Skyline to B, Most Used Breeding Stallion in Sweden in 2024, Dramatic Drop in Breedings

Breeding

Sweden

The preliminary breeding statistics for the Swedish Warmblood Association for 2024 have been published. Dressage stallion Skyline To B tops the list of the most-used stallions in Sweden in 2024.

Drop in Breedings

A total of 287 dressage and show jumping stallions were used, of which 143 stallions were used under the so-called one-mare license.

In total, 3,371 mares were bred, compared to 3,947 mares in 2023. Of these, 2,736 mares were confirmed in foal, compared to 3,205 mares in 2023.

Both breedings and the number of in-foal mares have decreased by about 14.6% compared to 2023.

The average number of mares per licensed stallion is, as of 29 October 2024, 10.8, compared to 12.0 for the whole year of 2023.

Show Jumping Breeding More Popular

For Swedish warmblood the list of the most-used stallions continues to show a clear dominance of showjumping stallions.

Christina Olsson, conformation judge and chair of AVN, explains that, "It may reflect the actual distribution of disciplines in breeding mares, but it still raises the question of whether the current and recent climate within dressage has affected the willingness to breed dressage horses."

Interest in using stallions originally registered as SWB (Swedish Warmblood) appears to be greater among dressage breeders, with six SWB stallions among the most-used dressage stallions, compared to only one SWB showjumping stallion among the most-used jumping stallions.

Only one stallion, show jumper Kathmandu ES Z, covered over 100 mares. The Zangersheide bred stallion is bred by Egbert Schep in the Netherlands and owned by Lena Zeiloth and Grevlundagården.

Skyline to B

The most popular dressage stallion in 2024 was Skyline to B, a 6-year old Swedish warmblood by St. Schufro out of Amazone (by Ampere x Sir Schölling). He is bred by Maria Rasmusson and owned by Yara Reichert.

Skyline to B was initially not accepted by Swedish warmblood for breeding, due to osteochondrosis of the left hock joint, which is a defect that rejects stallions in SWB breeding. He got his first "breeding pass" with the Oldenburg society and in 2022 and 2023 stood at stud in Lodbergen in Germany. The stallion got his exemption from SWB's health requirements based on his very good show record in sport and results at the approval in Germany. This year he stood up for stud at Lovsta Stuteri in Sweden.

He covered 80 mares for Swedish warmblood in 2024

A Palomino Second

The second most popular dressage stallion amongst Swedish warmblood breeders was the SWB registered palomino stallion Zafferano (by Zaladin MI x Bernstein x Chagall). He covered 76 mares.

Top 10 for 2024

The top 10 of most used dressage stallions by SWB breeders includes:

1. Skyline to B - 80
2. Zafferano - 76
3. Racoon - 74
4. Devin Franco GJ - 65
5. King Olymbrio L - 52
6. Bon Coeur - 45
7. Viva Vegas and Moricello II VH - 41 each
8. Serious - 38
9. Söbakkehus First Mover - 30
10. Sudooro - Oneofakind OM - 28 each