POV
They can make more money in dressage or jumping. And eventers pride themselves on buying an off-the-track Thoroughbred.” “A stallion
owner must have strong nerves to watch their horse run cross country at the upper levels,” Andrew adds. “How- ever, for most of them, they have confidence in the ability of their horse, which makes it easier.” He explains how he evaluates a stallion’s aptitude. “The
Liam with Joe McKinley at the 2012 Shepherd Ranch Horse Trials, CA.
Andrew credits the older Trakehner stallion Sti-
letto, owned by Valhalla Farm, for taking care of him in eventing. He found that Stiletto preferred jumping to dressage, and so he started the horse in eventing for a change. “He was showing Prix St. Georges and his owner felt he was somewhat bored and happi- est when jumping, and she was right. He really loved eventing and quickly moved up the levels,” he says. “Afterwards he continued his dressage career at Val- halla and is now competing at Grand Prix!” “I think eventing is very stimulating to stallions (especially cross country) because there is always something new, and some really thrive on that,” An-
drew remarks. A younger Trakehner, Semper Fidelis, or “Snapper” (Tzigane
move from Novice to Training level is a challenging jump for stallions because it is the first strong push out of their com- fort zone. If they don’t make that transition easily, then there is not a likelihood of moving on. It is usually at Preliminary that I realize whether or not they will be competitive.” When asked how he judges whether a stallion’s talents
match this sport, he replies, “Basic lower level eventing an- swers most of your questions about where your horse’s strength lies. If you have a young stallion and want to find his talent, then eventing can point you in the right direction. You gain experience in all three disciplines and find out early if they want to do it or not.”
Bred for Cross-Country Jumping Warmbloods have taken over the sport in its transition from the established military-style of combined training, with the original four phases on cross-country day. Traditionally bred as officers’ mounts in the German cavalry, Trakehners excelled in the old three-day format, and continue to prosper today. Tate is following the successes of Windfall, the Trakehner
who remains as America’s top eventing stallion (see sidebar). Foaled in 2006 in Texas, Tate moved up to Intermediate in 2013 and won his first one star in May. Andrew has another young U.S.-bred stallion, Cardinali
(Tradition x Impulsivo xx). In 2013, this pair competed at Training Level. “Cardinali is about ready for the move up to Intermediate, but we still need to get some FEI competitions under our belt,” he says. “He will probably run a one star in the fall and early 2014 with a few Intermediate horse trials in between. I still have to learn to ride him a bit faster. Because he is compact and very quick, I feel like I am going much faster than I actually am.”
x Polarpunkt), is competing in 2013 as a four-year-old. Kim Hunter of Argyle, Texas bred and co-owns this stallion. She also owns his sire, and says, “Tzigane is an extraordinary jumper. He has Ramzes in the third generation and is one of the clos- est descendants of Ramzes living.” She notes that Ramzes is the grandsire of Ramiro, a legendary sire of jumpers. Two Hanoveri-
ans, both of dres- sage bloodlines, cur- rently compete at Intermediate. One is Dana’s Worthy Op- ponent (Waikiki x Hohenstein), foaled in 2003. She calls him “Archie,” for his dam’s grandsire, Archipel. Dana says that despite what in- spection judges expected, Archie is very good at jumping. “Horses get pigeonholed,” she says. As an eventer, she wasn’t aware that her youngster wasn’t “supposed” to be a jumper. “People forget that Weltmeyer (Waikiki’s sire) was a good jumper himself.” She recalls Dr. Christian Schact, breeding director of the
Oldenburg Registry North America and International Sport- horse Registry, saying, “I tell people in Germany the Ameri- cans are crazy—they jump a Hohenstein offspring.” San City, a 2006 Hanoverian stallion (San Remo x Bolero), is from Dream Acres Sport Horses in Ponce de Leon, Florida.
Warmbloods Today 71
Young Trakehner Semper Fidelis, show- ing at Aspen Farms with co-owner and trainer Gary Mittleider.
Three Amigas Photography
Kelly Prentice-Lankford
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