Billy Congo: “I’m just in love with some of the young horses by Billy Congo” says William Funnel to the AES in January this year.
Billy Congo achieved Gold British Show Jumping Elite Stallion status in 2010 ridden by William Funnell. He was part of the Nations Cup winning team at Hickstead jumping a double clear round and was also selected for the British Team squad for Dublin. He was placed sixth in The Super League Grand Prix in Falsterbo Sweden again jumping a double clear round and was 2nd in the Derby Trial at Hickstead and won the International Bunn Leisure Tankard class.
His successes continued at Grand Prix through 2011 to last year and 2015 looks set to be a star year with Billy Congo already taking good placing’s in his 3* competitions this year.
By AES & Irish Horse Board Approved stallion Vechta, who is by the famous world class sire Voltaire. Vechta’s extended pedigree carries 3 crosses to influential TB stallions Lucky Boy, Cottage Son and Furioso and top level performance sports horses, these performers and progeny include the great For Pleasure, Heisman, Faust Z and Maximillian Voltucky, champion young stallion at the SHB (GB) stallion grading.
Billy Congo’s Dam Billy Autumn was herself and successful Grand Prix Showjumper and her sire, Animo, is among the elite jumping stallions in the world today.
Billy Congo’s young stock are now showing their potential.
In 2011, Billy Umbongo was joint winner of the Four Year Old Championships at the Addington, the following year he jumped clear everyday to pick up the bonus for the British bred 5yr olds. 2014 has seen Billy Umbongo go on his first sunshine tour to Spain and jumped numerous clear rounds in the 7yr old classes.
With his deep understanding of the breeding process, breeders should be assured by William Funnels responses to the Anglo European Stud Book when asked “Is Billy Congo the best?” and “Which stallion brought you the best horses?” his response was:
“Billy Congo is the best! No, I’m a modest man, but I’m just so in love with some of the young horses by Billy Congo. Some six and seven-year-olds in my stables. What I experience with Billy Congo is that he gives blood and produces careful sport types. There aren’t many stallions like that. For most stallions you need a blood mare. He doesn’t need that. I think most people don’t even realise how good he is because I think he is suited more to the European mares than the English blood types. He’s good on the typical continental mares, because he’s a strong horse with a good back and good hind end. That’s why I think we should sell more semen to Europe. There are not enough stallions with this type in Europe. Together with Kees Van Den Oetelaar I’m dividing the semen in Europe now. We have just finished another period of freezing his semen. His semen is better than any other, and his frozen is as good as the fresh.”
Click here to view this showjumping stallion on Horse Scout
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