42 show jumping stallions approved for the Hanoverian licensing, pedigree analysis

Fifty-five stallions with show-jumping potential were accepted for the Oldenburg Stallion Days. In Verden, 42 stallions—descended from 33 different sires—were selected from among more than 100 stallions with 71 different sires that had been entered for evaluation.

As in Verden, the Belgian European team champion Ermitage Kalone leads the pack among sires with four offspring. Five of his offspring were presented.

The Hanoverian Association received the most pre-registrations for Diathletico’s offspring (8). However, only three were approved. Chaloubino PS, Cornet Obolensky, and Esmeraldo each had four offspring entered in the preliminary selection and were able to get two through each.

Chaccothage Blue PS had a 100 percent success rate, with three of his offspring appearing on the list of applications, all of which were approved.

Ermitage Kalone—popular among breeders for good reason

Gilles Thomas’s piebald chestnut, Ermitage Kalone,

not

only jumps with fantastic style, exemplary rideability, and seemingly boundless ability. He also has a highly interesting pedigree, as he traces back to an Anglo-Arabian dam line. This line has already proven itself, in the generations preceding Ermitage Kalone, to be a rich source of athletic talent and breeding stock.

From Ermitage’s direct maternal line alone, eight licensed stallions and eight sport horses successful at the S-level—some of whom achieved success at the highest level—have emerged up to the fourth generation. The purebred Anglo-Arab breeding line was first broken with Ermitage’s dam, who is descended from the former WBFSH leader Kannan and thus carries the valuable Furioso II bloodline. Ermitage’s French breeder, Magali Dessalles, then decided to pair him with Catoki, a representative of the Cor de la Bryère line through the Caletto I line. Ermitage Kalone demonstrates just what a breeding coup this was in every course.

He was widely used for breeding. His oldest offspring were born in 2018 and compete in 1.45-meter show jumping. Horsetelex alone lists 1,599 of Ermitage’s offspring, although owners decide voluntarily whether to register their horses. Among them are 31 licensed stallions and eight offspring competing at the international S level.

The Cor de la Bryère Phenomenon

Holstein’s“import sensation,” Cor de la Bryère, is once again the outstanding sire in Hanover, with 18 offspring. He appears in the licensing catalog across four lines: that of Caletto I via Catoki (5) and Chacco-Blue (5), that of Caletto II via Casall (1), that of Corrado I via Cornet Obolensky (5), and that of Calypso II via Contender and Conthargos (2).

This, too, is consistent with the picture from Vechta: Caletto I and Corrado I have had the greatest influence on subsequent generations.

Capitol I

The other famous Holsteiner C-line sire, Capitol I, appears five times in the pedigrees, across four different lines. McAllister VDL, who is only nine years old, was introduced to the sport by Jur Frieling and now jumps over 1.60 meters for the UAE; he is a descendant of Indoctro and has a offspring competing in Verden.

The Olympic stallion Carthago himself has a direct descendant in the Verden licensing class. He is also represented by a great-grandson through Cicero van Paemel Z and his son Captain Pezi.

Max Kühner’s Chardonnay, who, following his successful athletic career—during which he wowed audiences at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, among other events—has sired a foal. He is descended from Capitol I via Clarimo.

Cardento, who achieved sporting fame in Sweden and made a name for himself through offspring such as Katanga van het Dingeshof (Nicola Philippaerts), Catch Me Not S, C Vier 2, and Carrera VDL, is represented at Verden by a grandson, Vatson Sitte.

Diamant de Semilly

France’s leading sire, Diamant de Semilly, is represented by seven offspring in the 2026 Hanoverian licensing program.

In German show jumping breeding, Diamant de Semilly has made his mark primarily through the former Holsteiner champion stallion Diarado. Diarado’s grandson, the Celle state stud stallion Diathletico, is represented by three offspring.

Among the stallions that have sired multiple offspring (2) is the former Holsteiner Champion Stallion Esmeraldo, bred by Friedrich Meyer and now internationally placed at the S-level under the saddle of his daughter, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann. Esmeraldo is a son of Emerald van’t Ruytershof and thus a grandson of Diamant de Semilly.

The French stallion is also represented elsewhere as a grandsire. Catalog number 66 is a descendant of his son Diamant van Klapscheut Z. Number 72 is a representative of the first crop of Willem Greve’s promising prospect Drummer 2000 TN Z, who is himself a son of Diamant de Semilly out of the Holsteiner dam China Touch by Chin Chin-Caretino, who also produced, among others, the stallions Don’t Touch Tiji Hero Z, Akarad Hero Z, and Devil 2000 Z.

Darco

Belgium’s top sire, Darco—who, through Lugano van La Roche, has a Hanoverian sire—appears twice in the pedigrees: once through his grandson Dallas VDL by Douglas, and once through Ogano, who is himself a descendant of Ogano Sitte—and thus a grandson of Darco—and also has a Diarado dam.

Ibrahim – More Than

Just

Almé

If there’s one stallion that comes close to Cor de la Bryère in terms of charisma, it’s probably Almé. The French son of Ibrahim— whose story you can read here—is represented in Verden by three promotional horses.

His most successful line by far is the one tracing back through Galoubet and on to Olympic champion Baloubet du Rouet. His son, Balou du Rouet—who passed away earlier this week at the age of 27—is represented in Verden by a grandson sired by Balou Peggio.

Just as successful on the competition circuit as Baloubet du Rouet, but not (yet?) as influential in breeding, is Christian Ahlmann’s Taloubet Z, who is also a direct son of Galoubet and thus a grandson of Almé. The Taloubet son Tiebreaker, the champion stallion at the 2022 Mecklenburg licensing, also has a son competing in Verden.

Last but not least, Almé is also responsible for the U line, which rose to fame thanks to horses like United Touch S. He established this line through Jalisco B, the great-great-grandfather of Untouchable, who in turn is the least common multiple of the U horses. In Verden, he appears through his grandson Uricas vd Kattevennen, who once caused a sensation under Harrie Smolders but now competes with the American rider Callie Schott.

But Almé isn’t the only son of Ibrahim responsible for an entire dynasty. The same is true of Narcos II, who—thanks largely to his son Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve—continues to make appearances at major show jumping events. Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve not only sired horses such as Darry Lou and Tobago Z (thanks to whose son, Otello de Guldenboom, Germany won the team world championship in Aachen), but also, for example, the Westphalian premium stallion Tangelo’s Son TZ, who is sending a representative from his first crop to Verden.

Other lines

. Hanoverian sires from Hanoverian bloodlines include Grey Butt by Grey Top (Liebeslust line, including, among others, Butts Leon/Andreas Dibowski) and Perigueux by Perpignon (Jedraza line, e.g., Harmony’s V-Plus/Susan Pape), both of whom have produced an offspring for Verden.

In addition, the Holsteiner line founder Ladykiller xx is represented by a great-great-grandson descended from Laith, a son of Lord Z. Although this stallion—who has enjoyed success with Shane Breen at the 1.60-meter level—is registered as a Hanoverian, he has a Holsteiner sire and a Westphalian dam line.

Breeder Ursula Döpke from Rahden has shown courage in her breeding choices. She paired a daughter of Rocky Lee—who himself carries strong bloodlines from his grandfather Justinian xx—with the Thoroughbred Mondial Dancer xx. So far, this bold move has paid off. The result will be presented at the licensing in Verden.