2006 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing

Six out of Ten Premium Stallions Have Sandro Hit Blood

Ten stallions out of 37 licensed ones were selected for the premium ring. Four of those were direct Sandro Hit offspring, and two were by Sandro Hit sons (Stedinger and Sunny Boy). The committee selected the Sandro Hit x Don Gregory as Reserve Licensing Champion. This pitch black stallion is bred by Gottfried Wessjohann and presented by Arndt and Wilhelm Schwierking. He is out of Elite Mare Herzdame (by Don Gregory x Rubinstein x Furioso II).

This black stallion is a very lightfooted mover with much elasticity in his body and a good round canter working over the back. The walk was mediocre. The black stallion was a slightly croup high and did move with his hocks tightly together, but his overall suppleness earned him a place in the premium ring. However, giving him the reserve champion's title might have been a bit too generous.

Many will agree that the stallion who should have earned the champion's title was the third placed premium stallion by Sandro Hit out of the very famous Elite Mare Puppenfee (by Plaisir d'Amour x Figaro x Kronprinz xx). Talk about a horse with an X-factor, this long legged, highly elegant black stallion had the most lofty, graceful and engaged trot with a world class front leg and a hind leg that tracks up. He has a delightful conformation but after three days of licensing, he stood tired on front legs bending forward a bit.

The quality of the collection young stallions was very good in general -- about five young stallions were awe inspiring -- but it was striking that there was not one top ranked "complete" stallion in this licensing with a great conformation, an outstanding walk as well as a trot. Several stallion had one breath taking gait, but failed in the other. This also goes for the Sandro Hit x Plaisir d'Amour, whose walk was below par (unfortunately like so many walks of of Sandro Hit offspring). Nevertheless, this Sandro Hit is probably one of the most promising and exciting young SH-offspring that danced in the ring at the Vechta licensing.

German stallion tycoon Paul Schockemohle thought the same as he purchased the black stallion from breeder and owner Britta Budeus-Wiegert at the auction following the licensing. Schockemohle got caught up in tough bidding duel with Gestut Sprehe, and ended up paying 450,000 euro to become the owner of this fantastic star.

"It's the best Sandro Hit offspring I have seen," Schockemohle said. "I tried buying this horse before the licensing, but they didn't want to sell him. I have been going to Westfalen, Holstein, Hannover to find such a quality stallion and unfortunately for my stallion station it once again was a Sandro Hit that I found."

Text and Photos copyrighted Astrid Appels/Eurodressage - No reproduction allowed without permission

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