For a few years now, our little stud farm in Holland, Stoeterij de Hoge Ginkel, has been dedicated to a special mission: Breeding manageable, pleasant horses for the ambitious non-professional riders. By combining the loyal, willing character of the Iberian mares with the powerful, expressive locomotion of the Warmblood, we have seen some truly positive results. The horses we have produced so far move well, are beautiful, friendly, manageable and highly versatile. 

Looking back over the past five years, I have been reflecting on our journey and asking myself a compelling question: Now that I have seen what these crossbreeds can do, what would my absolute ideal dream horse look like if I could create it from scratch?

Through our breeding program, I have found that our first-generation crossbreeds make fantastic all-rounders. They excel as dressage horses, yet most enjoy jumping every once in a while. They remain incredibly agile, making them well-suited for working equitation, and they are reliable, level-headed partners for a relaxed hack out in nature. 

However, for my personal ‘ultimate dream’ horse, I envisioned just a bit more jumping and running ability than our current first-generation crossbreeds possess—something closer to an amateur eventing horse. 

In thinking about how to achieve this, I came to an exciting conclusion. For me, the ideal horse would likely be a blend of an Iberian, a Warmblood, and an Akhal-Teke. 

For those who may not be familiar with the breed, the Akhal-Teke is a remarkable horse originating from Turkmenistan and Russia, known for their build that closely resembles a Thoroughbred. These horses bring a healthy, robust bone structure to the table. Having been raised and adapted to the harsh conditions of the Russian steppes, they are exceptionally strong, possessing serious stamina and overall excellent health. Furthermore, they boast natural jumping abilities, an elegant lightness, and longer legs that add a distinct, refined beauty to the mix. 

And, of course, there is the famous Akhal-Teke coat. You have likely seen pictures of their metallic, incredibly shiny coats that seem to gleam like gold or silver. While I do not know for certain whether that signature metallic sheen will pass on through crossbreeding, it is certainly an exciting possibility!

So, after much deliberation, we decided to take the leap this year. We have officially crossed an Iberian-Warmblood mare with an Akhal-Teke stallion. 

For this special pairing, we used the amazing Akhal-Teke stallion, Amadai Gelei. We crossed him with one of our own homebred mares—the powerfull , sturdy ‘Secretly Spanish’. Her grandfather is the Grand Prix PRE stallion Poeta de Susaeta, and she is fathered by the World Champion stallion Secret. 

With this bold move, we are slowly becoming a boutique stud farm, dedicated to creating something truly exceptional. In theory, this unique blend of bloodlines should produce a horse that has a healthy bone structure, is strong, beautiful, and wonderfully rideable. 

It just might be the ideal horse….. 

We are incredibly curious and excited to see what will be born next year. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting new chapter at Stoeterij de Hoge Ginkel!