BBMay

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GREAT
BRITISH
BROODMARES
Many of us know that the most
important ingredient in a successful
breeding programme is great
broodmares. But those mares do not
always get the credit they deserve, and
to try and redress the balance slightly,
we are continuing our series profiling
outstanding British broodmares. Sarah
Oppenheimer’s Rubinsteena (Ruby) has
been the cornerstone of the celebrated
Headmore Stud’s success story. The 22
year old mare is the dam of no less than
six 2018 Winter Regional Champions,
which is surely an unprecedented result.
Those champions were:
Headmore Davina (by Dimaggio)
Advanced Medium Freestyle, Medium
Gold and Medium Freestyle Regional
Champion
Headmore Dirubinio (by Dimaggio)
Advanced Medium Gold and Advanced
Medium Freestyle Regional Champion
Headmore Bella Ruby (by Belissimo M)
Novice Freestyle Regional Champion
and qualified for the Novice Gold
Winter Championship.
At the recent British Dressage NAF
Five Star Winter Championships, that
winning run continued, culminating
in a 1,2 in the Advanced Medium Gold
Freestyle where Sarah’s daughter Alice
took the National title on Headmore
Davina and the runner up spot on her
full brother Headmore Dirubinio.
Speaking to Sarah it is clear Ruby
is adored by all the family. Sarah
confirmed Ruby always passes on her
correct conformation, including an
amazing front end to her offspring. She
has always been a fantastic mother
but kept her babies in their place and
knows she is the matriarch of the stud.
In addition to the current crop of
Regional and National champions,
Ruby is also the dam of Half Moon
Frizzante (by Furstenreich) the 2011
Winter Elementary Champion who
is now competing at Small Tour,
Headmore Wimoweh (by Woiwode)
now competing Inter II, Headmore
Wrubinstar (by Weserstar) Advanced
Medium, Headmore Dionysus (by
Dimaggio ) qualified Novice Regionals
and Headmore Valentina (by Vilancio)
BEF Futurity Overall Foal Champion
2016 with a score of 9.7.
Headmore Valentina at the Futurity
Photo Kevin Sparrow
As her name suggests Rubinsteena is a
daughter of the legendary Rubinstein
who hailed from the same granddam as
Reiner Klimke’s star Ahlerich.
Rubinstein became one of the most
important stallions in German breeding,
was a Grand Prix performer himself and
is famous for the ridability he passed
on to his descendants.
Among his most famous offspring are
the breeding stallions Rotspon (State
Stud Celle and in the WBFSH Top Ten
Dressage Sires), Regazzoni (Elite sire
now based in the USA and sire of over
14 approved sons), full brothers Royal
Diamond and Rohdiamant (3rd placed
on the 2010 World Rankings and sire of
Romanov and Rubin Royal) and Relevant
(Silver medallist at the 2002 World
Equestrian Games and Bronze medallist
at the 2004 Olympics)
Ruby’s damsire is possibly even more
famous as the foundation sire of the
D line – Donnerhall. Through his sons
and grandsons, Donnerhall is one of
the most dominant forces in dressage
breeding and his blood is often doubled
up on in pedigrees with no ill effects.
Ruby’s motherline is very interesting
too. Her dam Dujana is full sister to
the international Grand Prix horse
Donna Carrera and the dam line has
produced other Grand Prix performers
such as Harmony’s Fiorano and most
interestingly this is also the damline of
the stallion Donnerwetter, sire of none
other than Donnerhall himself! This
implies the crossing of Ruby’s granddam
with Donnerhall was not an accident
but a careful plan to consolidate these
important genetics.
Ruby might be 22, but it is clear her
influence on British dressage breeding
is really only just beginning.
The Oppenheimers will ensure her star
continues to shine at Championship
level for many years to come.
Article by Sacha Shaw
Rubinsteena
40 | BRITISH BREEDER