There will be no quiet exit through the back door for Dayton Sitte. The 17-year-old stallion leaves the sport exactly as he dominated it for all those years: with a victory. Under the saddle of Virginie Thonon, the son of Ogano Sitte is officially "hanging up his horseshoes" to focus exclusively on breeding.
Dayton Sitte (Ogano Sitte x Ustina Sitte by Clinton) will no longer appear in the show ring. After many seasons on the international circuit, it is time for a new chapter. According to Virginie Thonon, the timing is no coincidence; she wanted to prevent him from jumping "one season too many."
The stallion’s journey through the ranks was shaped by several top riders. Laurent Thirion developed Dayton as a young horse. Later Cassio Rivetti took over the reins and after a short time with France's Roger-Yves Bost the stallion moved to Belgium's Virginie Thonon. Thonon last competed with the stallion internationally this past summer in Ghlin. Together, the duo competed at levels up to 1.55m.
Focus on Breeding
The next phase of his career lies in breeding, a role he previously balanced alongside his sporting duties. Dayton Sitte is now returning full-time to the Boudrenghien family (Elevage de Sitte).
Thonon, who remains a co-owner, has big plans of her own: "I have nine broodmares, and I am certainly going to use him on five or six of them." While many top horses pass through a rider's career, some leave a deeper impression than others. "He might not be a High Tech VY de Septon or a Kosovo de Semilly, but he comes right after them," Thonon summarized.
Dayton Sitte has already produced several successful offspring, including: Kavango Sitte: Licensed stallion (1.55m), Devino van 't Langeveld (1.55m), Hermione de L'Hodez (1.50m) and It's Me du Bosquetiau (1.50m)
