Harmony's Rousseau
1998 KWPN Dutch Warmblood Stallion 17.1 H
Ferro-Roemer-Homerus
Rousseau has taken center stage in our lives. We are very proud of his career to date and, after impacting breeding programs across Europe for the past five years, we have tremendous confidence in the value he brings to North America. Through his win of the Silver Medal at the 2003 FEI World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, Rousseau became an internationally respected name. Through his outstanding production in both the Netherlands and Germany, Rousseau has established himself as a reliable producer of Champion stallions, mares, riding horses, and foals across the breeds. He has proven that he has the elite athletic ability and keen mental focus to handle both an elite sport and breeding career. We are proud to continue our relationship with Harmony's Rousseau and bear tremendous gratitude to Harmony Sporthorses for maintaining him in our management and care. --Scott and Susanne Hassler
More About Rousseau
Rousseau was originally selected by Scott and Susanne Hassler for Hilltop Farm's stallion line-up. Hilltop purchased Rousseau through the 2001 KWPN Select Sale, where he topped the auction and came into the spotlight as part of the KWPN Championship ring. His early successes included outstanding remarks at his Stallion Performance Testing in Ermelo, where he earned an overall '8' for his dressage ability. Under Nicolette van Lierop, Rousseau became the Dutch National Champion as a 4-year old and Reserve Champion as a 5-year old through consistent performances at the PAVO-Cup. He earned perfect scores of '10' from guest riders Lisa Wilcox and Stefan van Ingelgem. He won the 2003 KWPN Stallion Show as a 5-year old, maintaining a very strong lead over his peers through the series of competitions leading up to the Divoza Cup final. He represented the Netherlands at the 2003 FEI World Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany, capturing the Silver Medal and heralding the world's attention as top dressage stallion. The Hanoverian, Oldenburg, and Westphalian Verbands responded to this grand success by licensing Rousseau and inviting his influence into their world renowned programs. Prior to his international success at the 2003 World Championships for Young Horses, Harmony Sporthorses of Kiowa, Colorado became partners with Hilltop in this lovely young stallion, securing him as an enduring asset to our North American sporthorse breeding program. In late 2006, Harmony Sporthorses became full-owners of Rousseau and North America welcomed Rousseau "home."
Rousseau's Heritage
| Le Mexico | ||
| Ulft | ||
| Pia | ||
| Ferro pref. | ||
| Farn | ||
| Brenda | ||
| Upianne | ||
| Pilatus | ||
| Roemer pref. | ||
| Cronella H | ||
| Zsuzsa | ||
| Homerus | ||
| Landy | ||
| Hester | ||
Rousseau's sire is Olympic Ferro, the "Black Pearl" of the Netherlands who captured the hearts of dressage fans around the world during many international performances under Coby Van Baalen. Magnificent, powerful, awe-inspiring, Ferro inspired a fresh influence in the Dutch breeding program. Ferro captured the Team Silver at the 1998 World Equestrian Games, 1999 European Championships and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Ferro is one of the KWPN's foundation stallions, having sired over ten licensed sons. His legacy includes an impressive list of KWPN approved sons: Kennedy, Metall, Negro, Rousseau, Pyriet, Paddox, and Osmium. The British AES approved two Olympic Ferro sons: Jazz Dancer and Lorenzo; and the NRPS licensed and approved one other, Ferrolan. Olympic Ferro sired the year 2000 Champion Stallion of the KWPN Stallion Show in Den Bosch and the 2000 Champion KWPN Mare at Ermelo. With scores of successful offspring to his credit, Ferro earned the important predicate of Preferant stallion in the KWPN studbooks.
Olympic Ferro held the #1 position of the BN World Stallion Rankings late into his career and maintained an outstanding dressage index of 153 with the KWPN, boasting an impressive 87% reliability index. As a three-year old, he was Champion of his stallion performance test at Ermelo with impressive scores of 8.5 for his trot and canter. Olympic Ferro left over 35 Keur Preferant daughters, 145 Star daughters, 300 Studbook daughters and 150 1st Premium foals.
Ferro was also valued for his jumping influence. With over 111 points in the KWPN's jumping index and an 80% reliability factor, Ferro's jumping influence is readily explained further back in his pedigree. Ferro's sire Ulft descends from the valued influence of the KWPN Dutch stallion Le Mexico, who ranked 10th on the jumping index with 142 points. Le Mexico bears the world renowned influence of Furioso xx. Ferro's dam Brenda is by Farn, another stronghold in the KWPN jumper index. With 146 points, Farn nearly matches his preeminent sire Nimmerdor, who ranks 2nd in the KWPN jumper index with 155 points.
Rousseau's dam Zsuzsa "Ster-sport" was successful in Grand Prix dressage competition under an amateur rider. Zsuzsa is by the Preferant stallion Roemer, the internationally renowned stallion who became one of North America's foundation sires in the Dutch program. Roemer earned a perfect '10' for temperament in his stallion performance test. During his years in the Netherlands, Roemer was a successful international jumper then under Mary Alice Malone of Iron Spring Farm, Roemer became a Champion Grand Prix dressage stallion. His dressage index reached a pinnacle 218 points in 2001. His offspring inherit both his dressage and jumping talent. His son Mistral competed as a Show Jumper at the1992 Olympics in Soeul. His son Darwin led the KWPN's dressage index for his age group in 1994.
About Rousseau's Offspring
Rousseau's success as a producer is indisputable. The results speak for themselves with ample examples to illustrate the point.
His first foal crop in 2002 yielded an excellent official Foal Report from the KWPN and several foals were selected for the elite foal auctions in the Netherlands. In 2003, Didi Carpenter's Rousseau colt "Wrigly" finished as the #6 foal Wrigley on NA/WPN's List of Top Ten. In 2004, two colts by Rousseau placed 2nd and 3rd at the Dutch National Foal Championships. In the US, Carrie O'Brian's "Zsunami" was named the #3 foal on NA/WPN's List of Top Ten while Harmony's Ravena (Rousseau-Rubinstein) claimed the Site Championship title with the AHS.
2005 was a significant year in Rousseau's career as a sire. Rousseau had four sons selected for the KWPN Stallion Show. His son V.I.P. (Rousseau-Farrington-Amor) was licensed and later that year, his daughter Violita (Rousseau-Krack C) was named Overall Champion Ster mare of North Holland. Violita also placed 3rd at National Mare Show at KWPN Paardendagen;. His 2005 son Ajong (Rousseau-Flemmingh) topped the Borculo Elite Foal Auction at an impressive price of 41,000 e. Meanwhile, Rousseau's offspring took the top four Champion and Reserve Champion titles for fillies and colts at Hengststation Pape Foal Show in Germany. In the US, Rousseau foals claimed four of the top positions in the NA/WPN 2005 Top Ten, ranking #1, Arturo (breeder: Kathy Childs), #5 Ad Lib Se (breeder Siegi Belz), #7 Arousseau (breeder Julie Ballard Haralson), and #8 Armani (breeder Leslie Feakins). At the prestigious Dressage At Devon Breed Show, Armani won the highly competitive Colts of 2005 class at Dressage At Devon with an 89.4%.
In 2006, Rousseau climbed the next pinnacle in his career, establishing his preeminence as one of today's leading sires. Eleven Rousseau sons were selected for the second round of the KWPN Stallion Show, making Rousseau the most heavily represented sire of dressage stallions that year. The KWPN licensed five sons by Rousseau and named Wamberto (Rousseau-Voltaire-Dutchboy) the Champion Stallion of the licensing. Later in 2006, Wodora (Rousseau-Columbus) placed 4th at KWPN National Mare Show in the Three Year Ster Mare dressage class. In the US, Winnetou (Rousseau- Falco) won the DG Bar Cup qualifier at Iron Spring Farm and placed 3rd nationally. More KWPN-NA Top Ten results from 2006 include Wiando, who placed 2nd on KWPN-NA 2006 Top Ten in 3-year old geldings movement division and Bacara SVS, who placed 5th among the KWPN-NA 2006 Top Ten foals. In sporthorse breeding classes at Dressage At Devon, Armani placed 2nd in the Yearling Colts class and Zanita (Rousseau- placed 3rd in the KWPN-NA Two Years and Under Class.
What Rousseau Offers
Rousseau offers a tremendously generous character. His offspring possess excellent temperaments and a quiet, amenable nature. Like his sire Ferro, Rousseau produces elegant types with beautiful expression. Their lines are long and athletic, with strong topline and correct foundations. He reliably produces a lovely neck and beautifully conformed front end. His offspring bear his notably powerful hind end, with well-proportioned joints and good angles.
Even though Rousseau's primary influence has been as a dressage sire, with the added bonus of the jumping lieange in his pedigree, Rousseau's offspring often show the aptitude for jumping and some have been imported to the US as jumper prospects. We value the versatility Rousseau bears and the strength of his prepotency as producer.
April 23rd - We are no longer applying discounts to Rousseau's bookings, however his book is still open. Remember to book early next season to access any discounts for this exceptional stallion!
