Te Toroughbred Influence in Sport
Past, Present and
Future By Judy Wardrope
The Thoroughbred was instrumental in the development of almost all the breed registries noted for producing sport horse competitors. Furthermore, the pedigrees of most top horses in the Olympic disciplines today contain Thoroughbred ancestors. With the lessons of the past and present in mind, let’s see if we can get a glimpse of what the future holds.
IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE in one short article to share the names of all the Thoroughbreds that have made a difference in the world of sport. The Thoroughbred influence is very deep and broad. Despite the Thoroughbred not being considered a studbook in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses, just imagine the number of champions, medal winners and progenitors of champions and medalists that would not have existed without the following Thoroughbred stallions (identified by bold). Without Anblick, Cottage Son and Ladykiller, there
Past
would be no ‘A’ line, ‘C’ line or ‘L’ line of Holsteiners. There would be no Joost, Ahorn, Lord or Emilion. And without Marlon, Sable Skinflint and Sacramento Song, the Holsteiner registry would not have produced nearly as many top competition horses. Without Der Lowe and Waidmannsdank, the ‘L’ line
and the ‘W’ line in Hanoverian breeding would not exist nor would Donnerhall and his many descendants in dressage. And without Neckar, Hanoverian breeding would surely have suffered. Without Fra Diavolo, Orange Peel, Ultimate, Laudanum,
Sire and Night And Day, a vast number of famous Selle Français horses would not exist nor would several KWPN horses. Without Furioso, the descendants of Furioso II, Lurioso,
Futuro, Fair Play III, Narcos II and Voltaire would never have entered the performance arena or the gene pool in so many registries. Without Maigraf, Perfectionist, Traumgeist and Poet,
many famous Trakehners would not have spread their influence to other registries.
28 July/August 2013 Without Pluchino, Frontal, Sinus, and Papayer, Westphalen
breeding would not have produced as many champions. Without Rantzau, there would not have been a Cor de la
Bryere or any of the famous competitors that carry his blood, nor would Baloubet du Rouet have won World Cup Finals, earned Olympic medals and sired top competitors. Without Rittersporn, there would be no Ramzes (AA) and
therefore no Ramiro. Without Abgar, Le Val Blanc, Pericles, Lucky Boy,
Upper-cut and Courville, the KWPN registry would surely have suffered greatly. Without Chou Chin Chow, Golden Beaker, Imperius,
Bassompiere, Rhett Butler, Edmund Burke, Water Serpent and Coevers, Irish-breds would not have gained a prominent position of the world stage. Without Vollkorn or Barsoi, several famous Oldenburg
horses would not have existed. Without Babamist, Primitive Rising or Welton Gameful, several internationally ranked eventers would never have been. Without Black Sky, Bleep and Cardinal, a long list of
dressage competitors would not have gone to the Olympics. And what of the phenomenal dressage influence Angelo? Without Forrest, several internationally ranked eventers and the phenomenal jumper Shutterfly would not have existed. And, in most recent history, several registries would have suffered without the influence of Heraldik, who had five descendants (four eventers and one dressage mount) at the London Olympics.
OF THE MORE THAN 50 influential Thoroughbred sires listed above, only Ladykiller (born in 1961), Furioso (born
Present
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