The 2010 WEG and European champ and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Edward Gal (NED) has acquired a new prospect, Total Star, from Quebec breeder Estelle Motta of Stella Rossa Farm in Mirabel. The stunning four-year-old liver chestnut stallion is sired by Gal’s former legendary mount, Totilas, and has the distinction of being both the first son of Totilas to be born in the province and the first to obtain licensing in North America with the German Oldenburg Verband [2017].
Bred by Motta, Total Star is out of her Premium mare Day Star (by Donner Bube, who stands at D&R Warmbloods in Wetaskiwin, AB). The minute the foal made an appearance on May 30, 2014, Motta knew he was special. “As soon as he was born, I knew he was the one in a breeder life!”
Stella Rossa Farm was established in 2007 and has been producing a modest number of quality horses since then. “I have a small breeding program with three to four foals per year,” said Motta, adding that she was previously into hunter/jumper breeding, but in 2013 she began to specialize in dressage horses “when I fell in love with the team of Gal and Totilas. I changed my choice of breeding, because he became my ideal model.”
She took advantage of breeding courses offered by the German Oldenburg Verband, where she met top breeders in Germany. “They are generous in their explanations on what we have to know for breeding a super horse. The GOV team are always available to help when we have a question. I concentrated my efforts to find super broodmares with excellent pedigree and soundness, because they are the most important factor to produce a top foal. The stallion completes the equation.”
Her program is certainly proving effective. Of 21 foals born at Stella Rossa, 17 have been awarded Premium Foal, Foal of Distinction, Elite Foal or became stallions prospects. She has produced two licensed stallions, and is expecting two more Totilas foals, this time out of DeNiro and Desperados mares.
Motta met Gal, who is sponsored by Austrian gun mogul Gaston Glock, in the spring of 2018 at a dressage clinic in California. “What a super clinic; a very awesome clinician!” she enthused. She had come prepared with a presentation folder highlighting Total Star. “I discussed with Edward about him and voilà! My dream came true. I believed in my stallion and now he is in the best hands ever. Edward is an incredible horseman and a super-talented rider. He represents so much for me and is my ideal model for a breeder like me.”
She is certain the two will be a good match in the dressage ring. “Total Star looks like his sire for the power of gaits and has a huge canter. When the time comes for pirouette and piaffe, it’s going to be easy for him, because he is really strong. [He has a] super character, is willing to work and has good rideability if you are not afraid to feel the power under saddle.”
Total Star joins three other Totilas offspring Gal has scouted ‒ Toto Jr, Total U.S., and Trafalgar ‒ as well as Taminiau, a Totilas grandson.
Motta’s success story should encourage all small breeders working hard to produce the best and hoping for international recognition. “Be proud of yourself and always follow your heart, and of course believe in your dreams, because dreams can send you far!”
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