Valhalla Farm

Competition Results Speak Volumes

Jean believes that the proof of a breeding program must always come through the results of competition, and Valhalla has surely seen great success. In 2004, the United States Equestrian Federation® (USEF) started record keeping on the leading breeders in the U.S. Valhalla was pleased to report that they stood first in 2005 statistics as the leading breeder of dressage horses from all sport horse breeders in the U.S and presently holds this position in 2006. Also in 2006, Hailo was sixth and Martini ninth in the Leading Sires of Dressage Horses out of 1,100 stallions. Additionally, in a 2006 article in the United States Dressage Federation's magazine, Jean Brinkman was the second leading breeder in the production of dressage horses earning National Horse of the Year awards over a six year period. Martini, who still strongly influences her breeding program, was Leading USDF sire, all breeds, from 1998 through 2001. Jean and Martini competed together through Grand Prix, earning a team Silver medal at the Olympic Sports Festival along the way. With Martini and other horses, Jean earned her Bronze, Silver and Gold USDF medals.

Valhalla's specialty is dressage, and a large number of their sales horses compete in this field earning an incredible number of USDF Horse of the Year and breed awards. As the years have progressed, a substantial number of the Valhalla homebreds have entered the hunter field as well, earning many championships. “One of the traits we breed for is a brave, energetic nature so that the show experience is not exhausting or frightening.” Most recently, Valhalla has expanded their expertise to include eventing. Jean always knew her horses were talented jumpers and now that she has an experienced trainer in-house, they are seeing incredible results. Just a few months ago, her stallion, Stiletto, ridden by Andrew Palmer, entered his third event, the American Eventing Championships at the Carolina Horse Park and took Reserve Champion in the Open Training Level division against 68 horses.

Repeat client Corinne Morrison owns five Valhalla-bred horses, one of which she successfully events in the southwest region. “Jean is truly an extraordinary horsewoman who has the talent of keeping many balls in the air without showing signs of the slightest distress. Jean is never content with the knowledge that she has today and is always striving to learn more and improve her breeding program and the quality of her horses. This is one of the many reasons that Jean has won the USEF Dressage Breeder Award of the Year a number of times.”