Aims and Goals

Up till about 1995 I was breeding the odd foal. When Faustina produced so many quality fillies it seemed a ‘waste’ to ride them. With the availability of the frozen semen and the expertise of Gin Gin Vet Clinic the breeding became a lot more focused.

Although there is world wide emphasis on breeding either a jumping- or a dressage horse, I have always maintained that I want to breed an athletic horse rather than try and breed a specific dressage – or showjumping horse. I wanted a horse with good hock action that has plenty of power behind, one with a good shoulder. Because whether you aim for a jumper or a dressage horse, if it cannot use its hindquarters (the engine) properly you are already lacking. If you think that dressage horses do not need jumping blood, then think again. Just look at Ferro, Krack C, Metall, Silvano, and many more, all from jumping lines.

To achieve my goal of the athletic horse I have purposely selected stallions that not only compliment the mares, but that have come from dominant mothers themselves. I believe that to achieve my goal of the athletic horse I have purposely selected stallions that not only compliment the mares, but that have come from dominant mothers themselves. Stallions like LaRoche, quite unknown here, but comes from a super mother (Nimmerdor (keur) – Marco Polo).

Through this process I have bloodlines in my small group of horses that are unique in Australia, because I have not always used well known or ‘famous’ stallions: DvZ Stud is the ONLY stud with offspring by Rebel I Z; we are one of the few with a colt by Indoctro (KWPN keur) and we are the ONLY ones with two by Goodtimes (Nimmerdor x Caletto I). I believe that mares have 60-70% influence on their offspring. My mares are of Holsteiner lines. That happened not by choice but when I was living in Queensland the Holsteiners Falkland and Monopol were the only stallions available.

The stallions I chose have been mainly from The Netherlands from the VDL Stud (Van de Lageweg) AEA-Burong and Figaro imp. from Balmoral Warmblood Stud. (Apart from breeding top horses, The Netherlands has the best quality control when it comes to frozen sperm quality.) Most of those stallions are of Holsteiner lines with Dutch and Selle Francais. This genetic mix works extremely well. The Dutch have come from ‘nowhere’ some 30 years ago to be today's leaders in the world of sport horse breeding.

Breeding is a gamble but I believe in narrowing the odds, and by using top quality mares of good conformation and temperament, combining them with some of the best bloodlines in the world and raise those mares and their offspring on excellent pasture, in spacious paddocks, then, with a bit of luck thrown in, you just might get some top youngsters! You are now invited to continue your journey.