DKS Welcomes the First Foal of 2018: Darco-Montender-Concorde!

DKS welcomed a new colt (Darco-Montender-Concorde) on April 1, 2018 at Highland Farms in Little Rock, Arkansas, thanks to the expert care of Leslie Carter.

Darco brings power and stamina to this foal, as well as honesty and intelligence, integral to our breeding philosophy of Heart, Scope and Mind. Partnered with Ludo Phillippaerts since the age of 5, highlights of the duo’s success included 7th place at the Barcelona Olympics, 2nd at Spruce Meadows/Calgary, 6th in the World Equestrian Games and Stockholm, and countless wins and placings at World Cup and international Grand Prixs. This foal's sire is one of the most sought after stallions in the world, having topped the World Breeding Federation's Sire list for years, and appearing on that list since its inception in 1995.

This foal's dam has been dedicated to breeding from the start, but her dam has had an illustrious career in the hands of Holly Shepherd of Accolade Farms in Grand Bay, Alabama and we are confident that she's transmitted much of the same bravery and energy that her mother has. Belle Clara DKS (Concorde-Berkeley-Budweiser) loves to win.  She competed in her first 1.50 m Grand Prix at age 9 (finishing 2nd!), and she has since been named the Open Jumper Circuit Champion at the Gulf Coast Winter Circuit in 2015 and 2016.  She is also a two-time winner of the demanding Jumper Derby at the Gulf Coast Winter Circuit.  Before retiring in perfect health to begin breeding full-time, she won the Welcome Stake at the Venice Equestrian Tour and placed in two Grand Prix classes at the 2017 Gulf Coast Winter Circuit.

We can't wait to see what this guy can do. 

Ekano DKS Excels at Selle Français Stallion Qualification in St. Lo!

The first horse produced by Dejan Krunic Sporthorses in France, Ekano DKS (Kannan-Cumano), was presented last week at the Selle Français national stallion selection/qualification in St. Lo by his owners Sophie and Richard Levallois, of Haras de Semilly. His combined score from the three qualification metrics, Modelle (Conformation), Allures (Movement) and Saut en Liberté (Free Jumping), placed him 7th out of 96 presented 3-year-olds. More spectacularly, he received the highest score for Modelle (Conformation) and placed near the top for Allures (Movement) and Saut en Liberté (Free Jumping). We're thrilled to see such a spectacular showing from the first horse produced in France. We're also particularly pleased with his scores, since the experts at Haras de Semilly made the very wise decision not to over-prepare their colts in Free Jumping so as not to wear them out young. We're thrilled to see Ekano DKS being cultivated so carefully by such a fantastic program, and we look forward to his showing in the final stallion selection this fall. 

Ekano DKS is Kannan out of Kumana DKS (Cumano-Cento). This year Kumana DKS gave birth to another Kannan, Hanley DKS. That means that her most recent foal is the full brother of Ekano DKS who is well on his way to being an approved stallion! Hanley DKS is currently for sale.

Belle Clara DKS Crowned Circuit Champion at Gulfport, MS!

On March 20, 2016, Belle Clara DKS, by Concorde out of Berkeley (Budweiser), completed another successful showing at the six-week Gulf Coast Winter Classics in Gulfport, MS. As in 2015, she was Open Jumper Circuit Champion! She is trained and ridden by Holly Shepherd of Accolade Farms in Grand Bay, AL. 

Belle Clara DKS competed in eleven events at 1m30 and 1m40, coming in first in four events and among the top four competitors in all but one event. She is a quick, explosive ten-year-old with a drive to compete, and Holly Shepherd has done a fantastic job bringing out these traits and using them to win big. 

Congratulations Holly! Congratulations Belle Clara DKS! 

Watch them win big below!