Skovens Rafael, Danish Warmblood Stallion of the Year 2019

Fri, 03/15/2019 - 09:21
Danish Warmblood
Lotte Skjærbæk on Skovens Rafael at the 2019 Danish Warmblood Stallion Licensing in Herning

Danish Warmblood’s 22nd Stallion of the Year title has been awarded to the Grand Prix dressage stallion Skovens Rafael. He was honoured and celebrated by an enthusiastic crowd at the 2019 Danish Warmblood Stallion Licensing in Herning

As a foal Skovens Rafael (by Romanov  x  Don Schufro -bred by Kirsten B. Hansen and Jens Lund Pedersen) was sold at the DWB Elite Foal Auction to foreign investors and he grew up at Blue Hors stud in Danmark. As a 3-year-old he became a premium stallion and at the time the most expensive young stallion ever sold at the Spring Auction in Herning. Rafael is out of a dam line that has produced several top horses, and his breeding line Blue Hors Romanov  x Blue Hors Don Schufro x Zorro Z is a string of international Grand Prix stallions.

His new owners, Lotte and Per Skjærbæk & Lotte Lindgreen have developed Rafael into a superb dressage horse. Ridden by Lotte Skjærbæk he won the Danish young dressage horse championship as a 4-year-old and was a finalist at the FEI/WBFSH world championships in Verden at the age of 5 and 6. Lotte and Rafael have developed into a successful pair at international Grand Prix level and became Nordic champions in 2017.

Jan Pedersen, Per and Lotte Skjaerbaek and Lotte Lindgreen
with Skovens Rafael at his celebration in Herning
Not only in international sport, but also in breeding Skovens Rafael have placed himself on the world map. In Danish Warmblood he holds one of the highest dressage breeding values because of his many very rideable and talented offspring. Also in Sweden, Skovens Rafael is highly valued as a sire and his most famous young offspring at the moment is the Swedish bred stallion Springbank II VH.

The owners of Skovens Rafael were presented with flowers, a statuette and a painting of their stallion.

Photos © Ridehesten

Related Links
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Skovens Rafael Sustains Hoof Injury at the 2017 CDI Helsinki
Skovens Rafael, Most Popular Breeding Stallion in Sweden in 2016
Skovens Rafael Moves to Sweden
Skovens Rafael, Temptation, Sunny Boy Proclaimed Elite Stallions
Skovens Rafael, a Remarkable Young Sire with a Great Success Story
Skovens Rafael, Price Highlight of the 2007 Danish Warmblood Stallion Auction

Previous Winners
Furstenball, Danish Warmblood Stallion of the Year 2018
Hotline Named Danish Warmblood Stallion of the Year 2016
Heartbeat, Danish Stallion of the Year 2013
Blue Hors Romanov, Danish Stallion of the Year 2011
Don Romantic, 2010 Danish Warmblood Stallion of the Year
Cajus Proclaimed Danish Stallion of the Year
Blue Hors Hertug, Danish Warmblood Stallion of the Year 2007
Michellino, Danish Stallion of the Year 2006