A Mangatangi warmblood horse breeding station and equestrian centre was “euphoric” after two of its foals won first place for categories in the New Zealand Warmblood Association Classification Tour this month.
The Whangārei to Mosgiel tour, which was split into dressage, eventing and showjumping categories, entailed an international judge assessing mare conformation and movement.
The event provides New Zealand breeders with valuable feedback from international experts to help guide future breeding directions and decisions.
Southern Star Sporthorses, which the Doering family has operated for six years, went through a “lot of hard work” for its foal, Southern Star Prestige, to win first place for dressage and its foal, Southern Star Legacy to win first place for eventing.
Co-owner Nannette Doering told The Profile the family was “euphoric” by the win and the secret to producing champion foals was believing in the bloodlines, and ensuring its stallion, Rosari Fabio, was crossing with “very nice” mares.
“You need a good eye for the cross, know what your stallion has and what he would cross well with, so the choice of the mares is quite important that you get a good cross,” she said.
“My eye always goes to the movement of the horse… I think with our stallion named Rosari Fabio, he’s phenomenal in his movement, he’s got what you call a flexible, soft and very loose movement in his trot.
“These horses are quite challenging to ride because their spine is so soft and so flexible but then you get amazing movement in dressage.”
Nannette said six of their foals also received merit and excellence rosettes in this year’s tour and had produced at least one champion horse in the past four events, which no other stud in New Zealand had done.
“I find it satisfying because you breed an animal that becomes your friend and you are then a team… the ability of the horse is just as important as the ability of the rider,” she said.
“Because for competing, you both have to work together and our bloodline with Rosari Fabio has incredible temperaments.
“We’ve got some beautiful horses available for sale and if people want to come and have a look, they’re most welcome.”
