For years, securing an interview with Joris de Brabander, widely recognized as one of the most successful jumping horse breeders in history, proved a challenge. Journalists often found themselves just missing him at major equestrian events. Finally, a text message from Aachen provided the opportunity. “I am here at Aachen watching my horse in the eventing dressage,” it read, referring to Karin Donckers’ mount, Fletcha van ‘T Verahof, a horse acquired by de Brabander, who also sourced the notable Belgian Warmblood, Vigo d’Arsouilles. This interview delves into the philosophy and practice behind his extraordinary success in performance horse breeding.
De Brabander’s journey into breeding was fueled by passion, a pursuit made more viable by his profession as a veterinarian. While his father managed stallions, Joris brought veterinary expertise to the operation. The advent of embryo transfer technology proved pivotal, enabling him to breed exceptional horses with strong competition pedigrees. His approach often begins with meticulous research into bloodlines, seeking out mares with proven genetic potential.
A prime example of this strategy is his acquisition of the renowned mare, Fragance du Challus. De Brabander meticulously studied French bloodlines, identifying Fragance for her sire, Jalisco, a successful competition horse and stallion, and her dam, a distinguished French competition mare. He acquired Fragance as a yearling and began her breeding career early. By the age of four, she was already a top Belgian competition mare in young horse classes, demonstrating the dual success of her offspring both in sport and breeding.
Fragance du Challus has been exceptionally prolific, producing over forty-five foals, with approximately twenty achieving success as competition horses jumping at the 1.40m level or higher. Notably, she has sired three highly regarded stallions: Mylord Carthago (by Carthago), Norton d’Eole (by Cento), and Bamako (by Darco). All three attained the 1.60m jumping level, and her lineage continues to influence the sport through her numerous grandchildren who are now becoming successful stallions themselves.
De Brabander challenges the notion that top competition horses do not produce top offspring. He asserts that their athletic prowess directly translates to better genetic potential for their progeny. He acknowledges that often, elite competition horses are unavailable for breeding due to their ownership or location, or their owners may favor less proven stallions. However, he firmly believes that breeding with the best competition mares yields superior results.
The use of cloning in breeding is a topic de Brabander approaches with pragmatism. While not opposed to it, he emphasizes that it’s often unnecessary. He does utilize clones, such as that of Gem Twist, a successful gelding, and has the clone of Quidam de Revel. However, he expresses skepticism about cloning stallions that have already produced a large number of offspring, viewing it as redundant. He advocates for giving opportunities to diverse bloodlines and younger stallions rather than repeating past successes.
His operation maintains a focused approach, typically breeding between fifteen and twenty-five foals annually. Even with a mare like Butterfly Flip, who was considered the world’s best jumping horse in 2003/2004, de Brabander managed her breeding even in her early twenties, successfully producing foals through embryo transfer.
When selecting stallions, de Brabander prioritizes those excelling in top-level competitions, citing popular choices like Cornet Obolensky, known for both his sport career and breeding record. He also frequently uses stallions such as Plot Blue and previously had significant success with Chin Chin, Darco, and Quidam.
Beyond athletic ability, de Brabander recognizes the importance of a horse’s appearance. While sport performance is paramount, he also values horses that are “nice looking, sound and correct, with a beautiful head.”
De Brabander began his breeding endeavors in 1993 and remains highly motivated, partly due to his children’s shared interest in equestrian sports and breeding. He believes there is still significant room for improvement in jumping horse breeding, particularly by focusing on elite competition mares as a foundation, rather than solely relying on amateur breeders and their existing lines.
Despite a past global decline in mare breeding, de Brabander notes an ongoing recovery, with increased breeding activity and embryo transplants. He acknowledges that the world still has an oversupply of horses. Looking ahead, he is confident in the future of Stal de Muze, highlighting promising young horses like El Torrio de Muze, a four-year-old son of Taran, and other talented young stock.
The story of Stal de Muze is still unfolding, with new chapters of success in performance horse breeding yet to be written.
