21 November 2006
In November 2006 Morningside Stud purchased the Selle Francais stallion Desir du Chateau (Quidam de Revel x Cor de Chasse). Did we adhere to our own criteria when selecting this stallion?
Let's put Desir du Chateau to the test:
1. Do not use a stallion whose damline has not produced excellent competition horses.
The dam of Desir du Chateau, Javotte D, has produced 7 international showjumpers (Amande du Chateau, Carole du Chateau, Esther du Chateau, Etoile du Chateau, Horace du Chateau, Kartoom du Chateau, and Manuela du Chateau); she is also the dam of 2 approved stallions (Ulak du Chateau and Desir du Chateau). Daughters of Javotte D have produced, to date, an additional 6 international showjumpers.
The dam of Javotte D, Ballerine III, is the dam of 2 international showjumpers (Grand Coeur A and Nelson de Beine); her daughters have produced 14 international showjumpers and 3 approved stallions.
The dam of Ballerine III, Manuela, is the dam of 4 international showjumpers (Admiral, Graceful, Lumpur, and Moon Kiss); her daughters have produced 28 international showjumpers.
In total Desir du Chateau's dam, his second dam, his third dam, and their daughters have produced 28 international showjumpers.
2. Do not use a stallion that does not have at least one half-brother or half-sister that has competed internationally.
Desir du Chateau has 7 siblings that jumped internationally.
3. Do not use a stallion 15 years or older unless he has (or had) several progeny competing internationally.
Desir du Chateau was born in 1991, so he is 15 years old. He has 4 progeny from his first crop of foals that are competing internationally in 2006 as 7-year-olds and 1 from his second crop that is competing internationally in 2006 as a 6-year-old.
4. Do not use a stallion between 8 and 14 unless he is (or has) competed internationally with success.
Desir du Chateau is 15 so this criterion is not relevant. From age 15 it matters not what the stallion himself did in sport; what matters is what his progeny have done in sport.
5. Do not use a stallion 7 or under unless he is competing well at the national level at a level appropriate for his age (in showjumping, 1.10 - 1.20 m. as a 5-year-old, 1.20 - 1.30 m. as a 6-year-old, 1.30 - 1.40 m. as a 7-year-old).
Desir du Chateau is 15 so this criterion is not relevant.
Desir du Chateau did qualify for the French 4-Year-Old Showjumping Championship but an accident involving a gate at his rider's yard resulted in three knee operations over a span of three years that forced his retirement from sport and delayed his stud career until he was 7.
6. If a stallion is 7 or older do not use him unless he is approved by a full member of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH).
Desir du Chateau is approved by the Selle Francais Studbook of France and the Belgian Warmblood Studbook; both studbooks are full members of the WBFSH.
7. Do not use a stallion that is marketed on the basis of its color or the exotic colors of its progeny.
We do not buy Desir du Chateau on the basis of his lovely coat color!
Conclusion: Desir du Chateau meets all the criteria!
Let's put Desir du Chateau to the test:
1. Do not use a stallion whose damline has not produced excellent competition horses.
The dam of Desir du Chateau, Javotte D, has produced 7 international showjumpers (Amande du Chateau, Carole du Chateau, Esther du Chateau, Etoile du Chateau, Horace du Chateau, Kartoom du Chateau, and Manuela du Chateau); she is also the dam of 2 approved stallions (Ulak du Chateau and Desir du Chateau). Daughters of Javotte D have produced, to date, an additional 6 international showjumpers.
The dam of Javotte D, Ballerine III, is the dam of 2 international showjumpers (Grand Coeur A and Nelson de Beine); her daughters have produced 14 international showjumpers and 3 approved stallions.
The dam of Ballerine III, Manuela, is the dam of 4 international showjumpers (Admiral, Graceful, Lumpur, and Moon Kiss); her daughters have produced 28 international showjumpers.
In total Desir du Chateau's dam, his second dam, his third dam, and their daughters have produced 28 international showjumpers.
2. Do not use a stallion that does not have at least one half-brother or half-sister that has competed internationally.
Desir du Chateau has 7 siblings that jumped internationally.
3. Do not use a stallion 15 years or older unless he has (or had) several progeny competing internationally.
Desir du Chateau was born in 1991, so he is 15 years old. He has 4 progeny from his first crop of foals that are competing internationally in 2006 as 7-year-olds and 1 from his second crop that is competing internationally in 2006 as a 6-year-old.
4. Do not use a stallion between 8 and 14 unless he is (or has) competed internationally with success.
Desir du Chateau is 15 so this criterion is not relevant. From age 15 it matters not what the stallion himself did in sport; what matters is what his progeny have done in sport.
5. Do not use a stallion 7 or under unless he is competing well at the national level at a level appropriate for his age (in showjumping, 1.10 - 1.20 m. as a 5-year-old, 1.20 - 1.30 m. as a 6-year-old, 1.30 - 1.40 m. as a 7-year-old).
Desir du Chateau is 15 so this criterion is not relevant.
Desir du Chateau did qualify for the French 4-Year-Old Showjumping Championship but an accident involving a gate at his rider's yard resulted in three knee operations over a span of three years that forced his retirement from sport and delayed his stud career until he was 7.
6. If a stallion is 7 or older do not use him unless he is approved by a full member of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH).
Desir du Chateau is approved by the Selle Francais Studbook of France and the Belgian Warmblood Studbook; both studbooks are full members of the WBFSH.
7. Do not use a stallion that is marketed on the basis of its color or the exotic colors of its progeny.
We do not buy Desir du Chateau on the basis of his lovely coat color!
Conclusion: Desir du Chateau meets all the criteria!
