The Foundation of a World Class Breeding Program

Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, Inc.

Recently, we shared an article published by Dressage Daily covering the genetic and behavioral considerations in assessing a mare for your breeding program, or in the purchase of your next sport prospect. In case you missed it in our last newsletter, click here to get caught up on the topic.

The start of any fledgling breeding program is always the selection of your “foundation mares”. What is that, you ask? That is the stock you decide to build the foundation of your (hopefully) many future generations of healthy and desirable offspring, all of which are intended to be an improvement on the previous generation through careful selection of an ideal stallion to be each mare’s match each year. For some, these foundation mares are the result of a “happy accident”, a situation in which a quality broodmare materializes through a variety of ways: perhaps your performance mare presented with an injury, perhaps you relied on someone telling you this mare was the one, perhaps you inherited or rescued a mare from an awkward circumstance, or perhaps you truly thought you knew what you were doing…back then.

Ryan Pedigo, on the other hand, has committed himself and his breeding program to a high (and ever-increasing) standard of excellence.

Ryan’s mare selections are far from happy accidents. In addition to building an impressive stallion roster, Ryan maintains a keen focus in pursuit of the perfect mares to produce top-caliber jumping sporthorse prospects fit for the ambitious rider. Decades of research, learning and experience has resulted in his hand-selected lineup of truly special mares, all of which are subjected to the highest rigor of testing in all aspects of their existence, including health, performance, pedigree, and temperament. Ryan stops at nothing to ensure he is breeding the most qualified mares. This is no easy feat! Anyone who has been long enough in the breeding world knows the true commitment it takes to persevere through the ups and downs of breeding, and can appreciate what it takes to gather such a roster of mares from which to produce truly promising offspring. Yet it is from only the best foundation that generations of excellence are born.

The culmination of all this research and experience has led to Ryan’s most recent acquisition, PF’s Marlene, a supremely talented young mare from undeniable lineage.

Learn all about PF’s Marlene and get to know the rest of Ryan’s impressive broodmare band by reading on. Ryan is incredibly personable and goes through great lengths to support his clients and mare owners, so don’t hesitate to reach out to Ryan to learn more about each of these mare’s special qualities! You just might find your next prospect out of one of these dams…

Introducing PF’s Marlene, the newest addition to Ryan Pedigo’s world class breeding program

2019 Bay, Holsteiner Broodmare
Don VHP Z – Calido I – Acobat II

PF’s Marlene, is a Bay, Holsteiner mare recently imported to Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, sired by DON VHP Z (2004, chestnut, stallion by Diamant de Semilly). PF’s Marlene’s world class sire Don VHP Z needs no introduction.  The well known son of Diamant de Semilly is from the same Dam as HH Carlos, who was ridden by McLain Ward. Don VHP Z was a finalist in the Addington Young Horse Championships in 2009, then went on to be selected to represent Great Britain in Belgium at the World Championships for Young Horses. In the following year, he took the win at the Walwyn Championships at Royal Windsor and he went on to qualify at Newcomers and Foxhunter in the second round. During his six year old year he was victorious and won the Championship at HOYS, ridden by Harrie Smolders since 2015, this horse and rider combination achieved many top performances at the highest levels.

Some of the most notable wins include: Vice European Champions, where they jumped double clear to win the final of the Longines Nations Cup in Barcelona, jumped double clear in the CSIO Hickstead, and won  the GCT GP Rome. The duo gained much attention in 2019 when they earned a 2nd place at the LGCT CP CS15* GP in Miami, 3rd at the LGCT* GP in Mexico City and a win in the 1m 55 Grand Prix at CS13* Knokke. Their success continued with a 4th place in the 1m 55 jump off at the CS15* GCT Valkenswaard and at the CS15* Stephex Masters in Brussels. In 2017 Don VHP Z jumped an incredible 85% clear rounds at 1m 60 level and in 2018 they won the GCT of Hamburg. In 2019 they also won the GP of Knokke. Further impressive accomplishments of this horse and rider combination was a qualification for the 2016 World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics, representing the Netherlands with the Dutch team. During the 2017 Longines Global Champions Tour they finished in fifth place on the LGCT rankings and at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, Don VHP Z earned a top placing out of 124 horses. Don VHP Z’s sire, Diamant de Semilly, has an outstanding lineage showcasing some of the best proven sport horse French bloodlines which guarantees the production of progeny of International show jumping caliber. He was an exceptional show jumper and a very proven sire, by top international sire Le Tot de Semilly. Diamant won team gold at the World Championships in 2002 at Jerez de la Frontera and placed 9th in the individual final. In 2002 he earned team gold, and in 2003 team silver at the European Championships in Donaueschingen. Furthermore, he won numerous Grand Prix competitions during his lifetime, including the GP of Saint-Lo and GP Caen. Many descendants of Diamant de Semilly are still actively competing in show jumping’s highest levels, such as Emerald vant’ Ruytershof.

PF’s Marlene’s Dams sire, Calido I, belongs to the best Holsteiner stallion lineage of today, with life-time earnings of his progeny of more than 2.43 million euros. He has 51 licensed sons, with two of them awarded and recognized by the OS-International Association in 2011 and son Calitendro was awarded premium stallion status. Numerous top riders have performed successfully with Calido offspring, one of the most notable being the 3-time German Champion, Coupe de Coeur, who lead the 2009 Riders Tour with Ludger Beerbaum and was proclaimed as the most successful stallion in breeding at the 2011 European Championships with Henrik von Eckermann. Noblesse M under rider Pius Schwizer belonged to the bronze team winning team at the 2008 Olympic Games, and Eurocommerce Acapulco was Vice Champion of the Netherlands under rider Gerco Schroder. Surprise, under rider Mynou Diedrichsmeyer, was an international success like many other Calido progeny.

PF’s Marlene’s dam’s grandsire Acobat II is a producer of exceptional show jumpers and known as a great stallion with top qualities and a high level of elasticity. He won many young horses jumping competitions, competing at the Bundeschapionat and later in his career placing in multiple S jumping competitions. He earned a 3rd place in the Schleswig-Holstein Regional Championships in 1999 under rider Samantha Lam. Many of his progeny were successful in S jumping competitions, notably Aquino, under rider Frank Sloothaak, would be considered the most prominent. His sire, Athlet Z, stood at stud with Klein Offenseth for many years, and dam Tschita produced two greys, Acobat I and Acobat III, from the same breeding combination. Acobat II can easily be considered the most important of the three Acobat brothers. Grand dam Oruna, a full sister to mare Ribecka, are both descendants of the superior Calypso I. Ribecka combines with Ahorn Z, the three exceptional approved stallions Acord I, II, and III. The dam line 7126 is also represented through the stallion Athletico, Aktionar, and Burggraaf.

The Mares of Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, Inc.

Follow the links below to route directly to each mare’s information on Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses website, or click here to browse the complete list of top caliber broodmares.

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The Stallions of Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, Inc.

Any article covering Ryan Pedigo’s breeding operation would be remiss if it didn’t make reference to Ryan’s impressive lineup of super stallions, each carefully chosen and acquired for their performance and breeding qualities. Click on each stallion below to learn more…and perhaps inquire for a breeding contract for your mare! You can also find information on the Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, Inc. website here.