Horses Unlimited Stallions Earn a National Championship and Three RPSI Approved Stallion Designations

September 3, 2009 Off By Roberta Johnston

Horses Unlimited Stallions Earn a National Championship and Three RPSI Approved Stallion Designations

Albuquerque, NM—As every breeder has experienced, the process of breeding mares and raising foals has many highs and lows. So when those moments of success arrive, it is important to savor them. Anne Sparks, owner of Horses Unlimited, had 48 hours to remember last week when four of her young stallions earned prestigious accolades. Homebred Pikko del Cerro HU won the 2009 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championship– Six-Year-Old. Two days later at the RPSI inspection, homebreds Galante HU and Let’s Dance HU became Approved stallions. Liberando VT, by Horses Unlimited’s Leonberg, was also Approved.

“I cannot even describe the emotions,” Sparks says. “It was a magical two days.” Pikko del Cerro HU, by Pik L out of the Rohdiamant mare Rohweena, has had a stellar young horse career that has included fours wins in the USEF Four Year Old and FEI Five Year Old classes at Dressage at Devon with scores over 80% and two Born in the USA Breeders’ Awards at Dressage at Devon. The National Championship is the final feather in the bay Hanoverian stallion’s cap. “American breeders are producing quality horses that are capable of competing on the world’s stage,” Sparks says. “Cerro is a testament to that.” Cerro’s full brother Pikko del Rio HU also competed at the national championships and finished ninth overall in the Five Year Old Division.

Two days later at the RPSI inspection, the Horses Unlimited homebreds proved their mettle. Galante HU, by the Olympic dressage stallion Galant du Serein out of the Landor S mare Landina, received impressive scores to earn the Approved Stallion designation. The bay stallion, who is an absolute reflection of his famous sire, earned 8s for Breed and Type, Conformation, Walk, Canter and Overall Impression. He also received a 9.0 in Free Jumping. “Galante looks so much like Galant,” Sparks says. “We are looking forward to his performance and breeding careers.”

Another homebred stallion, Let’s Dance HU, also was approved. A son of Lord of Dancing and out of the Ehrentanz I x Florestan mare Ezmarelde, Let’s Dance HU received 8s on Walk, Trot and Overall Impression, with a coveted 9 on his Canter.

Liberando VT, by Leonberg out the Roemer mare Hearsay, earned 8s on Breed and Type, Walk, Canter, Free Jumping and Overall Impression. Liberando VT was produced from a breeding donated to Virginia Tech. The gray stallion was such an impressive colt that Horses Unlimited bought him as a weanling and he was quickly named Premium colt and the Champion of his inspection. “He always been a very special horse,” Sparks says of Liberando. “He has three good gaits, but he also has that something extra that makes a good stallion.”

Three Horses Unlimited foals were also presented at the inspection. Good Lookin HU, a full brother to Galante HU, was awarded Gold Premium with scores of 8 on Type and Conformation, Movement and Overall. Lyrica Q HU, by Leonberg out of the Quebec mare Querida, also received Gold Premium with scores of 8.2 on Type and Conformation, 7.8 on movement and an 8.0 Overall. Gallant Reflection HU, by Galant du Serein out of the Rohdiamant mare Rohmanie, received an 8.0 on movement and finished with a 7.6 Overall for the Silver Premium award.

Earlier this month at the American Hanoverian Society inspection Pik L’s Pixie HU received the High Point Hanoverian. By Pik L out of Rohmanie, Pik L’s Pixie HU received an 8 on Impulsion and a 9 on Elasticity and also completed her Mare Performance Test, making her an Elite mare candidate. Another Pik L daughter, Pikka Winna HU, out of the Wolkenstein II mare Wikita, also became an Elite mare candidate. Not to be left out, two Glorioso Noir mares, Golden Darling HU and Golden Siren HU, were inspected and entered into the Main Studbook, where they are Elite mare eligible. The winner of the Mare Performance Test, Raven Review, owned by Paradigm Sporthorses, was sold to Wanda and Mark Hage during the 2002 Horses Unlimited auction. Sparks says, “We are truly keeping it all in the family! It has been a great week and summer!”

To learn more about Horses Unlimited, visit www.horsesunlimited.us.

About Horses Unlimited

Horses Unlimited is one of the premier sport horse breeding establishments in the United States. Utilizing the best bloodlines from Europe, Horses Unlimited is producing jumpers, dressage and eventing horses for both amateur and professional riders who compete from the local level to the international ring. Their horses have competed at the highest level of the sport, including CHIO Aachen to the Olympic Games.