About. |
We aim to produce Knabstruppers that make suitable all-rounders for amateurs, but are especially suited towards classical disciplines.
Our Philosophy
Due to low numbers over the years, the breed has by necessity needed to outcross in the past for genetic diversity. Outcrossing with outside breeds was also the most expedient way to establish the breed here in America during the early days. Here at Knabstruppers of Knight Equine, we think that the Purebred & Classic type Knabstrupper should have a place here in North America; especially as the breeds influence and numbers here have grown.
We aren't looking to produce a generic spotted sports horse — indistinguishable from the modern warmblood outside of the breed's distinct spotted color — We also don't want to see Knabstrupper lines swallowed up by outside warmblood pedigrees.
There are certainly some wonderful Knabstruppers with well-known Hanoverian, Oldenburg, Dutch, & Danish warmblood lines being bred in America, but like the KNN has stated in the past, we believe that maintaining a higher percentage of actual Knabstrupper blood is crucial.
We aren't looking to produce a generic spotted sports horse — indistinguishable from the modern warmblood outside of the breed's distinct spotted color — We also don't want to see Knabstrupper lines swallowed up by outside warmblood pedigrees.
There are certainly some wonderful Knabstruppers with well-known Hanoverian, Oldenburg, Dutch, & Danish warmblood lines being bred in America, but like the KNN has stated in the past, we believe that maintaining a higher percentage of actual Knabstrupper blood is crucial.
"Knabstruppers produced from an outcross of a Knabstrupper should be bred back to a Knabstrupper for the breeds continuation."
- The Knabstrupperforeningen for Danmark
Our personal preference leans towards towards the Classic type of Knabstrupper as well. And we don't mean just a coarse, draft built creature with spots, but the Iberian influenced Knabstruppers with bone and baroque characteristics [akin to that of a Lipizzaner in type]; we will be breeding to retain and refine those traits. Classic Knabstruppers, when bred the more familiar warmbloods, are still capable of producing athletic sport horses.
We want to create versatile sport horses that are easily directed with conformation especially suited to classical disciplines such as Working Equitation and Haute École. Amateur friendly all-rounders that are good doers. We feel that the original/classical type of Knabstrupper is well suited for this.
The breed's fascinating history, their color, their baroque type, their hardiness. their characteristically easy temperament — we fell in love with it all and wish to do what we can to preserve and grow this type of Knabstrupper's presence here in America.
As such, we try to passport and approve our Knabstruppers through the KNN when at all possible. As a small volunteer registry and as the original/Motherbook of the breed, we think supporting the KNN in this way is the best way to support and grow the breed.
Our aim is also to make Knabstrupper genetics accessible. We are building our broodmare band and offer embryos from our mares.
We want to create versatile sport horses that are easily directed with conformation especially suited to classical disciplines such as Working Equitation and Haute École. Amateur friendly all-rounders that are good doers. We feel that the original/classical type of Knabstrupper is well suited for this.
The breed's fascinating history, their color, their baroque type, their hardiness. their characteristically easy temperament — we fell in love with it all and wish to do what we can to preserve and grow this type of Knabstrupper's presence here in America.
As such, we try to passport and approve our Knabstruppers through the KNN when at all possible. As a small volunteer registry and as the original/Motherbook of the breed, we think supporting the KNN in this way is the best way to support and grow the breed.
Our aim is also to make Knabstrupper genetics accessible. We are building our broodmare band and offer embryos from our mares.
Established in 2012
During our initial search to find the perfect Knabbie, we experienced a limit here in the United States market. We wanted a Classic type Knabstrupper, but because of the breeds rarity, and the necessity of outcrossing, few fit what we were looking for domestically, and there was the prohibitive cost of importing internationally. We frequently we wished we could customize from the American breeding stock to create a Knabstrupper that would fit our criteria & budget.
In 2011 the acquisition of our first Knabstrupper set us on our current path. An 18 month old Knabstrupper filly, Fanfare de Bec, sired by the late 'Atlantis' (Ambrosius af Asgard) who has the honor of being the first Knabstrupper stallion to be imported to the United States (also one of only three available studs at the time) and out of a mid-level eventer thoroughbred mare by Java Gold xx. We hadn't planned on bringing her home, we originally just wanted the opportunity to finally meet a Knabstrupper in person, but it has been a fortuitous blessing to call her ours. Fanfare was graded by the KNN in 2012 (during the third ever KNN Tour in America), was awarded 2nd premium, and has been available to the public for ET since in order to give others access to her genetics.
In 2011 the acquisition of our first Knabstrupper set us on our current path. An 18 month old Knabstrupper filly, Fanfare de Bec, sired by the late 'Atlantis' (Ambrosius af Asgard) who has the honor of being the first Knabstrupper stallion to be imported to the United States (also one of only three available studs at the time) and out of a mid-level eventer thoroughbred mare by Java Gold xx. We hadn't planned on bringing her home, we originally just wanted the opportunity to finally meet a Knabstrupper in person, but it has been a fortuitous blessing to call her ours. Fanfare was graded by the KNN in 2012 (during the third ever KNN Tour in America), was awarded 2nd premium, and has been available to the public for ET since in order to give others access to her genetics.
Even years after our first Knabstrupper acquisition, we where we were still encountering the same problem while searching for our latest Knabstrupper addition; left to make a selection from limited options here in America or to go through the hassle and expense of importing when we were searching for our latest addition. It was still hard to find Knabstrupper mares for sale, and even harder to find high-percentage or homozygous mares available for sale. In some instances, it would have been cheaper to go through the purchase and importing of a Knabstrupper from overseas than the market price of what was available domestically for what fit our criteria; but that is still a cost prohibitive option.
We acquired our second Knabstrupper mare in 2016. Truly a gem, Daquiry May von Kobold, had been imported in-utero from Germany (Knabstrupper Zucht von Kobold) by her previous owner. Daquiry is not only homozygous for the Leopard color (LP/LP), She is 14/16ths purebred (officially 11/16ths) and her pedigree includes some unique bloodlines not much seen here in America. Awarded 1st Premium by the KNN as a yearling during the 2012 Tour, despite a pasture accident that same year that resulted in injured shoulder. This injury also keeps her from having a show career, but during the 2022 KNN Grading tour, Daquiry was still able to score 9's for the movement she presented, earned a 1st Premium overall score, with the foal at her side also awarded Best Foal at the grading site. We look forward to seeing what further contributions she makes to the Knabstrupper genepool through her offspring.
With so few Knabstruppers in the world, and even fewer of them being pure, classic, and/or homozygous here in the USA, our goal is to make the breed more accessible to the public, and to make preserving the Knabstrupper breed a more obtainable avenue, here in America. Our priority is also to ensure that the foals we produce have suitable homes awaiting them, with the majority of our homegrown progeny to be retained as breeding stock, we have several Embryo options that are offered to make owning your own tailored Knabstrupper foal as convenient as possible!
With so few Knabstruppers in the world, and even fewer of them being pure, classic, and/or homozygous here in the USA, our goal is to make the breed more accessible to the public, and to make preserving the Knabstrupper breed a more obtainable avenue, here in America. Our priority is also to ensure that the foals we produce have suitable homes awaiting them, with the majority of our homegrown progeny to be retained as breeding stock, we have several Embryo options that are offered to make owning your own tailored Knabstrupper foal as convenient as possible!
To our knowledge, we are the only Black Owned Knabstrupper breeding program in America . . . Possibly in the world!
We purchased our 37 acre homestead in 2018. Located in rural North Carolina, just south of Danville, VA, the farm cottage was built in 1928 and renovating the rustic property, that had at some point in the distant past operated as a tobacco farm, has been an ongoing labor of love. After reclaiming our largest field from the encroaching forest and fencing it in, we brought our girls home and have been slowly making improvements.
The first foals of our program, Knight's Fairytale & Knight's Caipirinha (both sired by Colorado Skrødstrup) were born in 2022. Both fillies scored 1st Premium during the 2022 KNN Grading - with Caipirinha being additionally awarded, Best Foal at the Virginia Grading Site.
The property is also home to our farm guardian, Great Pyrenees mix- Daisy, our Ragamese mix- Djinn, and our two Nubian mixes- Lucy & Ethel.
The first foals of our program, Knight's Fairytale & Knight's Caipirinha (both sired by Colorado Skrødstrup) were born in 2022. Both fillies scored 1st Premium during the 2022 KNN Grading - with Caipirinha being additionally awarded, Best Foal at the Virginia Grading Site.
The property is also home to our farm guardian, Great Pyrenees mix- Daisy, our Ragamese mix- Djinn, and our two Nubian mixes- Lucy & Ethel.
Our Team
Carla McKnight
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Knabstrupperforeningen for Danmark
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Equine Reproduction Concepts, LLC
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