Since 2002, the Swedish Warmblood Association – SWB – has named a “Stallion of the Year” together with two Challenger Stallions, one in show jumping and one in dressage. Starting this year, SWB will also name a “Stallion of the Year” in both show jumping and dressage.
Since 2013, Cardento held the title every year until 2022, when the distinction passed to Diarado. He is now named “Stallion of the Year” for the fourth consecutive year. In dressage, Blue Hors Zack is named “Stallion of the Year.”
The Challenger Stallions of the Year are Hesselhöj Donkey Boy in dressage and Chageorge in show jumping. The stallions will be recognized with awards presented by SWB at this year’s Stallion Performance Test at Strömsholm, March 16–22.
Diarado once again receives the “Stallion of the Year” award. Photo by Schockemöhle.
Stallion of the Year in Show Jumping
Diarado 95337
Diarado receives the award as Stallion of the Year for the fourth year in a row. He was awarded the Elite distinction in 2019 for his outstanding progeny performance in SWB breeding. He has 296 registered SWB offspring, of which 103 have been presented at the Young Horse Test, 20 at the riding horse test, and 179 have competed.
Twenty-four SWB offspring have competed at 1.50m–1.60m level, including Diarado’s Rose ELiTH (79) (SWB), Tornado (SWB), After Eight (SWB), and Kilmister (SWB) at 1.60m. He has also sired Disa DM (42) (SWB) and Mr Vain GJ (SWB) at 1.55m level; Diarado’s Love ELiTH (SWB), Doris Dayz KS (71) (SWB), Dior CC (SWB), and Hästkullens DiMarabou (SWB) at 1.50m; as well as an additional 15 offspring competing at 1.45m.
Diarado has six approved sons within SWB. Mr Vain GJ (SWB) 1324 has competed at 1.55m level, while Daquar CC 1236 and Diero Lux N 1280 have competed at 1.50m and have also been awarded the A distinction for their progeny performance. Dylan N 1312, Diador 1258, and Rimaro van de Looise Heide 1434 are three additional sons approved for Swedish breeding.
Diarado is currently ranked 13th on the WBFSH – World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses ranking for show jumping sires and is ranked number one in eventing.
Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Blue Hors Zack in Paris 2018. Photo: Roland Thunholm.
Stallion of the Year in Dressage
Blue Hors Zack 95316
Blue Hors Zack was first approved in KWPN, where he became a premium and champion stallion. He has been exceptionally successful both in sport and breeding. He has international team-level achievements, including four championships and a team gold medal at the World Championships. He has established himself as a true foundation sire in dressage breeding, with more than 2,000 offspring worldwide.
He has created his own flourishing sire line, with numerous premium sons across the world, as well as grandsons and great-grandsons. Many of his descendants, like himself, have been successful both in sport and breeding. Among his sons are three-time WBFSH – World Breeding Championship for Young Horses, Sezuan, Pavo Cup winner Jameson RS2, and Dutch team stallion Zonik. Among his grandsons are world number one Zonik Plus and Bundeschampionat winner Secret.
In Sweden, his son Zaladin MI 1240 (A-awarded) won the Swedish Stallion Performance Test, and Bergsjöholms Valbonne (SWB) 1376 has been approved, as well as the grandson Gammelegårdens Zappa 1326 and great-grandsons Serious 1457 (Swedish Stallion Performance Test winner), Severucci Ht (SWB) 1477 (WBFSH – World Breeding Championship for Young Horses medalist), and Salvatore Ferragamo 1456.
Blue Hors Zack has 190 registered SWB offspring. Of these, 69 have participated in the young horse test, with 36 receiving diplomas; 15 have participated in the riding horse test; and 85 are or have been competing. Among the competing offspring, Bergsjöholms Valbonne (SWB), Zackson (SWB), and Izack (SWB) have international Grand Prix placings, and Zenith has won at Intermediaire I level.
Blue Hors Zack was awarded the Elite distinction in 2023 and has a dressage breeding index of 147.
Criteria for Stallion of the Year:
– A stallion whose offspring have achieved international success, proving his ability to transmit performance traits.
– The stallion must be active in Swedish breeding.
– The award may be given posthumously.
– A stallion may receive the award more than once.
Previous Stallions of the Year:
2002 Robin Z 723
2003 Cortez 679
2004 Briar 899
2005 Feliciano 823
2006 Cardento 933
2007 Don Primero 981
2008 Master 850
2009 Cardento 933
2010 Briar 899
2011 Briar 899
2012 Irco Mena 763
2013–2021 Cardento 933
2022–2024 Diarado 95337
2025 Blue Hors Zack 95316 – Dressage
2025 Diarado 95337 – Show Jumping
Challenger Stallions of the Year
This is the fourteenth year SWB presents the “Challenger Stallion of the Year” award. The award is given annually to one show jumping stallion and one dressage stallion. Its purpose is to highlight stallions that have shown a promising start to their breeding careers and whose offspring have demonstrated talent for becoming successful sport horses.
Hesselhöj Donkey Boy with Jan Møller Christensen at the Young Horse World Championships. Photo: Kim C Lundin.
Challenger Stallion of the Year in Dressage
Hesselhöj Donkey Boy 1335
Hesselhöj Donkey Boy won his 35-day test in Denmark with 889.5 points. He then won the Danish Championships as a four-, five-, and six-year-old. He won bronze at the WBFSH – World Breeding Championship for Young Horses, as a five-year-old, was a finalist at six, and silver medalist at seven. At ten years old, he debuted with a Grand Prix victory before an accident ended his competition career.
He has several internationally approved sons, including WBFSH – World Breeding Championship for Young Horses Champion Hesselhöj Down Town and his full brother Hesselhöj Donkey Boss, Danish Championship winner and sire of the record-priced Daan G, who scored 912 points in his 35-day Stallion Performance Test.
His first crop was born in 2016, and he has 90 SWB-registered offspring (71 aged three and older). Nineteen have participated in the young horse test, with eight diplomas awarded; six have taken part in the riding horse test; and 18 are active in competition. Among them is Diploid (SWB), winner of the Breeders Trophy as both five- and six-year-old, winner of the 7-year-old SWB Championship, and finalist at the WBFSH – World Breeding Championship for Young Horses. Despactious (SWB) was finalist in the Breeders Trophy at five and six and in the 7-year-old SWB Championship. The daughter Nirvana JAZ was finalist in the National Mare Show as a three-year-old and also reached the Breeders Trophy final at five and six.
Hesselhöj Donkey Boy received the A distinction in 2020 for his very good progeny performance and has a dressage breeding index of 153.
Chageorge with Christian Kukuk. Photo: Kim C Lundin.
Challenger Stallion of the Year in Show Jumping
Chageorge 1390
Chageorge was approved at the SWB Stallion Performance Test in 2019. He has competed very successfully under German rider Christian Kukuk at international 1.60m level and was placed at 1.65m (CSI5*) in Prague in November 2025.
He has 78 registered SWB offspring, with the oldest born in 2020. Twenty have been presented at the young horse test, four receiving diplomas. Ten of his young offspring have competed in young horse classes. Caelvin (SWB) participated in the SWB 3-year-old Championship in 2025.
Chageorge has a show jumping breeding index of 143 and in 2025 is awarded the A distinction for his progeny performance.
Criteria for Challenger Stallion of the Year:
– The stallion must have a Swedish studbook number.
– The stallion must have at least 15 tested or competing offspring.
– The stallion must compete or have competed successfully himself.
– A stallion can receive the award only once.
Previous Challenger Stallions – Dressage:
2011 Bocelli (SWB) 1044
2012 Santana 1111
2013 Hermes (SWB) 1086
2014 Dalwhinnie (SWB) 1180
2015 Zuidenwind 1187
2016 Skovens Rafael 1337
2017 Quaterback 95235
2018 Blue Hors Zack 95316
2019 Johnson 95254
2020 Sibelius (SWB) 1315
2021 Total Hope 1307
2022 Van Vivaldi 1286
2023 Bon Coeur 1357
2024 Springbank II VH (SWB) 9272
2025 Hesselhöj Donkey Boy 1335
Previous Challenger Stallions – Show Jumping:
2011 Hip Hop (SWB) 1045
2012 Tornesch 1042
2013 Click and Cash 1155
2014 Baltimore 1178
2015 Bravour 1197
2016 Heartbeat 1334
2017 Ci Ci Senjor Ask 1422
2018 Nintender 1189
2019 Diarado 95337
2020 Cabachon 1216
2021 Singular LS La Silla 1385
2022 Mr Vain GJ (SWB) 1324
2023 Crusader Ice (SWB) 1389
2024 Point Break (SWB) 1374
2025 Chageorge 1390