsters, so you can trust the process and trust what you are reading.

TAMARA

Heartbreaker/ C-Indoctro

What do you think of the Callaho horses currently on the circuit?

The thing that is most common with the Callaho young horses is that they are all very rideable, and they always want to do the job and take you to the jump. If we look at the sport now and where it’s going, this rideability is key, and Callaho produce very modern, athletic and rideable horses. In the 1.50m classes today Callaho horses make up a large section of the field, and in the young rider classes, the classes are usually made up of 50% Callaho horses. In every grade, we see that they are competitive and usually in the places.

I’ve also seen many young horses being placed with professionals recently which is very exciting, as this gives them the best chance of getting to the very top. We have many limitations in South Africa, especially in terms of importing horses and our exchange rate, so for Callaho to be producing top sporthorses that we can buy at affordable and fair prices is very exciting for the future of our sport and allows us to strive for international levels.

MARTYN SWANEPOEL - CALLAHO FALVIO

For Joy/ Silvio I/ Cassini I – 2017 Auction

What stood out about Callaho Falvio that led to you purchasing him from the Auction?

I have always been a big fan of Callaho horses. I love the thought they put in with regards to breeding, and the process and production of the young horses there make for an easy transition into the sport. I went and tried Falvio at the Stud and liked him lots. I knew straight away that he was a horse for me. I was thrilled when he arrived home.

75% of the buyers on the last Callaho Auction acquired the horse without even trying them. What do you think of this? You obviously found your tryout with Falvio valuable?

With all the information Callaho supplies you with, coupled with the breeding strategy (and your knowledge thereof), you don’t necessarily have to try the horses. There are so many ‘siblings” in the sport now that it is easy to spot the damlines and progeny of the stallions that appeal to you. That being said, I always like to go and try the horses to help me make a final decision on a favourite! I now have three Callaho horses in my string, and I’ve tried every one of them.

How did you find Falvio when he came off the Stud Farm?

I love the info they give in the Callaho Catalogue as it paints a very realistic picture of what you are buying. The horse that was delivered to me was exactly as they had described him!

Tell us about your production journey to date.

I had originally bought Falvio for my wife to ride. She rode him for a bit but found him too ‘blood’ for her liking. I then started riding him and loved him, just as I had at tryouts. He was a natural athlete and competitor from day one, and he often gets placed just because he is careful, naturally covers ground well and is very conservative in the time he spends in the air. He has been a pleasure to produce. I bought him off the 2017 Auction, and we jumped our first 1.50m class this year, five years after coming off the farm.

ONLINE AUCTION

Summer Collection

CALLAHO WARMBLOOD STUD

Announce their Summer Collection

Stop the press! The Callaho Summer Collection is about to go on Auction. Anticipation levels always run high in the lead up to this sale, and it’s our great pleasure to be able to present this preview.

The Summer Collection is the second group of Callaho horses on offer this year. These youngsters have spent a further six months in the hands of the expert Callaho production team. The team notes that this additional six months of development allows the horses to not only show off their raw talent, but to hone their unique athletic abilities, and demonstrate their characters and flair. More time with their handlers and riders is certainly beneficial, and gives a clearer and more reliable understanding of how each athlete will mature. With Callaho’s ultra-reliable rating system and write-ups, the soon-to-be-released catalogue is sure to give a super-accurate reflection of these horses and their potential.

With a total of 20 horses on offer, including seven mares, ten geldings and three broodmares in foal to the best of the best, there is a horse for every equestrian in this collection. The sheer diversity of stallions, moreover, has produced all shapes, sizes and manner of horses, but with one thing in common – Callaho quality.

Team HQ has been fortunate enough to preview the Summer Collection is some detail, and without giving too much away – there is a lot to look forward to. We have selected our five top picks for your perusal, but must caveat this by saying that choosing just five was a challenge (and sparked several heated debates!) We hope you enjoy our selection, as we anticipate the upcoming release of the videos and catalogue.

Congratulations Team Callaho, you have once again outdone yourselves.

Callaho

Callaho Con Velocé

Con Coriano/Olala de Buissy/Veloce de Favi

Gender: Gelding

10/10/2017

| 16.3hh

THIS DAM LINE:

| Maelle de la Tour (Quercus du Maury mare)

1.60m with Jacques Bourven

| Sherkahn de la Chatre (Flipper d’Elle stallion) SJ 1.45m with Michele Ruscitto

| Tarzan D’Ivraie AA (Kannan gelding) SJ 1.60m with Arturo Vallejo

| Exquise Un Prince (Diamant de Semilly mare) SJ 1.45m with Jason Smith

Callaho Samurai

Sampras/Epsom Gesmaray

Aldatus Z

Gender: Gelding

DOB: 01/11/2017

Height: 172cm | 17hh

OUT OF THIS DAM LINE:

1990 | Innovation (Filius mare) SJ 1.60m with Steve Guerdat

| Eurocommerce Miami (Landfriese I gelding) SJ 1.60m with Wout Jan vd Schans

2001 | Siney (Omni Star mare) SJ 1.60m with Hubert Kierznowski 2005 |Nissan Epsom Emma (Epsom Gesmeray mare) SJ 1.55m with Lorette Knowles-Taylor

Callaho Lars

Larison/Clinton/Quidam de Revel

Gender: Gelding

DOB: : 04/02/2018

Height: 175cm | 17.1hh

OUT OF THIS DAM LINE:

1992 | Piquette (Pilot mare) SJ 1.50m with Leopold van Asten

| Lansink (Lissabon gelding) SJ 1.40m with Rainer Körber

| Consigo (Con Coriano gelding) SJ 1.35m with Oscar Ncube

| Larido (Larison gelding) SJ 1.10m with Ashlee Healy

SUMMER 2022 COLLECTION

MARES

HORSE COLOUR BREEDING

DOB HEIGHT

CARMEN Chestnut Carnaval La Silla/Optimum v.d. Wellington/Bambix 06/11/2017 158cm |15.3hh

CON D'ELLE Bay Con Coriano/Flipper d'Elle/Argentinus 11/2/2018 164cm | 16.1hh

CONCALI Bay Con Coriano/Calido/Stakkato 7/1/2018 164cm | 16.1hh

CORINTHIA Bay Corinth/Vulkano/Quidam's Rubin 10/2/2018 168cm |16.2hh

DIVA DENE Bay Cascadello/Ryon D'Anzex AA/Impulsif AA 20/06/2017 163cm | 16.1hh

ESCLAVA Bay Esclavo/Benicio/De Niro/Weltmeyer 27/9/2017 166cm | 16.2hh

HAVANA Bay Herald III/Con Coriano/Calando I 05/11/2017 170cm |16.3hh

GELDINGS

HORSE COLOUR BREEDING

CARISCO Bay Carnaval La Silla/Quick Star

DOB HEIGHT

5/11/2017 164cm | 16.1hh

CASCOLETTO Grey Casparon/Contendro I/Caletto I 24/2/2018 164cm | 16.1hh

CON VELOCÉ Chestnut Con Coriano/Olala de Buissy/Veloce de Favi 10/10/2017 170cm |16.3hh

CONDELO Dark Bay Con Coriano/Acord II/Wanderer 23/11/2017 173cm |17.0hh

EL GRECO Bay Equinox/Casparon/Argentinus 20/10/2017 176cm |17.2hh

HERMES Bay Herald/Argentinus/Landadel 9/11/2017 168cm | 16.2hh

LARS Bright Bay Larison/Clinton/Quidam de Revel 4/2/2018 175cm |17.1hh

RAINER K Grey Cartier/Lissabon/Cassini I 22/03/2018 169cm | 16.3hh

SAMURAI Chestnut Sampras/Epsom Gesmeray/Aldatus Z 1/11/2017 172cm |17.0hh

TOLKIËN Grey Tolano/Con Coriano/Calando I 29/12/2017 164cm | 16.1hh

BROODMARES

HORSE COLOUR BREEDING

DOB HEIGHT IN FOAL TO

LEIKA Bay Lissabon/Fidertanz/Stedinger 21/10/2014 168cm |16.2hh Callaho’s Benicio

LATOYA Bay Lissabon/Fürst Romancier/Charon 09/10/2016 162cm | 16.0hh Callaho's Larison

SKYLAR Dark Bay Sampras/Carpaccio/Heraldik xx 9/12/2017 163cm | 16.1hh Callaho's Con Coriano

FINAL THOUGHTS

Callaho have again produced an unbeatable selection of horses for the South African market, demonstrating both their experience and the constant refinement of their process to meet the everchanging needs of the sport. The Callaho Warmblood Stud Summer Auction takes place between the 11th and the 15th of October – you don’t want to miss this. For more information visit the Callaho Warmblood Stud website on www.callaho.com/auction