2003 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing
Donnerhall x Kennedy, Champion of the 2003
Oldenburg Stallion Licensing
November 28, 2003
The third and final day of the 2003 Oldenburg Stallion
Licensing was a fabulous one. Not only did the Stallion
Commission crowned a truly phenomenal colt Champion
Stallion, but the ten colts selected for premium
were all of a very high standard. Catalog number 23,
the Donnerhall x Kennedy x Karon, who has excelled
since day one, deservedly won the Champion's Title
of the 2003 Oldenburg Licensing.
Fifty-two horses out of approximately 75 were
qualified for the final, fourth viewing on the final
day of the licensing. In groups of 9 they were once
more shown in hand in trot and in walk. After the
presentation of each group, the panel announced the
licensed and
non-licensed colts, and added which stallion was selected
for the premium ring. With more than 3000 visitors
filling the stands, tension built up all day, especially
when the ten selected colts for the
premium ring were being presented. It took the judges'
panel, which consisted of Schulze-Schleppinghof, Heckmann,
Folkers and Thole, quite a while to make their final
decision, but they were very right in placing the
Donnerhall x Kennedy x Karon in first position. The
dark bay colt was simply best each day and he could
not have deserved the title more.
Presented by Paul Schockemohle's Gestüt Lewitz,
the Donnerhall x Kennedy is a noble, refined and
strong moving stallion with father quality as well
as sport horse talent. Judge Uwe Heckmann was
extremely pleased with this stallion and said that,
"he's very lightfeeted and has interesting and
valuable bloodlines.
He has
excellent gaits, both his walk and trot are superb
and he performed consistently throughout the licensing."
By crowing # 23 champion, the judges also honored his
sire Donnerhall as 2001 was his final breeding year
before dying unexpectedly.
Breeder of the 2003 Licensing
Champion is Dr. Klaus Michels,
a
lawyer
from
Kuddewoerde,
Germany, who currently has no more broodmares
except one stallion and a foal. The Donnerhall x Kennedy
was
not
presented
at auction, as he was sold by Schockemohle to Sarah
and Anthony Pidgley of Kilbees Farm in Windsor, United
Kingdom prior to the licensing. Of course, the Oldenburg
Zuchtverband was extremely
upset about the early sale of the "Sieger," as
Schockemohle did not give the Verband the credit and
business by auctioning this horse. Despite this unpleasant
matter, the Pidgley's nevertheless have great plans
for their champion's colt.
Besides
being
up for stud, he will be put in training with Holga
Finken who will try to qualify him for the 2004
Bundeschampionate.
Reserve Champion of the 2003 Licensing was number
64, the incredibly trotting Rubin Royal x Calmiro x
Eldorado, bred in Luxembourg by Arsene Weiler
and presented at the Licensing by Harli Seifert. The
Rubin Royal is an extravagant mover and he received
some criticism from detractors that his movements
were uncoordinated. Heckmann refuted this immediately
by
saying that, "he has a great moving mechanism.
His transitions from trot to walk were very flowing
and
when he gets even more strength in the hindquarters,
he'll be phenomenal."
Finishing third with an Ic Premium was the number
80, another Gestut Lewitz owned stallion by Sandro
Hit x Donnerhall x Feldherr. The dark bay colt was
extremely refined and looked very thoroughbredlike,
yet moved with great rhythm and balance. "He
has one of the best trots I have seen these past few
years,"
Heckmann said, "he only needs to develop a bit
more, especially in the croup."
In fourth place with the Id Premium was the # 15,
a Diamond Hit x Consul/T x Anduc, bred and owned by
Dr Ursula Mittenmayer. The dark bay colt raised varying
opinions amongst his viewers: some loved him, others
didn't. He is a robust colt with
strong movements, but his hind legs could have stepped
more under the body in the trot. Nevertheless, there
was music in this horse, and he was sold through
the auction to Westfalia for 65,000 €.
Most expensive auction horse was the fifth premium
stallion, # 57 a Rohdiamant x Rouletto x Montevideo,
bred by Paul Rode and presented by Wilhelm Sieverding.
The divine black stallion was sold for 90,000 € in
a bidder's duel which was destined to be won by his
buyer, Paul Sprehe. The ravishing # 10, a De Niro x
Ponticello xx x Figaro was the sixth premium stallion
out of ten, and was
sold to Great Britain for the second highest amount
of 75,000 €.
Upcoming Belgian dressage rider Angelique Hostyn purchased
two interesting stallion prospects to be imported into
Belgium. Gerlinde Reinhardt's licensed black
stallion
by Sandro Hit x Donnerhall x Caletto I was purchased
by Hostyn and her life partner Henri Henraey. Hostyn
was extremely excited with her purchase: "it will
be the very first Sandro Hit up for stud in Belgium,
and he also has Donnerhall
and Caletto in his lines. For the Belgian market it's
important
that the horse can jump too, and this one definitely
can!"
Even
more intriguing is Hostyn's purchase of number 45,
a pitch black colt named "Liebes
Hit." He is a
Likoto xx x Rubinstein x Ramino, whose granddam is
the mother
of World Champion
Sandro Hit! "Whenever
you see Ramino
in a bloodline, you have a horse with sparks," Heckmann
said.
The Oldenburg Zuchtverband was very satisfied with
the organization of the 2003 Stallion Licensing. For
the first time it was being held at the Vechta Centre
instead of at the Oldenburg Halle in Oldenburg. Although
the Vechta centre can seat less people, the atmosphere
is more comfortable and pleasant for both man and horse.
The horses no longer felt lost in the ring, and were
soothed by the Oldenburg Jungzuchter handlers, who
were always in the same places and handled the horses
with
much professionalism. Furthermore, the stallion licensing
committee was very pleased with the good quality
of the
2001 crop of colts.
Images and text copyrighted: Astrid Appels
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