Chelsey Sibley
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How did you get started breeding dressage horses?
Hi my name is Chelsey Sibley, and I got started breeding dressage horses with my trainer Jeff Moore and also with Deborah Harrison DVM. Jeff had a few Dutch Warmblood broodmares and a few Dutch stallions. When I was training with Jeff, I was riding a mare named Chaam, and Chaam had a half sister owned by Jeff named “Jazz” who was three years old when I saw her. I asked Jeff if I could break Jazz in exchange for breeding her, and keep the foal. He said yes! Jazz was a super high quality mare and I bred her to Jeff’s stallion Taxateur, who I absolutely adored from when I rode and showed him myself. Jazz had a wonderful filly that I named Narcisse. Narcisse became a broodmare for me and had quite a few wonderful foals that have been very successful at the upper levels of dressage.
Chelsey Sibley on stallion Taxateur (Obelisk x Commandant)
Narcisse had one mare in particular, her name is Ubella she is by the very famous stallion, Jazz. Ubella has had a lot of really spectacular foals. She has given me quite a few wonderful mares that I have kept and am using in my breeding program.
After some years of breeding the mare Jazz, Jeff got out of the breeding business and offered her to me. She was older at this point but she still has some good years left in her for a few more foals, so I said yes, I would love to take her. At the time I was then riding a stallion named Contester II, who I also absolutely adored. So, I bred Jazz to Contester II , that was in 2009. In 2010 she had a wonderful colt that I loved right from when he was first born. She decided to have him on a night that it was raining and thunder and lightning and all was fine, but when the colt was about 6 months old, Jazz had a mystery illness that the vets couldn't figure out. She went downhill fast and was to the point that she was falling down, and I was so afraid for her colt that I weaned him right away. He was old enough that he was fine, but it was just so sad. I did have to put her down and he was her final foal, so of course his name is Finale`. And he is now 12 yrs old and showing Grand Prix.
Contestor II (left) and Finale (right) Photo credit: Liz van woerdon
What is one of your proudest moments as a breeder?
My proudest moment as a breeder is breeding Finale` and having been the Breeder/owner/trainer of him is a dream come true for me. I have had quite a list of magnificent stallions in my life and I honestly can't say which one I have loved the most, I have been very lucky to have had so many wonderful breeding stallions to work with and train. Of just the stallions I've had, I have trained 7 to the Grand Prix and 2 of those were actually Arabians. I love them all the same. Finale for sure has a special place , because he is the stallion I bred and I feel like we have an extra special bond.
Finale, by Contestor II x Jazz (Vosmaer/Commandant ) Photo credit: Liz van woerdon
How have your goals for your program changed over the years?
I think over the years I have changed my breeding program a bit , I used to breed for more of the professional type of horses. But those horses can be difficult and hot and not for everyone. I have found that I need to breed horses more amateur friendly. They may not be quite as fancy as some of the more professional type of horses but they appeal to a lot more people, and are much more rideable for everyone. My goal is to breed a few every year that are more amateur friendly, but then maybe one or 2 for more of the professional type of riders. If I get a filly from one of the hotter, fancier type of mares I usually try to keep that one. I try to keep my best mares and use them to continue to improve my breeding program.
Next season I don't have many foals coming , I have 6 coming. I had some trouble getting some of them in foal. But I will keep at it and try to have a few more for 2024.
What is your plan for next season?
Next season I have 6 foals coming. I had some trouble getting some of them in foal. But I will keep at it and try to have a few more for 2024.
What advice do you have for buyers who are interested in buying young horses?
Advice I give to buyers looking at young horses. It's very difficult to buy young horses. When they are yearlings and some 2 year olds, they can be very gangly, unless you can see both the stallion and the mare, it's really hard to know what you will get.
Honestly, some of the most gangly looking ones end up being the best, but it is hard to know. I guess my advice would be to see both the stallion and mare if possible. If that's not possible, then I would make sure you see the horse and check its legs, and be able to see the gaits.
I have 3 stallions at the moment. I have Finale who I am showing Grand Prix and I have his father Contester II, I trained him as well to Grand Prix.
I also have Kylo Ren who is a youngish stallion that I haven't started showing yet. I will probably start showing him next year in 2023.