Yeguada El Encanto Andalusian Stud

The Stud was founded in 2002 by the purchase of Carlo I from the Senillosa Stud in Catalunia, Spain, (after hundreds and hundreds of kilometres of travel and trying out more than 30 stallions). He had competed at Elementary level in Spain and is approved by the Spanish Military Academy. When Claudia met him at the airport in Johannesburg he was practicing the Piaffe in his container. The groom said he had walked all the way from Europe.





Carlo commenced his South African show career at the Easter Show in 2002. He has steadily worked his way up the grades and is currently competing at Adult Advanced in Dressage. He also did some showing and was Best Breeding Stallion at the 2002 and 2003 Easter Show, awarded Reserve Champion Stallion in 2002 and Highly Commended at Horse of the Year in 2004. Now, however, his sole focus is Dressage, despite the fact that he enjoys the odd jump. Some people might also remember him from the lovely Continental Tyre advertisement on television, all of which was filmed in his paddock at home with the background and effects later filled in at the studio.





The foundation mares for the stud were acquired shortly after Carlo arrived in the country; the majority were Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods. Later the stud acquired three Anglo-Hispanic (TB x Andalusian) fillies, Juanita, Navidad and Brilliante, who were by the first Andalusian stallion in South Africa, Maryss Brujo (he was lost a number of years back to a severe bout of colic). These mares have produced some lovely foals.





In 2004 the stud was expanded by importing an outstanding grey Andalusian mare, which was in foal to a stallion in Spain - Tardor V.She produced a lovely grey filly, Tardor VI and so the gene pool was further enlarged. The stud now boasts four excellent Andalusian lines. Since Tardor V arrived, the stud has conducted embryo transplants with her and Carlo’s semen. This season also saw the arrival of Tardor VI first foal. The third crop of purebred foals is on the ground and looking very promising. This brings the number of PRE (Pura Raza Espanhola) standing at the stud to seven.