Danciano, Flagship Sire of Haras de Malleret, Paris 2024 Olympics Dream Goal

Breeding

Hanoverian

The 12-year old Hanoverian licensed stallion Danciano de Malleret has made his break through as a breeding stallion with offspring winning titles and championships world wide. The French owned stallion is now being readied for his Grand Prix debut under Pauline Guillem.

While the 2024 Paris Olympics are a potential target in sport, Danciano (by Dancier x Rotspon x Wolkenstein II) has breeding as his main priority in life, having already made his mark as a sire.

Flagship Stallion

Purchased by Gérald Martinez of Haras de Malleret as a 4-year old in 2014, Danciano stayed in Germany to breed and show until July 2016 after which he moved to France where he continued his stud duties.

When asked which qualities and traits Danciano passes on, Martinez beamed with pride and replied, "their character is fantastic. He produces horses that are very kind, easy and always ready to please their rider. They are often very chic, elastic, and have quick and strong hind legs."

Martinez believes that Danciano crosses best with S and F-line mares. "Theses crosses have for sure proven to be successful," he said. "He also mixes well with KWPN blood, because he calms the explosive energy in some of the Dutch horses and gives a lot of quality in the hindlegs."

A prime example of outstanding breeding was the premium stallion Take That (by Totilas x Danciano) at the 2021 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing. He sold for 370,000 euro to Klosterhof Medingen.

"Danciano is quite classic on the front leg action, but everything is in place and correct. The typical example of a successful cross is Take That, who was for me the best of the Hanoverian licensing, alongside my stallion Faszination," said Gérald. "The Totilas-side brought more elevation to the front legs and Danciano added frame, neck length, legs, and the easy character. He also improved the hind legs in my opinion."

Top Producer

In the past two years, Danciano's exceptional breeding qualities were proven over and over again at breed shows and dressage competitions. In 2020 he sired the French Foal Champion and French 3-year old Mare Champion.

His progeny took the spotlight at numerous international dressage shows Danny Cool (by Danciano x Sandro Hit) won silver at the 2020 Bundeschampionate and placed 12th at the 2021 World Young Horse Championships in Verden under Lisa Horler. Eva Niklova finished 11th at the 2020 Bundeschampionate on Dolciario (by Danciano x Don Frederico) and most recently the horse won the 1* Prix St Georges at the 2022 CDI Wellington under Frederic Wandres, scoring 74.235%.

Deep Infinity (by Danciano x Sir Donnerhall I) placed 10th and Daktari K (by Danciano x Belisimmo M) 14th at the 2020 Bundeschampionate. At the same venue Spanish Olympic team reserve Borja Carrascosa rode Dirham (by Danciano x Sandro Hit) and Liv Malin Heite campaigned Dao Fo (by Danciano x Locksley II).

In the U.S.A. the Hanoverian stallion Daily Show (by Danciano x Stockholm) won the 2021 U.S. Developing Prix St Georges Championship. Malleret's head rider Pauline Guillem piloted the Oldenburg mare Dancielle de Malleret (by Danciano x Florencio) to a fourth place at the 2021 French 7-Yo Championship.

Furthermore, the young dressage star Dresscode (by Danciano x Furstenball) sold for 72,000 euro at the 2021 Oldenburg Spring Elite Auction.

"There are more and more Danciano offspring proving that they are built to go to the top level," Martinez told Eurodressage.

Produced to Grand Prix

While Danciano's offspring is making its mark in sport, he himself has only been very lightly competed in his life. This is about to change!

Danciano was produced to FEI level by Martinez, while German Olympian Dorothee Schneider fine-tuned the Grand Prix movements on him. In 2021 Schneider's attention shifted to her own horses for the Olympics in Tokyo, and Martinez felt his horse did not get the attention he deserved. he decided to bring Danciano home last summer

"When he arrived at Malleret, Danciano had a vacation," Martinez explained. "He returned to the field and gets turned out daily, like all my horses! He needed to recharge mentally and find joy again in the Grand Prix movements."

Pauline Guillem has taken over the ride and his team is, of course, secretly hoping of the 2024 Olympics in Paris on home turf. They have called in the help of top German trainers such as Holga Finken and Hans-Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen for guidance and are monthly coached by Annick Dauban at home.

One of a Kind

Danciano is a special character and Martinez knows the stallion inside out. He helped Pauline understand the horse's peculiarities.

"You have to earn his trust so that he can become a partner, a friend, if not then you must address to him carefully and if he does not give you his trust then he can become more like an adversary for you. He is very intelligent and very sensitive with a lot of strength, it’s better to have him as a friend!"

Gérald has given Pauline the opportunity to gel with Danciano and they will make their Grand Prix debut in 2022.

"For this season, he will be started gently at Grand Prix level, without pushing it and without doing too many competitions," said Gérald. "It's important that there are always sufficiently comfortable rest times between each show."

Breeding First

For Haras de Malleret Danciano's true value lies in his breeding career though and the well being of the horse, mentally and physically.

"Danciano is unique and special to me and he should be treated like a king. I"m so grateful to Paul Schockemöhle for selling him to me," he said. "He is above all a stallion, a leader of lines. If Danciano's sport career does not make him feel comfortable and fulfilled, I will put an end to it because it is not a priority for me and even less for him!"

Discover Danciano de Malleret at www.haras-malleret.com