Rio Grande

Few times in history has one sport horse stallion proven his value as both the sire of champion International Grand Prix jumpers and champion Canadian and U.S. hunters. Rio Grande has been called the “Performance Sire Extraordinaire” for his consistency in producing talented, correct and trainable horses for both jumper and hunter disciplines.

It was his success as a sire that first put Charlot Farms on top as the USEF Hunter Breeders of the year. And he helped keep them there for TEN incredible years.

Rio Grande was a winner throughout his incredible career. He won his stallion performance test (135 points), competed successfully as a dressage horse (Basic Dressage Champion at the prestigious Tournament of Champions as a four year old), then his classic style over fences made him a winner in the Hunter Ring before he showed his true scope as an International Grand Prix jumper. Rio was victorious in numerous International level show jumping events and won as part of Team Canada in Nations Cups. He qualified for the 1996 Canadian Olympics team.

Retired to stud he showed even greater value as the sire of many of the best hunters in North America including WEF Hunter Champions Rio Bravo, Rio Bronco (2002 AHSA Horse of the Year), Eye Remember Rio, Rio Renoir, Due North and Rio’s Echo, as well as a number of exceptional show jumpers including Rio’s Rhapsody who won major Grand Prix competitions in Florida and Canada and Catwalk who won two World Cup Qualifiers in 2007 and represented Team Canada at the World Cup Finale. Rio has produced numerous premium mares, approved breeding stallions, successful eventing and dressage horses.

Rio Grande consistently produces big, beautiful, athletic and intelligent horses with great jumping technique, lovely movement and calm demeanor. In February 2005, Horse Sport magazine said Rio Grande was “Arguably the best Hunter/Jumper Sire in Canadian History” and his reputation has clearly extended across bloodlines throughout North America.

Still producing winners…Back Up Plan, by Rio Grande, was named Ultimate Hunter Challenge Champion for 7/8 year olds at Palgrave in 2013.

Rio Grande was inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in November 2015 as both a jumper and sire of hunters and jumpers.

Although he passed away in 2007, Charlot Farms still has excellent quality frozen Rio Grande semen available to select mares. Each year, they breed a few Rio foals themselves and his bloodlines run throughout their mare herd ensuring Rio Grande’s traits will live on for generations.

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