The breeding program at Setters’ Run Farm has been curated thoughtfully in order to ensure the breeding of quality American Sport Horses. Over the years, Annie has acquired several broodmares, many of which are thoroughbreds. In today’s modern eventing, the ideal sport horse has enough ‘blood’ for endurance and galloping, while also having the movement and jumping scope of the warmblood horses.
Setters’ Run Farm aims to produce foals that are bred and built for sport by pairing proven mares with proven stallions that balance out their qualities. Annie carefully selects the Setters’ Run Farm broodmares based on pedigree, confirmation, movement and temperament. With advances in modern science, Setters’ Run Farm has also been able to breed their top eventing mares via embryo transfer. Stallions are then carefully selected based on their performance record, bloodlines, confirmation and suitability to each broodmare. Annie favors Holsteiner stallions, as in addition to having excellent movement and jumping ability, they tend to be lighter boned and have a larger percentage of thoroughbred blood in comparison to other warmblood breeds; making them an excellent choice for breeding athletic and talented sport horses.
Stallion’s progenies are also taken into consideration when choosing stallions to breed to the broodmares. Recently, Annie bred one of her mares to the stallion who sired 2019 Badminton Horse Trials winner, Vanir Kamira, ridden by the UK’s Piggy French. Past stallion choices have included Chili Morning, Contefino, Diktator van de Zuuthoeve, Beaulieu’s Quissini & Keltic Lion.
In addition to developing a quality string of broodmares paired with successful stallions, the breeding program philosophy at Setters’ Run Farm is a large attribute to the horse’s success. From the moment they are born, the foals are started correctly by the experienced team at Setters’ Run Farm. Youngstock are given the time to develop and learn in a positive environment, ensuring they have the best chance at a successful career with their new riders.
Youngstock at Setters’ Run Farm are also always treated as individuals. Each horse is evaluated as an individual, and depending on their specific needs, a program is created for each horse that works the best for them, versus a ‘one system suits all’ approach. This allows horses to grow and learn in confidence, allowing them the best chance of success in the future.
While the American Sport Horse breeding program is younger than its European counterparts, the passionate team at Setters’ Run Farm is committed to developing quality American bred sport horses that will help promote America as a country producing quality horses as well as allow fellow American riders access to just as good of horses found in Europe, without having to invest in buying globally. Many of our foals are bred to quality European jumping stallions, incorporating the proven European system into our own developing sport horse breeding program.
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