The 2021 breeding values are now available and, as every year, can provide breeders with important guidance for their mating decisions. For the third time, in addition to the breeding value estimations for “young horse classes” and “national competition sport”, a separate breeding value estimation for the “highest class achieved in international and national competition sport (HEK)” was carried out. In this estimation, performances were classified in an even more differentiated manner than in previous years: placings from fifth place up to one third of the competing horses receive a higher HEK value than the remaining ranked horses. Breeding value estimation began as early as the mid-1990s, for which corresponding data was collected and evaluated, with international results also having been incorporated into the estimation since 2019. The data for this is provided by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (FEI). “With the breeding value estimation, we can provide breeders with a great deal of information. However, to interpret the values correctly, one must know the different data bases and the traits underlying the three different breeding value estimations,” says Dr Teresa Dohms-Warnecke, Deputy Managing Director of the Breeding Department at the German Equestrian Federation (FN).
The aim of every breeding value estimation is to estimate genetically determined performance differences as precisely as possible in order to provide the breeder with the necessary basis for their mating decision. Of course, it cannot provide a guarantee for a successful mating. The procedure of the FN breeding value estimations combines information from sport and breeding, which serves the goal of an early, accurate, and best possible prediction of the breeding values. When interpreting the breeding values, it is essential to note that the breeding values are estimated with varying degrees of reliability, ranging from 99 per cent (very reliable) to 70 per cent (estimated with lower reliability).
FN Breeding Value Estimation Highest Class Achieved (HEK)
For the third time this year, a breeding value estimation based on national and international competition sport data was carried out. The trait is the highest class achieved (HEK) in the disciplines of dressage and show jumping respectively. As a result, only one observation per horse is taken into account, namely the highest placing achieved or the start of the respective horse. In addition to the 19.4 million results (2020: 19 million results) from competition sport classes in Germany, over 1 million results of German horses (2020: 955,000 results) from international competition sport could be added. The HEK breeding values for stallions are only published if the estimated HEK show jumping or dressage breeding values have a reliability of at least 70 percent, the estimation is based on at least five progeny with direct performance records, the competition sport breeding value is published, and at least one progeny is at least seven years old.
The TOP percentage classes in this breeding value estimation are an aid in classifying the individual stallions. The top quarter has a dressage breeding value of 121 points and better. The top ten percent of stallions have achieved a breeding value of at least 139 points, and the top five percent at least 150 points. The top group – one percent of the stallions – begins at a breeding value of 173 points. The population base consists of 1,864 stallions with published breeding values.
The following stallions belong to the TOP one percent of stallions with a HEK dressage breeding value of 173 and better (ranked alphabetically):
Boston (NLD) by Jazz (BVE 174 / 83% reliability)
Breitling W by Bismarck (205 / 88)
Damon Hill by Donnerhall (184 / 93)
Diamond Hit by Don Schufro (173 / 98)
Don Schufro by Donnerhall (204 / 95)
Donnerbube I by Donnerhall (193 / 74)
Donnerhall by Donnerwetter (175 / 99)
Ferro by Ulft (75 / 87)
Gribaldi by Kostolany (186 / 94)
Jazz by Cocktail (238 / 92)
Johnson by Jazz (189/ 92)
Krack C by Flemmingh (188 / 85)
Lord Loxley I by Lord Sinclair I (173 / 96)
Painted Black by Gribaldi (194 / 73)
Romanov Blue Hors by Rohdiamant (179 / 91)
Rubin Cortes by Rubin-Royal (178 / 83)
Sir Donnerhall I by Sandro Hit (173 / 99)
Vitalis by Vivaldi (178 / 93)
Vivaldi by Krack C (182 / 85)
Welt Hit I O by Weltmeyer (189 / 81)
Welt Hit II by Weltmeyer (190 / 93)
In the breeding value estimation using the highest class achieved in show jumping, 1,942 stallions are published. Accordingly, the TOP one percent of stallions have a breeding value of 165 points, and the top five percent must show a breeding value of 144 points and better. Stallions with a breeding value of 134 points and better belong to the top ten percent of stallions, and stallions with a breeding value of 116 points and better to the top quarter.
The following stallions belong to the TOP one percent of stallions with a HEK show jumping breeding value of 165 and better (ranked alphabetically):
Baloubet du Rouet by Galoubet A (BVE 179 / 98% reliability)
Calvaro Z by Caletto I (72 / 96)
Caspar by Cassini I (167 / 96)
Chacco-Blue by Chambertin (178 / 99)
Chaccomo by Chacco-Blue (168 / 83)
Comme il faut by Cornet Obolensky (165 / 97)
Cornado I by Cornet Obolensky (165 / 96)
Cornado II by Cornet Obolensky (168 / 83)
Cornet Obolensky by Clinton (169 / 99)
Cumano by Cassini I (197 / 83)
Diamant de Semilly by Le Tot de Semilly (173 / 98)
Eldorado van de Zeshoek by Clinton (170 / 94)
Emerald van het Ruytershof by Diamant de Semilly (175 / 87)
Heartbreaker by Nimmerdor (175 / 96)
Jalisco B by Almé (165 / 89)
Kashmir van het Schuttershof by Nabab de Reve (182 / 93)
Le Tot de Semilly by Grand Veneur (166 / 89)
Ogano Sitte by Darco (171 / 90)
Quasimodo Z by Quidam de Revel (176 / 91)
Toulon by Heartbreaker (165 / 96)
Thus, the 2006 World Champion, Cumano, leads this list of stallions with progeny in the highest class achieved (HEK).
FN Breeding Value Estimation Young Horse Classes
For the young horse classes breeding value estimation, the results achieved by young horses in dressage and/or show jumping horse classes are incorporated into the breeding value estimation via the marks. Added to this are the marks from the breeding performance tests (broodmare performance tests, stallion performance tests, assessment tests, and sport tests for stallions). For the integrative breeding value estimation procedure, almost 4.9 million pieces of information from the preliminary classes of nearly 420,000 horses (2020: just over 400,000 horses), over 97,000 pieces of information from broodmare performance tests, almost 4,900 pieces of information from assessment tests, over 8,300 pieces of information from the stallion performance tests, and 600 pieces of information from the sport tests were available. For a stallion's respective young horse classes breeding value to be published, the reliability of the breeding value must also be at least 70 percent here, and at least five progeny must demonstrate direct performance.
The TOP 25 percent of stallions have a young horse dressage breeding value of 109 points and better. The TOP ten percent of stallions have achieved a breeding value of at least 126 points, and the TOP five percent at least 133 points. The top one percent of stallions have a breeding value of 146 points and better. The population base consists of 4,159 stallions with published breeding values.
The following stallions belong to the TOP one percent of stallions with a young horse classes dressage breeding value of 146 and better (ranked alphabetically):
Asgard's Ibiza by Desperado (156 /89)
Baccardi by Belissimo M (149/87)
Benicio by Belissimo M (160 / 96)
Best of Gold by Belissimo M (147 / 83)
Bon Coeur by Benetton Dream (151 / 96)
Bonds by Benicio (166 / 83)
Borsalino by Boston (NLD) (147 / 91)
Damon Hill by Donnerhall (155 / 97)
DeLorean by Dancier (153 / 83)
Devonport by Dancier (147/ 76
Don Frederic by Don Frederico (154 / 94)
Don Juan de Hus by Jazz (165 / 93)
Don Martillo by Don Juan de Hus (165 / 75)
Don Schufro by Donnerhall (146 / 98)
Duvalier by Don Juan de Hus ( 148 / 77)
Escolar by Estobar NRW (161 / 97)
Farrell by Fürstenball (146 / 84)
First Ampere by Ampere (NLD) (147 / 82)
Follow Me by Fürstenball (156 / 90)
For Dance by For Romance I (159 / 86)
Foundation by Fidertanz (150 / 97)
Franklin by Ampere (NLD) (149 / 78)
Fürst Magic by Fürstenball (156 / 75)
Fürst von Soest by Fürstenball (150 / 74)
Fürst William I by Fürst Wilhelm (152 / 78)
Fürstenball by Fürst Heinrich (154 / 99)
Fürsten-Look by Fürstenball ( 150 / 96)
Imperius by Imperio (148 / 75)
Ivanhoe by Millennium (147 / 80)
Libertad by Londontime (146 / 81)
Lissaro by Lissabon (152 / 96)
Lord Carnaby by Lord Loxley I (147 / 82)
Morricone I by Millennium (158 / 94)
Quotenkönig by Quaterback (146 / 87)
Real Diamond by Rohdiamant (150 / 92)
Revolution by Rocky Lee (148 / 80)
Rocco Granata by Rock Forever I (150 / 79)
Rock Forever I by Rockwell (149 / 98)
Roi du Soleil by Rosandro (149 /72)
Sean Connery by Sir Donnerhall I (149 / 77)
Secret by Sezuan (158 / 86)
Sir Heinrich by Sir Donnerhall I (147 / 97)
Stanford by Sir Donnerhall I (157 / 81)
Vitalis by Vivaldi (149 / 97)
Vivaldi by Krack C (146 / 96)
Zoom by Zack (160 / 80)
In the show jumping section of the young horse classes, 3,452 stallions are published. The thresholds for the best in this breeding value estimation are as follows: the top one percent of stallions have a breeding value of 141 points, and the top five percent must show a breeding value of 132 points and better. Stallions with a breeding value of 126 points and better belong to the top ten percent, and those with a breeding value of 113 points and better to the top 25 percent of stallions.
The following stallions belong to the TOP one percent of stallions with a young horse classes show jumping breeding value of 141 and better (ranked alphabetically):
Balous Bellini by Balou du Rouet (142 / 88)
Bellini Royal by Balous Bellini (141 / 79)
Cachassini by Cachas (143 / 83)
Captain Fire by Contendro I (141 / 92)
Carleyle by Connor (142 /80)
Carridam by Carrico (141 / 78)
Casalido by Casall (142 / 76)
Cascadello I by Casall (145 / 93)
Catoki by Cambridge (144 / 95)
Cellestial by Cantus (142 / 94)
Chaccato by Chacco-Blue (141 / 78)
Chacco Chacco by Chacco-Blue (148 / 82)
Chacoon Blue by Chacco-Blue (144 / 85)
Chalan by Chambertin (141 / 85)
Cloney by Contender (141 / 85)
Come and Fly by Cornet Obolensky (150 / 72)
Comme il faut by Cornet Obolensky (143 / 93)
Cornado I by Cornet Obolensky (143 / 90)
Cornet Obolensky by Clinton (141 / 97)
Diacontinus by Diarado (153 / 93)
Diamant de Plaisir I by Diamant de Semilly (152 / 72)
Douglas (Rousseau) by Darco (142 / 85)
Firth of Lorne by For Pleasure (141 / 72)
Grey Top by Graf Top (149 / 93)
Heartbreaker by Nimmerdor (144 / 88)
Hickstead White by Hickstead (142 / 82)
Los Angeles by Light On (143 / 86)
Manchester van't Paradijs by Elvis ter Putte (145 / 70)
Million Dollar by Plot Blue (145 / 79)
Now Or Never M by Voltaire (141 / 91)
Ogano Sitte by Darco (145 / 77)
Perigueux by Perpignon (149 / 94)
Quadam by Quite Easy I (141 / 76)
Qualito by Quaid I (156 / 85)
Samorano by Stakkato (141 / 76)
Sampres by Stakkato (150 / 76)
Sandokan LGST by Stakkato (142 / 80)
Stakkato by Spartan (153 / 98)
Stakkato Gold by Stakkato (149 / 92)
Stanley by Stakkato (153 / 88(
Starpower by Stakkato (141 / 76)
Stolzenberg by Stakkato (141 / 95)
Valentino by Now Or Never M (143 / 94)
FN Breeding Value Estimation Competition Sport
In the competition sport breeding value estimation, starts or placings in German competition sport classes serve as the sole information base. This year, data from over 590,000 horses (2020: nearly 577,000 horses) and the results of over 19.3 million competition sport classes in Germany have now been processed for the estimation. Over 13.5 million performances stem from show jumping classes (2020: 13.2 results) and almost 5.9 million results from dressage classes (2020: almost 5.8 million results).
In contrast to the highest class achieved (HEK) breeding value estimation, all starts of the horses are taken into account in the competition sport breeding value estimation; this means that all performances per horse are considered. The respective competition sport breeding values are published if they show a reliability of at least 70 percent, the estimation is based on at least five progeny with direct performance records, and the stallions have a published young horse classes breeding value.
Here too, the ranking of the stallions into the TOP percentage classes is helpful for the breeders. Based on a total number of 1,916 stallions, the top quarter has a competition dressage breeding value of 109 points and better. The top ten percent of stallions have achieved a breeding value of at least 124 points, and the top five percent at least 133 points. The top group – one percent of all stallions – begins at a breeding value of 148 points.
The following stallions belong to the TOP one percent of stallions with a competition sport dressage breeding value of 148 and better (ranked alphabetically):
Benicio by Belissimo M (151 / 79)
Bordeaux (NLD) by United (159 / 90)
Breitling W by Bismarck (162 / 87)
Damon Hill by Donnerhall (165 / 92)
Dimaggio by Don Primero (149 / 94)
Don Juan de Hus by Jazz (157 / 75)
Don Schufro by Donnerhall (162 / 94)
Dressage Royal by Donnerhall (152 / 90)
Escolar by Estobar NRW (167 / 76)
Flanagan by Fidertanz (148 / 85)
Florencio I by Florestan I (149 / 97)
Fürstenball by Fürst Heinrich (161 / 96)
Jazz by Cocktail (168 / 91)
Krack C by Flemmingh (156 / 85)
Lissaro by Lissabon (155 / 89)
Painted Black by Gribaldi (150 / 72)
Rock Forever I by Rockwell (150 / 95)
Vitalis by Vivaldi (168 / 91)
Vivaldi by Krack C (171 / 83)
Zack by Rousseau (150 / 88)
Among the 1,954 show jumping stallions with a published breeding value, the TOP one percent class also begins at a breeding value of 148 points, while the top five percent lie at a breeding value of 134 points and better. Stallions with a breeding value of 128 points and better count among the top ten percent of the stallion population, and stallions with a breeding value of 115 points and better among the upper quarter.
The following stallions belong to the TOP one percent of stallions with a competition sport show jumping breeding value of 148 and better (ranked alphabetically):
Carvallo BB by Carthago (151 / 86)
Cash by Cor de la Bryere (149 / 86)
Chacco Chacco by Chacco-Blue (150 / 71)
Chellano Z by Contender (151 / 87)
Comme il faut by Cornet Obolensky (151 / 94)
Concorde by Voltaire (149 / 94)
Darco by Lugano van la Roche (149 / 96)
Diamant de Semilly by Le Tot de Semilly (154 / 95)
Galoubet A by Alme (161 / 83)
Harley VDL by Heartbreaker (163 / 73)
Heartbreaker by Nimmerdor (164 / 93)
Jalisco B by Alme (148 / 85)
Kashmir van het Schuttershof by Nabab de Reve (165 / 86)
Le Tot de Semilly by Grand Veneur (160 / 82)
Lupicor by Lux (153 / 92)
Mr. Blue by Couperus (148 / 84)
Ogano Sitte by Darco (150 / 80)
Orlando by Heartbreaker (149 / 81)
Quick Star by Galoubet A (156 / 95)
Stakkato Gold by Stakkato (151 / 92)
Source: German Equestrian Federation (FN)
