First Elite Stallion - Ermitano III, Grandsire of Stryker DD
Ermitano III on the cover of Equestre Magazine
Text and photos taken from article in May/June 2012 Equestre Magazine.
In 2012, Ermitano III, at the age of 27, was inaugurated as the first Elite PRE horse.
He was the first example of a PRE which has fulfilled the requirements as a reproducer of improved dressage horses, reproducer of improved horses for the morphological aptitude, and reproducer of elite horses. The results of the last genetic assessment, conducted by the research group, MERAGEM, in the framework of the program for improvement of the breed developed by ANCCE, the stud has obtained a Global genetic index (IGG) for dressage of 110,59 and an IGG in morphological aptitude of 103,78 with both exceeding 0.60 repeatability
This data represents the overall capacity of the Ermitaño’s III genetics for the performance of classical dressage and the morphological aptitude, and determines the transmission capacity of these skills to his offspring, which in this case, is very high, so there is a high probability that his descendants will achieve good results in those disciplines. Thus, the IGG is an estimate that offers the breeder the opportunity to select horses as genetically superior specimens on a global basis for the valued characteristics. The IGG reflects the global genetic potential of the animal to transmit it to offspring; provided that the mare also possesses it.
Genetic assessment was carried out by the results of his offspring. As of 2012, 256 of his offspring were registered in the studbook, many of whom have participated in control yields for the improvement program of the PRE, fundamentally, in dressage, and it is his offspring that have allowed him obtain these genetic categories by achieving Recommended Young Reproducer. He also boasts a significant number of revised offspring.
The genetic status of elite stud certifies that Ermitaño III is a true "father of the race".
Ermitano III took the first steps in the PRE in the world of dressage, and today his offspring follow in his tracks thanks to his high genetic value. His owner was proud to honor Ermitaño III for having written the gold page in the genetic history of the PRE and because, since 1996 her father took part in the syndication of Ermitaño III, his owner has been able to really know the genetic value of this stallion in the almost 40 foals born in their brood band, all of them marked with their brand.
“The sweetness of his gaze, the nobility they exhibit, their beauty, the ease of learning, their commitment, and, mainly, his great heart, with a propensity for dressage and a commitment to train, make those who try a “ Ermitaño “ fall in love forever”
Raised by Mª Fernanda de Escalera, Ermitaño III was the son of Ganador VIII and Ermitaña IV. His mother was one of the most influential mares and foaled relevant offspring such as Ermitaño III, Nadadora VIII (the most winning mare today in the PRE with seven gold medals in SICAB, two Championships in Spain in 91 and 94 SICAB, years in which she was also a Champion of Movement) and Ermitaño IV (full brother of Ermitaño III that has won several medals in SICAB, in addition to being Champion of Functionality of the Spanish Championship).
Ganador VIII, the sire of Ermitano III, was an outstanding horse who primarily passed on his walk and gallop, in addition to his character. These movements come from the genetic inheritance of Caesar and Maluso from Yeguada Militar, horses recognized and founders of the PRE, which have endowed innate predisposition of movements for dressage to their descendantss
The Path to Dressage
In 1989, at the age of three, his owner and breeder Manuel Novales (q.e.p.d.) sent him to Club Hípico Llavaneras of Barcelona for training and to participate in dressage tests, with Luis Lucio. It was the beginning of using the PRE as a dressage horse, and the breeding program of Mª Fernanda de la Escalera was a pioneer in that important adventure. Mª Fernanda de la Escalera remembers that at that time "they were betting on our breed and what eventually would be the before and the after the PRE." They checked to see if the potential Ermitaño III seemed to possess for dressage would express itself in the arena. "And a year later, it was so, and he was proclaimed, for the first time in the history of the PRE, winner of the Primas de la RFHE, at the age of 4 and 5 in 1987 and 88.
Ermitano III, sire of Doblon-TR, grandsire of Stryker DD
According to Luis Lucio, the Prima Anual was given to a horse as a result of a ranking, like the current Copa ANCCE. The winner was selected among all the four and five year old horses participating in national competitions under the patronage of the RFHE and whose finals were judged by international judges of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). Annual awards were established for the first, second, and third best Colts of each age.
“The interesting thing was that tests were open and we competed against Central European horses. It was revolutionary to get in front of them. The performance of international judges was, as it has been from inception to the PRE in dressage today, decisive. We broke molds, and what a way. Now all riders have PRE in dressage, but at that time, you needed to ride a Spanish horse and compete on him to see the comments of riders, trainers and some judges. Fortunately, we knew where we wanted to go and how to do it.”
Luis Lucio knew Ermitaño very well, as a trainer and rider. He remembers that "he was a horse out of the ordinary, serious, expressive, and intelligent. It's as if, in addition to an exceptional morphology, he had inherited the education and know how. He was a gifted pupil".
Riding him felt like "absolute air, fluidity and harmony. The length and structure of his neck was impressive, and from the saddle, looked spectacular. In reality, it was like riding a Horse of Kings. Ermitaño possessed such a natural air that up to then was unknown. Thanks to his natural harmony and the length of his neck, he was able to move with great agility and, at the same time, without haste. His gallop set a very high bar, difficult to overcome even in our days. There are countless qualities that he contributed to his offspring.
I've been able to train and observe many of Ermitaño sons, in the vast majority of them; he has left marked traits of his natural balance, the amplitude and mobility of his gallop and a high quality." He left a before and after mark in tests in which he participated and has left an enormous and valuable offspring, which will certainly reap great successes in the world of dressage. I am very proud of having had the privilege of training horses of such great quality. Horses like Ermitaño certainly make great riders.
"I am very grateful for it".
