Cil Dara Duchess

Introduction: Duchess an absolute dream to ride, handle and compete. Duchess was bred by Cil Dara Stud before being produced to 130 before going on to be a prolific ribbon winner to 120. She has excelled and progressed beautifully in the role! Duchess is careful, bold, brave and quick - everything you want in a showjumper!

With Duchess’s owner being recently married, and with many young horses coming through, this sale presents a wonderful opportunity for another rider to learn from and succeed with such a wonderful mare.

Bloodlines: Duchess was undoubtedly exceptionally well bred, being sired by Dirado out of a mare by Cil Dara Anastasia (Argentinus).

Dirado has an outstanding German FN Breeding Value Index of 161, he is in the top 1% of all German jumper sires and has had an outstanding career. Diardo is by Diamant de Semilly - one of the best jumping sires worldwide and, with Eric Levallois, won the team gold at the World Championships in 2002, one year later the team silver medal at the European Championship.

Cil Dara Anastasia is by Argentinus who, by 1996, Argentinus was the youngest millionaire among Germany’s top sires and he remained a top sire right up until his death in 2007. A successful advanced level jumper himself, Argentinus produced both jumping and dressage competitors to international level and over 20 approved stallions.

Offspring: Duchess had two foals in her earlier years. One by ET and one carried by her. The ET, ‘Cil Dara  Bombay S’ is currently in the UK eventing with  Isobel English and placed 5th in the 6yo division of the 2023 Eventing Young Horse World  Championships!

Conformation: Duchess is a wonderful example of the modern performance horse - compact, athletic and refined. Her paces display elasticity, power and activity.

Education, riding and experience: Duchess is well established on the flat and she is a has beautiful movement. She would be competent to compete at novice level dressage and produce a stunning dressage test. She has automatic flying changes, established leg yields, shoulder ins, travers, turn on forehand, and counter canter. She is suitable to be a straight dressage horse or a combined training super star. This also makes her rideable, adjustable and competitive on course!

Duchess is competing 110 to 120  with 125/ 130 jump offs. She is training 125/130. Duchess previously competed up to 130 with an experienced senior rider.

Duchess is honest, trustworthy, brave and is careful around the course. She is tolerant of rider mistakes and if she trusts you she will always try to help you out! In saying that, she is sensible and if she thinks something is completely impossible, she won’t crucify herself or risk the rider’s safety. This is a good thing!

Duchess is dream to take out, no silliness in the warmup and stands and waits her turn. She enjoys her job and occasionally likes to jig jog back to the truck, with happiness, after her round. Duchess is forward and powerful - like any horse that is competitive to 130. 

Duchess is always 100% safe with absolutely no dirt. She loves a trail ride or ride around the farm. Duchess is currently in work and competing. 

Handling: Duchess is patient and well mannered on the ground to rug, wash, shoe etc. She is great for the farrier and to clip. Duchess is very easy to load, travel and unload - in either a float or truck. She loves cuddles and affection.

Behaviour: Duchess has traveled all over the country. She is happy in big city and Royal Show environments. She travels well - loads and unloads without fuss and eats and drinks well when away from home.  

Duchess is sensible and reliable and to ride and handle. She does not have any vices under-saddle or on the ground. 

Feeding and management: Duchess is fed a simple diet - a small am and pm feed. She is currently paddocked full time. Duchess lives on rich ‘dairy’ country and the lush ‘rocket fuel’ type grass can make her (and every horse!) a little fresh but she is 100% safe regardless of feed. Duchess is happy to be stabled at competitions and prefers being paddocked on her own but must have a companion in sight.

Medical history: Duchess does not have any medical issues. She has pads on her front hooves due to the dry conditions in Victoria.

Rider Suitability: Duchess would suit a competitive junior or adult rider who is looking for a straightforward and competitive horse to ride up through the show jumping levels, to compete in dressage or combined training. She does need a rider who is comfortable riding a powerful, forward horse but she would be a superstar interschool horse!

Reason for sale: Duchess is very sadly for sale due to her owner being married last weekend and having young horses coming through. Duchess is sound, fit and ready to show her next rider the ropes.