For years, he has been the benchmark sire in international eventing: we are talking about Diarado, the 2007 Holsteiner Champion Stallion bred by Klaus Klaus Thingholm Kristensen (DEN), line 318D2. This is now the fourth time he has topped the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) sire rankings in this discipline.
The black-bay stallion has always been owned by a consortium comprising Paul Schockemöhle Pferdehaltung GmbH, the Dutch stallion owner Joop van Uytert and Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs GmbH.
And Diarado’s breeding value is more relevant than ever, as his offspring are making a name for themselves all over the world with their successes in cross-country. And the three most successful are all registered in Holstein: these are JL Dublin (sire: Canto, Volker Göttsche-Götze, Groß Buchwald), line 1907, Dacapo (sire: Canturo, ZG Bock, Schülp), line 8805, and Dyri (sire: King Milford xx, Stephan Hein, Neuleben), line 749. Diarado also occupies a respectable 13th place in the show jumping rankings.
“The Holstein stallion Diarado combines the best of show jumping and breeding lines,” says the WBFSH. Known for his elegance, jumping power and intelligence, Diarado regularly produces rideable athletes who are well-suited to modern eventing. His offspring demonstrate exceptional versatility, with many of them enjoying success in CCI4* and CCI5* events. Diarado’s balance between power and lightness makes him a favourite amongst breeders seeking versatile athletes.”
Contendro I, a son of Contender and Reichsgraf, has moved up one place compared with last year. He is sixth in the eventing sire rankings and represents line 104A, which Manfred Birchler from Bilten in Switzerland maintains so meticulously.
In the show jumping rankings, Cardento by Capitol I-Lord (Reimer Witt, Wellinghusen), line 741, can also be found in tenth place. Casall by Caretino-Lavall I (Wilfried Thomann, Drelsdorf), line 890, comes in at number 14.
Photo: Janne Bugtrup
