British Breeder Magazine, February 2021

News
Legendary
Stallion
Arko III dies
Success for inaugural
NEF webinar
The National Equine Forum’s first special
interest webinar Just in Time – Using
Science to Save our Breeds, captured
the attention of more than 160 delegates
from around the world, and generated
some fascinating questions for the panel
of internationally renowned speakers.
Chaired by Professor Tim Morris, the
webinar was delivered by industry
leaders and highlighted the
challenges our equine breeds face, and
how, through science there is hope for
the future. Tullis Matson, Founder and
Managing Director of Stallion AI
Services, opened the session with a
fascinating look at how the extinction
vortex has impacted the natural world
and its application to equine breeds.
Simon Cooper, Director, The General
Studbook, Weatherbys, continued with a
close look at the challenging situation of
inbreeding in Thoroughbreds.
Paul Flynn, Head of Research and
Development, Weatherbys Scientific,
went on to explain the role of DNA
analysis in providing breed societies and
breeders with keystone support to guide
decisions to increase effective
populations. Dr Andy Dell, Trustee and
Member of the Breed Committee,
Cleveland Bay Horse Society,
concluded the presentations with a case
study giving proof of the concept that
breeds in decline have a chance to be
saved when genomics and kinship
analysis are utilised.
The 29th National Equine Forum will be
held virtually on Thursday 4th March
2021. Tickets will be available in
February 2021.
As we go to press, we learned of the
sad death of legendary showjumping
stallion, Arko III, at the age of 27.
By the world famous Argentinus, out
of Unika (Beach Boy), Arko III was the
number one Showjumper in Europe
in 2004, 2005 and 2006. With Nick
Skelton, he represented Britain at the
2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and
at the 2005 European Championships.
He also won the richest competition in
the world, the Calgary CN Grand Prix,
in 2008, as well as clocking up
numerous Grand Prix wins and Nations
Cup double clears. Nick credited Arko
as the horse that got him back riding
again after his accident. He told us
during our webinar what a great horse
he was, winning some great Grands
Prix around the world, and was also a
great character.
Arko retired from competition in 2008
but continued his stud duties until 2019,
when he retired from stud aged 25. He
has sired some exceptional offspring,
including Argento, who won over 16
Grands Prix and topped the WBFSH
World Rankings in 2015 ridden by
John Whitaker, and Aristio, who won
the 1.60m Grand Prix at Hickstead in
2018 with rider Anthony Condon and
has jumped double clear at numerous
Nations Cups for Ireland.
Lisa Hales said they are “heartbroken,
but have so many happy memories.”
The first rare breed foal born from sexed semen in 2020 Suffolk Punch - Photo Horsepower Creative
Totilas death
Totilas, the black KWPN stallion who
became the biggest sensation in global
equestrian sport, passed away in
December at the age of 20 having
succumbed to a severe colic attack. By
Gribaldi out of Lominka (by Glendale x
Akteur), he was bred by Jan Schuil and
Anna Vissa, and turned into one of the
most beautiful, memorable and
celebrated dressage horse in the world.
Totilas had a short career as a young
horse, before sale to Dutch millionaire,
Cees Visser, in 2006. He came to
prominence under the saddle of Edward
Gal and after an amazing performance
at the European championships in
Windsor in 2009, Edward rode Totilas to
triple gold at the 2010 World Equestrian
Games in Lexington, KY. The world was
shocked when his owners announced
the sale of Totilas to Paul Schockemöhle
for an unconfirmed amount reputed to
exceed €10 million – the highest amount
ever paid for a dressage horse.
Matthias Rath took over the ride when
his stepmother, Ann Kathrinn
Linsenhoff bought the sporting rights
from Schockemöhle. However, Totilas
sustained injury that was to plague the
remainder of his competition career
and he was finally retired after the 2015
Europeans having been diagnosed with
periostitis of the coronet band on the left
hind hoof. He continued with stud duties
and commuted between Schockemöhle’s
stallion station in Mühlen and Gestut
Schafhof in Kronberg, Germany where
he enjoyed an easy life and was still
ridden for fun by Matthias as well as
owner Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff. “Totilas
had it all: talent, appearance,
movements and an amazing eagerness
to work”, his former rider Edward Gal
said in an interview. Matthias Rath said
“There will only ever be one Totilas.”
6 | BRITISH BREEDER