The abbreviation "SAW" appears next to the name of a Warmblood bred in South Africa. The society is a full member of the World Breed Federation of Sports Horses which is affiliated to the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and based in Europe.

South African Warmblood horse breeders are expected to "birth notify" foals with our society and these are recorded on our system. At the same time a hair sample is sent in, which we then send through to Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute for DNA-testing. Once mares and stallions are over three years old, we want them to be inspected by our inspectors. These results are then sent to the SA Studbook in Bloemfontein and the horses receive SA Studbook certificates and a registration number.

Breed societies do not fall under the South African National Equestrian Federation (Sanef), but are subject to the Department of Agriculture under the auspices of the Registrar of Livestock Improvement. The society is run on the basis of membership funds and interest.

Q: When was the studbook founded?

A: 1989, following a steady flow of importations of European Warmbloods to South Africa that began in 1967.

Q: What is a Warmblood?

A: Warmbloods are a group of horse breeds that have been used to develop a competitive and recreational horse intended for the major international equestrian disciplines of dressage, showjumping, eventing and carriage driving. However, driving is not big enough in South Africa to tempt our breeders to include this discipline in their breeding programmes as yet.

There is always some confusion as to how to classify where a Warmblood comes from – is it Hannovarian or Namibian or Selle Francais? At its most simple, the horse is classified by the studbook of the country in which it is born.

• Example 1: An Oldenburg-registered Warmblood mare is bought in Germany. She is inseminated by chilled semen from a Dutch KWPN registered stallion. The owner then decides to relocate his stud to Belgium and the resulting foal is born there. This foal will then be entered into the Belgian Register of either the BWP or SBS, their two societies.
• Example 2: A South African buys a mare in France. The mare is inseminated by a Holstein-registered stallion while over there. While the mare is in foal, she is exported to South Africa. The foal is born here. That foal will be classified a South African Warmblood Horse.

Q: What are the breeding goals?

A: The ideal is to breed a big-framed, correct and powerful horse, with quality and presence, tough enough to withstand South African conditions. The horse should have a calm temperament and an elastic, balanced stride. Because of our punishingly hard ground, strict attention is given to correctness of limbs. Internationally, successful breeding lines are closely monitored and followed where veterinary regulations allow.

Most of the mare cover work is now done by artificial insemination (AI). It is difficult to import frozen semen into South Africa, because of strict veterinary regulations, especially with regard to the prevalence of equine viral arthritis (EVA) in Europe, but which is not found in Southern Africa. However, we continue to work with the relevant government departments to facilitate a better service.

We also use suitable Warmblood stallions on our large and well-known reservoir of very good Thoroughbred mares (Thoroughbreds are indicated by an "xx" following their name to clearly identify them in a pedigree). As we are classified as a developing breed by SA Studbook, it allows us to incorporate other relevant successful horses, especially the Thoroughbred. Thoroughbred stallions accepted by the society, remain "prospective stallions" until the progeny or horse himself excels at the highest level in the relevant disciplines.

Due to the vast distances between studs in South Africa, we do not have a central licensing system. Our inspectors travel around the country on request once a sufficient amount of horses are available in a district. Then inspections of mares and stallions are done. Once the stallion has passed our licensing, he will receive approval from SA Studbook in the form of a certificate, after which his progeny is allowed to be entered on the national Intergis database.

Q: How many stallions, mares and foals are registered?

A: Currently there are 78 fully and prospective licensed stallions, while approximately 14 stallions are awaiting presentation. The figure for mares is constantly changing, but approximately 3 677 were registered at the time of going to press. As for foals, between 150 and 420 foals are registered a year, depending on conditions such as drought and African Horsesickness outbreaks.

Q: Which are the three top stallions to sire jumpers in South Africa?

A: The top three stallions that have bred our successful showjumpers are:

• Wachmann III (Imp Han) (Sire: Wedekind, Dams Sire: Frustra II)
• Doleriet (Imp Han) (Sire: Don Carlos, Dam: Axtlese)
• Gratuity (Imp Han) (Sire: Diskus, Dams Sire: Gotthard)
• Thoroughbred, Bahadur xx (Sire: Noble Chieftan xx, Dams Sire: Abadan II xx)
• Thoroughbred, Pyrmont xx (Sire: Jerez xx Dams Sire: Giafar xx)
• (xx indicates Thoroughbred on Warmblood pedigrees).

The SANEF management committee gives recognition to South African sport horse breeders in the form of various annual awards. Pohlands Stud was the proud recipient of two magnificent trophies:

• The Duncan Asken Trophy for the Breeder of the top SA Warmblood: Pohlands Warrangal, owned and ridden by Lisa Williams
• The Northlands Trophy for the best sire of SA Warmbloods: Wachmann III, the Pohlands Stud’s foundation stallion.

These awards were presented at the President’s Dinner in July 2008.

Q: Which are the three top stallions to sire dressage horses?

A: The top three stallions that breed successful dressage horses are:

• Attila ( Hannovarian) (Sire: Akzent II, Dams Sire: Ferdinand)
• Sebastian (KWPN) (Sire: Sebastiaan, Dams Sire: Rigoletto)
• Winterstar (Hannovarian) (Sire: Wittenberg, Dams Sire: Grannus).

Q: Which are the three top stallions to sire eventers?

A: The top three stallions that sired eventers, are:

• Atilla (Hannovarian) (Sire: Akzent II, Dams Sire: Ferdinand)
• Anchluss (Hannovarian) (Sire: Absatz, Dams Sire: Weiler)
• Thoroughbred, Mount Hagen (SAF xx) (Sire: Lambro xx, Dams Sire: Bullrush xx)

Q: Which are the top studs breeding successful South African Warmbloods?

A: Our best-known and founding studs are:

• Cellehof Stud belonging to Karen ­Alexander, still operating in the Kyalami area. Thaddaues is still alive and remains one of our foundation stallions
• Hakahana Stud which belonged to Tosca Foster, but after her death no longer operates
• Alzu Stud started by Gerrie du Toit. Alzu is now owned by the Meyer family and stands the young recently licensed South African bred stallion, Alzu Cyclone
• Mossandi Stud in KwaZulu-Natal, owned by Vicky Mostert. Ramirez Furi is one of her original very well-bred stallions and she has recently brought in new stallions
• Brandenburg Stud in KwaZulu-Natal, owned by Frank Dittmann. His old stallion base of Land Earl and the recently deceased Sabastian, has been replenished with the success of two new young jumping stallions
• Pohlands stud near Grahamstown, owned by Pat Pohl and still operating. The recently deceased Wachmann III has many progeny successful in competition
• Davenport Stud in the Eastern Cape.

Q: What is the email address for inquiries?

A: sawhs @mweb.co.za.

Q: Breed society address?

A: PO Box 4332, Rivonia 2128, Gauteng, South Africa

Q: Whom should buyers contact?

A: Please contact our office on sawhs@mweb.co.za or at the above address or via our website. There will be contact numbers next to stallion owners: www.sawarmbloodhorses.com

by Frances Cheboub