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> Video Stallion of the year

He is a chestnut stallion, and he epitomises Hannover's values like no other: the Celle state stud stallion Edward is Hannoveraner Stallion of the Year. He began his career as a dressage horse sire and is now also in demand among show jumper breeders after his son Kind Edward won double gold at the World Championships in Herning/DEN. Five years ago, his breeder Hans-Heinrich Dittmer from Radbruch was already delighted with the Grande-Prize in the Niedersachsenhalle.

Pedigree, career, versatility, colour, heredity: there are many attributes that identify the Hannoveraner Stallion of the Year as a true Hannoveraner. The big-framed chestnut was born at Hans-Heinrich Dittmer’s place in Radbruch in 2005 as the third foal of St.Pr.St. Fabienne. Fabienne herself was once the champion mare at the show in Luhmühlen and also was awarded at the Louis Wiegels show in 2003. Her sire Fabriano is just as versatile as Edward's sire Embassy.

Edward's path led him straight to the Celle State Stud as a foal. He grew up at the Hunnesrück stallion rearing stud and passed his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf with 120.72 points in jumping and 142.93 points in dressage. Following his stallion performance test, he was licensed and moved into a stallion box in Adelheidsdorf for the first time as a four-year-old before being stationed in Ankum from 2010. Due to his dual disposition, Edward came into the spotlight right from the start and gained a fan base that breed him to jumping, predominantly dressage and half-blood mares.

Edward's sporting career was launched by Birte Senftleben before the experienced Hans-Peter Klaus took his place in the saddle of the handsome chestnut after the 2011 breeding season and led him to his first successes in advanced (S) level dressage competitions in less than a year. Just 12 months later, the stallion was ridden by Charlott-Maria Schürmann, who was able to seamlessly build on the successes of the previous year. In 2013, the pair won silver with the team at the European Dressage Championships for Young Riders in Compiegne, France.

Initial results of the breeding value estimation showed high scores in young horse tests for both disciplines. Consequently, Edward was awarded the Grande-Prize in 2018. In the meantime, his offspring have reached top level in all three disciplines. This makes Edward unique in today's world. To date, "only" just under 500 foals by his sire have been registered, the vast majority of which have been registered as Hannoveraner horses. But the most outstanding of them all represents the Belgian colours of the BWP. Henrik von Eckermann's King Edward also has a purely Hannoveraner-bred dam, whose pedigree starts with the foundation mare Hornburg. The chestnut won gold with the Swedish team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo/JPN and the World Championships in Herning/DEN. He was also crowned World Champion in Denmark and won the World Cup Final in Omaha/USA in April this year.

He was in the limelight and he visibly enjoyed it: The Celle state stud stallion Perigueux is Hannoveraner Stallion of the Year. It was the second award for the typey chestnut in the Niedersachsenhalle, nine years ago the jumper sire was awarded the Grande Prize. This is another great recognition for the breeder Dr. Karl-Otto Jacobs, who is used to success.

Perigueux by Perpignon/Stakkato was born on March 11, 2002 to Dr. Karl-Otto Jacobs in Bierbergen. After being reared at the Hunnesrück stallion breeding stud, the chestnut from the dam line of Jedraza passed his 300-day performance test in Adelheidsdorf. Awarded top scores, he came second in the test with 131.93 points in the jumping index. After his licensing in Verden in February 2006, his breeding career was initially marked out by remaining at the State Stud in Celle.

Perigueux was first ridden by Joachim Winter, with whom he finished fifth in the Hannoveraner Show Jumping Championships in 2007. The next step on the career ladder came with the change of rider to Eva Bitter in 2009. Already in February 2010, the first successes in advanced (S) level were achieved, which were followed by numerous top international placings up to 1.60 metres as well as a German Championship title. "Perigueux lives from his attitude. He tries to do the right thing every day. Good in handling, but alert when it counts – a real fighting spirit!", said Eva Bitter. The chestnut did not return to the State Stud Celle after finishing his sport career, but spends his retirement with his rider in Bad Essen.

Perigueux is not only convincing himself in international sport. He passes on his outstanding type and his technique over the jumps to his offspring. At the European Championships in Riesenbeck, his son Equine America Papa Roach came ninth with Victoria Gulliksen, the best individual result for Norway in the history of the Championships. Hans-Dieter Dreher has celebrated numerous international successes with Prinz. Currently Policeman with Omer Karaeavli, Prieure with Marco Kutscher and Primus vom Neumühler Hof with David Will can be found at the top of the results lists. In addition, there are Palina de l'Escaut, Pembroke, Pandora, Peter Pan and Paul Walker who cause a sensation internationally in the 1.50 metre course. A total of 82 offspring are successful in advanced (S) level show jumping competitions in Germany. But Perigueux has also gained an excellent reputation as a refiner. His son Pamero finished third in the World Championships for Young Eventing Horses and competed in Badminton, while Peppermint Patty FRH won the Hannoveraner Championships of eventing horses. His daughters Hann.Pr.St. Picarda and Hann.Pr.A. Poppy Lifton left the Herwart von der Decken Show as reserve Champion Mares of the jumping mares. In addition, there were another 44 premium mares or candidates. The German Equestrian Federation estimates Perigueux's breeding value for jumping at 149, in the Hannoveraner Verband's breeding value estimate it is 147.

Together with R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung, the Hannoveraner Verband has been awarding a prize to an important Hannoveraner stallion since 1992. In addition to a high value cheque, the breeder receives an oil painting from the artist Manfred Busemann.

From 2005 to 2008 Fidertanz was stabled at Klosterhof Medingen before he moved into a box at the Böckmann stallion station in Lastrup. Word of his qualities got around. In the year in which he becomes Stallion of the Year, the FN reports exactly 1,000 successful offspring. Foundation and Franziskus belong to the German top class in the dressage ring together with Matthias Alexander Rath and Ingrid Klimke. Their successes contributed significantly to Fidertanz's outstanding seventh place in the current ranking of the best dressage horse sires worldwide. That his offspring are quite versatile is proven not only by Finest Fellow, who is competing up to CCIO4* with Elena Otto-Erley, but also by the chestnut mare Fairytale, who carried Anna Lena Schaaf to the Vice European Championship title in Malmö. The FN breeding value of Fidertanz in dressage has reached the legendary mark of 150. 18 sons are licensed for Hanover, eleven are currently registered in the stallion book I. 101 foals and 72 riding horses sired by Fidertanz found new owners at the Verden auctions. Besides Foundation and his two high-priced full brothers Crystal Friendship and Flavio Briatore, premium stallion Feuerspiel caused a sensation in 2009 with a hammer price of 330,000 Euros.

The excitement was great: On the last day of the Verden stallion licensing, the secret was revealed. The Fidermark/Ravallo son ist Stallion of the Year 2021. The dark bay stallion, bred by Hermann Schult and owned by Hengststation Böckmann, was awarded in a very emotional ceremony in true stallion style and did his lap of honour in front of the enthusiastic audience in the Niedersachsenhalle.

This was the second time this year that the Schult family had reason to celebrate in Verden. In August, three sisters of Fidertanz had won the Herwart von der Decken Prize as best mare family. The dam's name could not be more fitting: "Reine Freude". Through her son, the State Premium mare from the Jucking line has gained worldwide importance. Fidertanz, registered in the Rhineland, was born on 23 May 2002. From the very beginning he impressed with his riding horse qualities. As winner of the licensing in Münster-Handorf he came into the possession of the renowned Böckmann stallion station. At the age of three, Fidertanz became Vice Bundeschampion with Maike Lührig, passed his disposition test in Neustadt/Dosse as best and passed his further performance test in sport with the qualification for the Bundeschampionat of five-year-old dressage horses. With Antonio Teixeira do Vale, Fidertanz finally reached Grand Prix level.

From 2005 to 2008 Fidertanz was stabled at Klosterhof Medingen before he moved into a box at the Böckmann stallion station in Lastrup. Word of his qualities got around. In the year in which he becomes Stallion of the Year, the FN reports exactly 1,000 successful offspring. Foundation and Franziskus belong to the German top class in the dressage ring together with Matthias Alexander Rath and Ingrid Klimke. Their successes contributed significantly to Fidertanz's outstanding seventh place in the current ranking of the best dressage horse sires worldwide. That his offspring are quite versatile is proven not only by Finest Fellow, who is competing up to CCIO4* with Elena Otto-Erley, but also by the chestnut mare Fairytale, who carried Anna Lena Schaaf to the Vice European Championship title in Malmö. The FN breeding value of Fidertanz in dressage has reached the legendary mark of 150. 18 sons are licensed for Hanover, eleven are currently registered in the stallion book I. 101 foals and 72 riding horses sired by Fidertanz found new owners at the Verden auctions. Besides Foundation and his two high-priced full brothers Crystal Friendship and Flavio Briatore, premium stallion Feuerspiel caused a sensation in 2009 with a hammer price of 330,000 Euros.

Nobody would have expected him: Forsyth FRH was awarded Hannoveraner Stallion of the Year. The powerful bay jumper has not only been successful in the show jumping course up to Nations Cups, but with his daughter Fine Lady he also has successful offspring up to the Olympic Games. On behalf of the deceased breeder, his son Heinrich Eckhoff accepted the valuable award at the Verden stallion licensing.

Forsyth's career began almost exactly 23 years ago to the day in the Niedersachsenhalle. Jochen Meyer, Allwörden, had brought the athletic son of For Pleasure/Dorian. bred by Heinrich Eckhoff senior, Beckdorf, to the licensing. There he convinced in free jumping and belonged to the 1st lot of the Celle State Stud. In Adelheidsdorf he took his 300-day test as third in the sub-index jumping and then headed for the sport. Forsyth was introduced to sport by Holger Baum, who runs a breeding and training stable with stallion station with his family in Hofheim-Wallau just outside Frankfurt. Holger Baum's daughter Nicole Wenz rode the stallion to a brilliant eighth place in the 2001 Bundeschampionat before he went hunting for ribbons internationally with Toni Haßmann. The pair competed twice for Germany in the Nations' Cup, they were to be found in the results lists at the Aachen Soers as well as at many other renowned show grounds throughout Europe. Distinguished with the addition to his name of the supporters club for Hannoveraner sport horses (FRH), Forsyth FRH returned to the Fohlenhof in 2006 and celebrated numerous successes with the then 16-year-old Franziska Baum-Gundlach. In 2012 his career in sport came to an end.

During his time in sport, Forsyth was available to breeders through Holger Baum's stallion station and the State Stud Celle. In terms of breeding, the medium-sized bay stallion never had the greatest popularity. His offspring are said to have sensitivity and fighting spirit. But the 25 year old has made an incredible amount out of the few chances he had. Only 253 offspring have him as a sire. His only licensed son is For Edition bred by Holger Baum, who not only won his stallion exam but was also successful internationally up to 1.60 metres with the US American Taylor Land. Out of 136 registered show horses, 40 have been successful in advanced level show jumping - that is almost every third registered show horse that has Forsyth as a sire. 22 of his sons and daughters collected ribbons in international courses for ten different nations. One daughter won an Olympic medal: With Canadian Eric Lamaze, Fine Lady jumped to bronze in the individual ranking in Rio de Janeiro 2016. The breeding value for the highest achieved class for Forsyth FRH climbed to 144 points last year. This is about the same as the breeding value calculated on the basis of the results of the mare performance tests, which is 147.

Together with R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung, the Hannoveraner Verband has been awarding this prize to an important Hannoveraner stallion since 1992. In addition to a highly endowed cheque, the breeder receives a valuable oil painting from the studio of Manfred Busemann.

The Celle State Stud stallion Stolzenberg is Hannoveraner Stallion of the Year. In the show program of the stallion licensing, the dark bay stallion made a great appearance. In the Niedersachsenalle he had already enjoyed the applause and recognition of the public as the best jumping stallion of his licensing and as the winner of the Grande-Prize.

His breeder Gerd Odlozinski could no longer witness the success of Stolzenberg, he died last year. Success follows success in the career of the Celle State Stud stallion. In 1999, the son of Stakkato/Sandro from the dam line of Nachbarin I was born at Gerd Odlozinski’s in Luttmersen. At his licensing he was celebrated as the best jumper stallion in Verden and sold to the Celle State Stud as Reserve Champion. He also led the field at his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf and achieved an impressive jumping index of 141.88 points. As one of the most sought after sons of Stakkato, the dark bay was used for breeding in Celle and became one of the most successful jumping talents of his age-group with Hauptsattelmeister Joachim Winter. The pair celebrated a total of over 80 victories from level A to S in their eight-year career together. Eight years ago, Stolzenberg was already in the limelight of the Niedersachsenhalle, where he was awarded the Grande Prize. His sire Stakkato was already Hannoveraner Stallion of the Year in 2007.

Stolzenberg passes on his jumping ability to his offspring. 469 offspring 469 offspring cause a sensation on the show grounds of the world. On the international stage, the former Verden auction horses Hello Shelby with rider Scott Brash and Salt'n Peppa with rider Hall McAteer or Gain Line with rider Abdullah Alsharbatly and BSC Skipper with rider Holger Wulschner have catapulted their sire to the top 50 of the best jumper sires worldwide in last year's WBFSH ranking. His highly talented daughters, 33 of whom were awarded the state premium, ensure an outstanding breeding value in jumping of 149 index points. Eleven of his sons are registered in the Stallion Book I of the Hannoveraner Verband. The breeders agree: ability, stamina and willingness to perform are the qualities that the stallion of the year 2019, Stolzenberg, passes on to his offspring.

The audience in the sold out Niedersachsenhalle stand up when he entered: The privately owned stallion Belissimo M was crowned Hannoveraner Stallion of the Year. His breeder Dieter Niesar from Kranenburg received the valuable award during the show program of the stallion licensing with the cheers of the audience.

Belissimo M by Beltain/Romadour II is one of the most sought-after dressage sires. The expressive chestnut presents himself from the crown to the sole as an athlete. His sire Beltain also demonstrated his extraordinary talent with his rider Leonie Bramall at various competitions. He is a representative of the dam line of Alferate, which makes him a direct relative of the legends Brentano I and II as well as Wolkenstein I, II and III. His dam is the full sister of the important State Stud stallions Garibaldi I and II. Belissimo M, born in the Rhineland in 1999, made his way into the dressage ring after his licensing. After his 30-day test, which he completed with top marks in Zweibrücken in 2002, he was celebrated with Holga Finken in Warendorf as Bundeschampion of the four-year-old riding horses in 2003. This success was followed by a fifth place at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses before he won the silver medal with Kathrin Meyer zu Strohen in Warendorf in the class of five-year-old dressage horses. With Australia’s Hayley Beresford, Belissimo M appeared on the international circuit in 2011. Already in his first Grand Prix season he collected World Cup points and competed at the CHIO Aachen/GER.

Belissimo M passed on his outstanding qualities to his offsprings. His name stands for rideability and type, combined with exquisite basic gaits. Isabell Werth's double World Champion Bella Rose, currently the best dressage horse in the world, is his daughter. No less than five of his offspring became Bundeschampions in Warendorf. Bacchus von Worrenberg celebrated his victory in the class of three-year-old riding horses in 2008. Six weeks later, he was one of the price peaks at the Verden Elite-Auction. Benicio caused a sensation when he won the Bundeschampionat of six-year-old dressage horses in 2011. He had found his way to his South African owner via the Verden stallion sales. In 2009 and 2010, the Westphalian Blickpunkt not only won the dressage horse titles in Warendorf, but also celebrated two bronze medals at the World Championships for young dressage horses. Baccardi from Westphalia also became Bundeschampion of the three-year-old riding horses in 2014 before taking part in the World Championships twice. Preziosa from Bavaria celebrated the title in the class of four-year-old mares in 2009.

His offspring help Belissimo M to a leading position in the breeding evaluation. His breeding value estimated by the German Equestrian Federation is 135, the Hanoverian breeding value 136. Almost 100 sons and daughters were auctioned off in Verden. 80 of his daughters have so far been awarded a premium, 27 sons have been licensed for Hanover. Belissimo M stands at the stallion station Westfalenhof in Steinhagen since four years.

Dieter Niesar was not only pleased to see "his" stallion again, but also received an oil painting by the artist Manfred Busemann and a well endowed cheque. Together with the R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung, the Hannoveraner Verband has been awarding prizes to an important Hanoverian stallion since 1992. Through the fusion of the Hanoverian Verband with the Rhineland, this honour was given to a horse from the Rhineland for the first time.

The Rubinstein/Argentan-son Rotspon was nominated “Hanoverian Stallion of the Year”. Breeder Christiane Müller from Stade was overjoyed when she accepted the award for her deceased husband Hans-Heinrich while the Celle state stud stallion went for his victory lap, much to the delight of the enthusiastic audience. The black stallion occupies a kind of background position in breeding, particularly on the maternal side. Apart from above-average basic gaits, he passes on his super rideability to his progeny – qualities that riders all over the world appreciate. 

Rotspon was born on February 22, 1995 at Hans-Heinrich Müller’s in Stade. The passionate breeder believed in the black colt and presented him at the 1997 stallion licensing in Verden. The State Stud Celle purchased the youngster at the Stallion Market and gave him the name: Rotspon – a tradition-rich North German expression for high-quality red wines. The pedigree of the stallion reads as amazing as the names of French wines. His pedigree features Hanover’s trademark stallions Rubinstein, Argentan, Pik Bube and Wendekreis, turning Rotspon into one of the most important representatives of the dam line of Noreja. The Olympic eventing horse Amadeus is a successful and well-known progeny out of this line. The dam, state premium mare Antalia, already confirmed her rideability and quality of movement when she won the prestigious Hanoverian Riding Horse Championships at the age of three.

Rotspon convinced at his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf. He was the best of his age-group, scoring 148.72 points in the dressage evaluation and 145.67 points overall. He prevailed against Londonderry, the former winner of the stallion licensing and nominated “Hanoverian Stallion of the Year” in 2013. Rotspon’s victory at the stallion performance test in 1999 brought his breeder Hand-Heinrich Müller the Freiherr von Stenglin-Award.  

His breeding career led Rotspon to the North German region called “Land Wursten” between Bremerhaven and Cuxhaven to the Oberndorf insemination station, less than 50 km from Stade, his place of birth. The mares there perfectly matched his hereditary qualities, and he is still popular with the breeders in Dorum today, 18 years later. State premium mare Romanze is one of his first progeny, winner of the 2002 Ratje Niebuhr-Show in Verden. His sons Rascalino and Royal Blend moved to stalls at the State Stud Celle. Almost 100 of his sons and daughters are successfully competing at the advanced dressage level, and he has been siring 277 auction horses until today. Rotspon established an excellent reputation as dam’s sire. His genes can be frequently found in the pedigrees of successful dressage horses such as Olympic Champion Showtime FRH, member of the German gold squad with Dorothee Schneider in Rio de Janeiro.

His breeder Hans-Heinrich Müller unfortunately did not live to see this success. His wife Christiane was completely overwhelmed when she accepted the award on his behalf, an oil painting of the artist Manfred Busemann and a well-remunerated cheque. The Hannoveraner Verband has been honouring a particularly valuable Hanoverian stallion since 1992 in co-operation with the insurance company R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung.

Enthusiasm knew no boundaries in the fully occupied Niedersachsenhalle in Verden when the De Niro/Wolkenstein II-son Desperados FRH was declared Hanoverian Stallion of the Year. His breeder Herbert Schütt from Hemmoor accepted the valuable award under roaring applause on the occasion of the show evening of the Hanoverian stallion licensing. It was the second time in a row that Gestüt Sprehe from Benstrup won this coveted prize as their stud stallion Stakkato Gold had already won this title last year. “This award means a lot to us”, rider Kristina Bröring-Sprehe said.
 
Privately owned stallion Desperados FRH won the highest award a Hanoverian stallion can win at the peak of his own career – shortly after having won the team Olympic championship title and the individual bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro. The typey black stallion leads the FEI Dressage Rankings with Kristina Bröring-Sprehe while his sire De Niro, 2008 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year, is the number one of the WBFSH World Stallion Rankings. Breeder Herbert Schütt was given an oil painting by artist Manfred Busemann and a well-endowed cheque. In co-operation with the insurance company R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung, the Hannoveraner Verband honours a particularly valuable Hanoverian stallion once a year.

Desperados FRH was born on June 2, 2001, with Herbert Schütt in Hemmoor. The breeder presented him two years later at the Verden stallion licensing, however, without the coveted licensing decision. Desperados FRH was the most expensive, non-licensed stallion and sold to Gestüt Sprehe at the auction. The performances of the shiny black stallion one year later at the stallion licensing under the rider in November 2004 were simply amazing. He convinced the licensing commission and was nominated Premium Stallion. Desperados FRH already presented his super basic gaits and his fantastic character he is now known for at competitions today the first time at the 70-day performance test in Schlieckau. The Hanoverian Champion of three-year-old stallions won the bronze medal at the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf in 2004 and 2005. He matured into a shiny Grand Prix-horse under trainer Falk Rosenbauer with whom he also won first World Cup placements and the German Dressage Derby in 2010. A dream duo was born in 2011: Kristina Bröring-Sprehe mounted Desperados FRH! In the same year, the stallion was honoured with the Otto-Lörke-Prize, a prize given for the best young German Grand Prix-horse. They then climbed to the top of the world dressage rankings, won noble metal at the Olympics in London in 2012 and in Rio 2016 as well as at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy/France and at the 2013 and 2014 European Championships in Herning and Aachen.

Meanwhile, Desperados FRH has been establishing an excellent reputation as sire. He was honoured with the Grande-Prize in 2012. Descending from the fantastic dam line of Juggema, he passes on his super qualities to his progeny. While his sire celebrated his gold and bronze medal in Brazil, his son Destacado became the celebrated Bundeschampion of three-year-old stallions in Warendorf. Eight stallions are registered with the Stallion Book I of the Hannoveraner Verband, five of them left the Verden stallion licensing arena as Premium Stallion. And his daughters are as successful: State premium candidate Doris Day won the Herwart-von-der-Decken-Show in 2010 and was also the celebrated Bundeschampion of three-year-old mares and stallions in Warendorf. Delany won the coveted title one year later. He has been siring 38 state premium and Hanoverian premium mares until today. The eldest Desperados FRH-offspring are meanwhile successfully competing up to the highest dressage level. The German National Equestrian Federation FN has published a breeding value of 137 points, the breed value estimation of the Hannoveraner Verband shows a result of 126 points for dressage.

The Stakkato/Werther-son Stakkato Gold was nominated 2015 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year. The 14-year-old black-brown stallion, standing with Gestüt Sprehe, was not only a successful competition horse at the international level, he also established an excellent reputation as jumper sire. In co-operation with the insurance company R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung, the Hannoveraner Verband honors a particularly valuable Hanoverian stallion once a year.

Stakkato Gold combines pure performance bloodlines: His dam, the performance jumper mare Wertherröschen by Werther/Achill-Libero H, successfully competed at the international level with the Irish riders Anthony Condon and Billy Twomey. The Hanoverian trademark stallion Stakkato can be found on the paternal side of his pedigree, complemented by the extraordinary dam line of Algave that already produced many other international jumpers. The dark-brown Stakkato Gold was born on March 20, 2001 in the stable of breeder Arend Kamphorst at the stud “Dree Böken”. His career started at the 2003 Stallion Licensing in Verden when he was nominated best jumper sire and when the Gestüt Sprehe from Benstrup purchased the young raw diamond.  Stakkato Gold accomplished his performance test at tournaments. He qualified for the 2006 and 2007 Federal Show Jumping Championships in Warendorf.

The stallion entered the international show jumping scene at the age of eight with his rider Jan Sprehe. However, his career did unfortunately not last very long as in the same year, he had to be retired from sports due to an injury. His rider enthusiastically said: “Stakkato Gold is the best jumper I have ever been riding by then. He had everything – scope, will, ambition and technique.”

Meanwhile, the breeders had also discovered the young stallion for their breeding sheds: 16 sons and daughters from his first crop of foals, born in 2004, have arrived at the advanced show jumping level. Shorapur is one of the best six Hanoverian jumpers worldwide with the Irish rider Kevin Babington. State premium candidate KS Stakki jumps from success to success with the US lady rider Reed Kessler. Both are two of his first progeny, just as Seal who has already been earning a total amount of prize money of more than Euro 53,000 at the age of 10 with Tobias Meyer and Josef-Jonas Sprehe. Like his sire Stakkato Gold, he was also licensed in Verden and purchased by the Gestüt Sprehe.

These fantastic sports successes and the above-average results of his progeny achieved at stallion and mare performance tests turn Stakkato Gold into the most highly appreciated German jumper sire of the last year. The integrated breed value estimation of the German FN shows the sensational show jumping breed value of 172 points.

Privately owned stallion Breitling W by Bismarck/Maat is the 2014 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year. The chestnut, born in 1991, was enthusiastically celebrated by the Verden audience. Wolfram Wittig received the award, an oil painting by the artist Manfred Busemann and a well-endowed check, on behalf of his deceased father-in-law, breeder Hermann Niehus from Rahden. In co-operation with the insurance company R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung, the Hannoveraner Verband honours a particularly valuable Hanoverian stallion once a year.

Breitling W was born on April 4, 1991, with Wolfram and Brigitte Wittig who both love to breed, ride and train her own Grand Prix-horses. Sport is given top priority in Rahden. It is no coincidence that Breitling’s dam Maja was bred to the Celle state stud stallion Bismarck, a stallion that was trained to compete at the advanced level. Maja has a close bloodline connection to the popular Grande-blood with Gralsritter on the maternal side of her pedigree, and she already presented the dressage horses Dancing Queen and Durbridge by Diadem who are successful up to St. Georg-level. Biagotti W was her first Bismarck-foal, successful in international dressage tests with Markus Gribbe. Breitling W was born four years later. Maja’s last foal, Watussi W by Woodstock, also successfully competed up to St. Georg-level, turning the foundation line of Schneeflocke into one of the most exemplary Hanoverian dam lines.

Breitling W completed a classical dressage training with Wolfram Wittig. A stallion career was not a prime concern in the beginning. The eagerly moving chestnut horse was only licensed in Verden in 1998. At this time, he had already participated at the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, at the Final of the Nuernberger Burgpokal in Frankfurt, and in the succeeding years, he had achieved placements up to St. Georg-level with Wolfram and Brigitte Wittig. He had been earning 170 top results until 2007. Breitling W won World Cup points, and with his victory in the Grand Prix in Hickstead in 2001, he contributed to the victory of the German team in the Nations Cup. “Potential of movement, rideability and character are always up-to-date!” praises Wolfram Wittig.

Breitling W passes on his potential to his progeny. Although only rarely asked for breeding, 79 of his progeny are registered with the tournament list of the German Equestrian Federation, the incredible amount of 28 of them are successful in dressage up to advance d level and even higher. His daughter Blind Date, brilliantly representing Austria in the dressage ring with Victoria Max-Theurer, ranks among the best at the international level. One of his most spectacular sons is the stallion Burlington FRH who is numbered among the best young German Grand Prix-horses after having won the Nuremberg Cup with Charlott-Maria Schürmann. Three more sons are entered into the Stallion Book I, of the Hannoveraner Verband, five daughters are state premium mares. With these successes, Breitling W occupies a top position at the breed value estimation of the German Equestrian Federation, his breed value is rated with 165 index points. Breitling W has only started to produce more foals as of 2006. We are looking forward to more top results of his offspring which will certainly not be long in coming any more.

He was celebrated like no other breeding hero before: The Celle state stud stallion Londonderry was nominated 2013 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year, and he obviously enjoyed jubilation and applause in the sold-out Niedersachsenhalle. The golden chestnut is one of the most important stallions, carrying  the valuable genes of his sire Lauries Crusador xx who only died four days before, at the age of 28. Londonderry’s breeder Klaus-Hermann Ehlen was happy to receive an oil painting of the artist Manfred Busemann and a well-endowed check. Once a year, the Hannoveraner Verband and the insurance company R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung donte this prize to honour an important Hanoverian stallion.

Londonderry was born on April 16, 1995, with Klaus-Hermann Ehlen in Nieder Ochtenhausen. The established breeder and raiser had discovered his dam, Windsor Queen by Warkant/Eiger, at the Verden Foal Auction in 1990. The star of the typey golden chestnut rose in 1997 at the stallion licensing when he became the celebrated winner and changed to the Celle National State Stud. He already shined at that time with his above-average, expressive movement and his perfect conformation. Following his stallion performance test, he was nominated best stallion of his age-group and honoured with the Freiherr von Stenglin-Prize before he moved into his stallion stall at the Ankum breeding station. 

Londonderry was already very popular with the breeders in his first breeding year. Meanwhile, he has been siring more than 2,000 progeny. 527 of his daughters have been entered into the Hanoverian studbook, 185 of them were nominated state premium mare. 33 sons were licensed for Hanover. And the qualities of his offspring under rider are hard to top. 195 of them were sold at one of the Verden auctions. Londonderry guarantees highest prices. His awesome son Lemony’s Nicket was sold for the incredible amount of Euro 900,000 at the 2011 Autumn Auction, the most expensive three-year-old horse ever sold before at a riding horse auction of a breeding association. Five years before, Londontime had created a sensation when he was sold at Euro 510,000.

Wherever Londonderry showed up, he made the h earts of the audience melt. The golden chestnut became Bundeschampion of four-year-old stallions in 1999, he shined again in Warendorf two years later with Wolfhard Witte, emerging Vice Champion of six-year-old dressage horses. Trained to compete at St. Georg-level, Londonderry’s solo presentations at the Celle Stallion Parades were always an absolute highlight.

He passes on his dressage skills to his daughters and sons. Liaison from his first crop of foals on the ground became 2004 Vice Bundeschampion of four-year-old mares and geldings. It was in the same year that the one year younger La Perla celebrated winning the title in the division of three-year-old horses. The two Bundeschampions Lemony’s Nicket, winning the Bundeschampionat with dream scores, and Locksley II as well as the top-ranked London and Le Noire round off Londonderry’s fantastic championship balance.  Meanwhile, approx. 500 progeny are registered as competition horse in Germany, 48 of them won and were placed at the advanced level. They all contributed to Londonderry’s fantastic FN  breed value of 139 points. Riding horse qualities are always included, however, the Celle state stud stallion clearly heads this statistics with 156 points.

A worthy setting for an outstanding  stallion: Almost 3,000 guests celebrated Don Frederico, the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2012, in the Niedersachsenhalle which was filled to capacity. This prize is granted every year  by the Hannoveraner Verband and the insurance company R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung to honor an approved Hanoverian stallion. This year, the Celle state stud stallion Don Frederico was given this honor. Breeder Angelika Westerhoff was happy to receive an oil painting by the artist Manfred Busemann and a well-endowed check.

Angelika Westerhoff from Bleckede bred her mare Cleopatra to the exceptional stallion Donnerhall: Don Frederico was born in 1997 and raised by Klaus Bünger, Oetzen. The black sire descends from the mare line of Schwanjungfrau that also produced the trademark stallion Lanthan. The sporty youngster delighted licensing committee and guests on the occasion of the stallion licensing in Verden in 1999, he was named Champion Stallion and sold to the Celle State Stud. Don Frederico shined again at his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf, finishing second overall and winning the dressage test convincingly with a partial score of 151.67 points. He competed at the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf at the age of five and six, and he was the first state stud stallion ever to participate at a Final of the Nürnberger Burgpokal; he won the opening competition in 2006. Don Frederico is today successfully competing with Obersattelmeister Ole Köhler in dressage tests up to S-level.

Don Frederico did an excellent job, not only when it comes to sport, but particularly also as regards breeding. The Bundeschampion Dantonisius and the Vice Champion Dark Carlotta, both out of Weltmeyer-dams, come from his first crop of foals on the ground. Current shooting stars made by Don Frederico are the silver medalist of the Olympic Games in London, Diva Royal with Dorothee Schneider, and Isabell Werth’s Grand Prix-horse Don Johnson FRH. 25 of his sons were licensed for breeding by the Hannoveraner Verband, among them the current bronze medalist of five-year-old dressage horses at the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf, Don Darius, and the World Champion of young dressage horses in 2008, Dramatic. More than 2,500 progeny are registered with the Hannoveraner Verband, among them 178 state premium mares and state premium candidates, 325 Hanoverians were sold at auctions.

Don Frederico was already honored with the Grande-Prize in 2009. Breeding manager Dr. Werner Schade summarized: “The award ‘Stallion of the Year’ is meant to honor stallions whose progeny are successful in international top sport. This is exactly the most impressive characteristic of Don Frederico. He scores with willingness to perform, power and ambition, and he passes on these important positive traits to his sons and daughters. He set standards.”

Graf Top by Graf Grannus/Calypso II is the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2011. The Celle state stud stallion was presented on the occasion of the Stallion Licensing in the sold out Niedersachsenhalle. Breeder Alfred Brönnemann, Weferlingsen, was pleased to receive the tradition-rich Wohlklang-sculpture and a remunerative cheque. This prize is annually given by the R+V/Vereinigte Tierversichtung to honour an important Hanoverian stallion. Graf Top is the 20th stallion of the year, his sire Graf Grannus was accorded the honour in 2004.

Graf Top is a stallion with many top performance ancestors in his pedigree, and he is certainly one of the most popular Hanoverian show jumping stallions. The popular Goldfisch II-blood is represented six times in his pedigree, complemented by the positive thoroughbred influences of Der Löwe xx and Steinpilz xx. Graf Top descends from the performance line of Steingilde, and although this line is comparatively young, it has already produced many outstanding competitions horses and stallions such as Alwins Ass, For Keeps or Laptop. His dam, state premium mare Capries, is also dam of Graf Top II and of the young Stakkato’s Highlight who won his stallion performance test in Neustadt/Dosse.

Graf Top was born in 1993 with Alfred Brönnemann in Weferlingsen. The former manager of the Celle National State Stud, Dr. Burchard Bade, purchased the bay youngster, and he grew up in the Lower Saxonian stallion raising station Hunnesrück. He changed to the stallion performance testing station in Adelheidsdorf in 1995 where Graf Top accomplished his stallion performance test with 130.51 points, finishing fourth among all competitors of his age-group and earning equally excellent scores for both, dressage and show jumping. He had to compete against the later successful international jumpers Stakkato and Glenfiddich. A positive licensing result was the logical consequence.

Graf Top was standing with the insemination station Hannover-Nord in Süstedt right from the very beginning of his breeding career when he was not yet exclusively bred to show jumping mares. This is the reason why Graf Top also sired some talented dressage horses. The most interesting among them is certainly Giorgio Armani who was successful at international level with Ulla Salzgeber. Graf Top’s breeding accomplishments as regards the production of jumpers are hard to top. More than one in ten of his progeny registered as competition horse is successfully competing at advanced show jumping level. The incredible number of 28 Graf Top-offspring are presently representing the Hanoverian colours for different nations in international jumper classes. Goshawk out of a dam by Akzent I is currently the one with the highest amount of winnings. He was introduced into competition sports by Jörg Kreutzmann and is now ridden by Bertrand Masneri. Goshawk is one of the 129 Verden auction horses and foals in total that Graf Top has been delivering up to now. Gretchen by Graf Top/Stakkato changed into a top show jumping stable in Great Britain as one of the top-priced jumpers of the Autumn Auction only a couple of weeks ago.

Graf Top’s breeding accomplishments are as impressive. Four of his ten licensed sons are currently active in breeding. Grey Top is one of the most popular stallions at the Celle National State Stud. Graf Top is sire to 34 state premium mares. He has been ranking among the top of the breed value estimation for years with outstanding results for his jumping style (157) and potential (155). This corresponds to the breed value estimation of the German FN where the show jumping stallion achieved a result of 148 points.

The privately owned stallion Goldfever by Grosso Z/Galvano is the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2010. The chestnut, who has particularly established a reputation as one of the most successful jumpers worldwide, was honoured at the stallion licensing in Verden. The president of the Hannoveraner Verband, Manfred Schaefer, and breeding manager Dr. Werner Schade, presented his breeder Sigurd Hochmuth, Meerbeck, with the valuable Wohlklang-statuette and a cheque. By donating this prize, the R+V/Vereinigte Tierversicherung annually honours an important Hanoverian stallion.

Goldfever developed into one of the most successful jumpers ever under his rider Ludger Beerbaum. He jumped to more than 2 million Euro in his career. He competed at the Olympic Games for Germany, became Olympic Team Champion in Sydney in 2000, in 2003 European Team Champion in Donaueschingen as well as second in the individual division. Goldfever was German Champion in 2000 and 2001. However, he failed to achieve the big individual titles. In 2009, he was retired from sport at the age of 18 in the Aachen Soers.

Goldfever was born with Sigurd Hochmuth in Meerbeck in 1991. He is the most famous representative of the foundation stock of Jugendzelt, 1930, breeding site Enders, Groenloh. His granddam Dana already successfully competed in jumper classes with the breeder’s son. Goldfever was the first foal out of the mare Gundula who produced a lot of versatilely talented progeny. She was bred to different stallions, and her offspring achieved many successes in show jumping and dressage. Goldfever II, born in 2004, dominated at the stallion licensing with his above-average basic gaits, and he is successfully competing up to medium dressage level under Markus Gribbe. Today, two full sisters are standing in Sigurd Hochmuth’s stable. In 2002, the business man was honoured with the Golden Badge of the Lower Saxonian Ministry for Nutrition, Agriculture and Forestry.

Uwe Buenger from Hemmingen raised Goldfever. He was one of the top jumpers at the stallion licensing in 1993 and sold at a high price. One year later, he completed his stallion performance test in Celle, ranking eighth with a final score of 121.45 points. Claudia Prohoffnik started to train him on the Wiechenhof near Hanover and introduced him into sport. The unforgotten Dieter Schulze discovered the stallion, purchased him and under his patronage, he competed with Dirk Ahlmann at the Bundeschampionate and at the World Breeding Show Jumping Championships for Young Horses. Goldfever already presented powerful and self-confident performances in his early years. His exemplary career with Ludger Beerbaum at international competitions all over the world started in 1998.

Besides his sport career, Goldfever was also at breeders’ disposal for a short while. Only few breeders bred him to their mares, but he took his chance as stud stallion: 36 of his 74 foals are registered as competition horse with the German FN. Five of his offspring are successfully competing in advanced level jumper classes. His daughter Gotha (breeder: Jan Minners, Jork) is a top-notch jumper and at the age of nine Ludger Beerbaum’s most promising prospect for the future, and the two year elder Moosbachhofs Goldwing (breeder: Manfred Gerken, Oyten). The approved stallion participated with the Hungarian Sandor Szasz at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, ranking third in the first qualifier.

Celle state stud stallion Escudo I by Espri/Arkansas is the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2009. On behalf of the deceased breeder Allmer Knoop, Arno and Sabine Knoop were awarded a fairly remunerative cheque and the Wohlklang-statuette. Every year, the Hanoverian Society and R+V/VTV insurance company honour important stud stallions with this award.

The pleasing black stallion with the keen eye was born on Allmer Knoop’s farm on May 23, 1991. Heinz Katt from Bremervoerde raised Escudo I and presented him at the Stallion Licensing in Verden in 1993 where he already displayed his talent. He accomplished the jumps like a rubber ball and was one of the Lot I-stallions that moved to the Celle State Stud. One year later, he was the celebrated champion at the stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf. He outpaced the competition with a final show jumping score of 144.9 points and was honoured with the Freiherr von Stenglin-Prize as best stallion of his age-group. Since that time, he is registered with the Hanoverian Jumper Breeding Program.

Farmer Allmer Knoop purchased Escudo’s dam, state premium mare Athene by Arkansas/Woermann, at the age of two. She derives from the dam line of Notrada that originated in 1899 on the breeding site of the Battelmann-family in Nesse. The bay mare with the captivating type was very successful at shows, among them at the Louis Wiegels-Show. Escudo’s one year younger full brother Escudo II was the extraordinary winner at the Stallion Licensing in 1994. The one year elder Erik (Florian Meyer zu Hartum) won advanced level jumper classes. Following the death of the breeder, son Arno and daughter-in-law Sabine continued the breeding business. State premium mare Erle by Espri and her daughter Cordy by Contendro are still active brood mares.

Apart from his breeding career, Escudo I was also a successful competition horse. He won the Hanoverian Show Jumping Championships on Dobrock under Joachim Winter in 1996, and he became Vice Bundeschampion in Warendorf, followed by various successes up to advanced level. Escudo I passes on his incredible show jumping scope and brilliant type to his offspring. His sons Enorm (Ludger Beerbaum) and Escobar (Thomas Weinberg) are as successful at international level as El Paso (Jessica Kuerten, Markus Beerbaum), the Bundeschampion of five-year-old show jumping horses in 2003.
Escudo I has been one of the best German stallions on the breed value rankings for years. His offspring in show jumping sport contribute to his currently excellent breed value of 151 points, his daughters and sons in the Hanoverian breed value estimation to a mark of 147 points for show jumping and 145 for riding horse points and type. 306 Escudo I-daughters are registered with the Hanoverian Society, 83 of them were awarded state premium mare.  89 foals and 67 riding horses were sold at the Verden auctions. 15 of his 25 licensed sons are currently registered with the Hanoverian Stallion Book I. The Celle state stud stallions Earl and El Bundy won their stallion performance tests, just like their sire, ad Embassy is one of the most popular Hanoverian show jumping stallions.
 
Escudo I continues the old Hanoverian E-bloodline with his prepotency, and he was of tremendous importance for the modern jumper horse breed.  “He sires excellently fighting progeny with lots of show jumping scope,“ the manager of the Celle National State Stud, Dr. Axel Brockmann, says

Privately owned stallion De Niro is the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2008. The Donnerhall/Akzent II-son was bred by Brigitte Pahl, Fockbek, and licensed in Verden in 1995. Since that time, he has been standing at Klosterhof Medingen. With this annual award, the Hanoverian Society and R+V/VTV insurance company honours important breeding stallions. At the Verden Stallion Market, breeder Brigitte Pahl was honoured with the Wohlklang-statuette and a cheque.

De Niro was born in 1993, and at the Stallion Approval in Verden in 1995, he was already one of the most popular and fascinating stallions. One year later, the black youngster completed his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf with the highest dressage score. Riding instructor Dolf-Dietram Keller trained him up to Grand Prix-level. In 2001, De Niro won the German Championships of professional riders and in 2003, the German Dressage Derby in Hamburg. Since 2006, he has been successfully competing with his young rider Theresa Wahler. De Niro’s dam Alicante was successful up to medium level with Susanne Pahl, the breeder’s daughter. She was an active brood mare for only a few years. The impressive result: Her four sons are successful competition horses, two of them, De Niro and his right brother Dimension, are approved stallions.

De Niro passes on his excellent rideability and fantastic movements as well as type and expression to his progeny. 1,341 offspring are registered with the Hanoverian Society. 14 of his 22 approved sons are registered with the first-class stallion book, 99 daughters were awarded state premium mare. He is the sire of 123 Verden auction foals and of 109 horses sold at riding horse auctions. 434 progeny achieved placements in the dressage ring up to advanced level and contributed to De Niro’s fantastic dressage breeding evaluation of 147 points. Together his sons, he has an incredible impact and influence on breeding.

The Celle state stud stallion Dancier won his Stallion Licensing and stallion performance test. Desert Moon and De Janeiro were reserve champions in Verden. De Noir is one of the most popular stallions in Denmark.  Maternal lines featuring De Niro in the pedigree are also very popular. His daughter De Nira is the dam of Hotline, the champion stallion of the Stallion Licensing in 2005. Hotline was the most expensive stallion ever sold at a breeding association’s sales event. Donner de Nero is the dam of the reserve champion of the Stallion Licensing in 2007, Fürst Nymphenburg, who won the stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf in 2008.

The Spartan/Pygmalion-son STAKKATO was awarded “Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2007”. On the occasion of the Stallion Market, the Hanoverian Society and the R + V insurance company honoured his breeder August Meyer from Uenzen with the Wohlklang-statue and a cheque. Stakkato is an active breeding stallion for the Celle State Stud, but also an active international competition horse under Eva Bitter from Bad Essen.

Stakkato was born on April 4, 1993 on August Meyer’s farm in Uenzen. Andreas Mundt raised him and presented him at the stallion licensing in autumn 1995. The fantastic lines of Servus and Gotthard are combined in his sire’s pedigree. His dam Pia successfully competed up to elementary show jumping level. At her mare performance test, her jumping skills were judged with the perfect score of 10,0. Stakkato presented exceptional and spectacular free jumping skills in Verden so that Dr. Burchard Bade purchased him for the Celle State Stud. He was the best jumper at his stallion performance test. He won the Federal Championships of German show jumpers in Warendorf in 1998 and developped into the best show jumping stallion in the Hanoverian breeding area. In 1999, he earned the vice championship title. Four years later, the bay stallion won the German Championship in the ladies’ division under Eva Bitter. Apart from countless international top placements, Stakkato competed five times for the German Nation’s Cup team. One of his outstanding successes was this year’s second place at the highly renowned Nörten-Hardenberg Grand Prix.

The Celle State Stud Stallion passes on his fantastic jumper qualities to his offspring. Rückenwind with Holger Wulschner, Sambuca with Eva Bitter or Stritzel with the Bulgarian rider Angel Njagolov are successful international competition horses. The four-year-old Sicerto is the youngest of his successful offspring. He won the Hanoverian Show Jumping Championships under Oliver Ross. 188 of his offspring are active sport horses, 17 sons are approved stallions and 26 daughters awarded state premium mare. He supplied 45 foals for foal auctions and 10 offspring for elite riding horse auctions. He has been among the top-class horses of the breeding evaluation of the Hanoverian Society and the German Equestrian Federation for years.

The nomination of the 15th „Hanoverian Stallion of the Year“ was one of the highlights of this year’s Stallion Licensing in Verden. It was the first time that a thoroughbred stallion was honoured with this award: Within the last years, Celle State Stud Stallion Lauries Crusador xx has certainly had a considerable influence on the Hanoverian breed. The Hell Stable in Klein Offenseth is the owner of the bay refiner. It was the first time that the prize was donated by the insurance company R + V / Vereinigte Tierversicherung. The company is one of the leading European horse insurance companies, and they are obviously about to increase their supporting activities in Verden.

Lauries Crusador xx by Welsh Pageant xx/High Top xx was born in Great Britain in 1985, and he started his career on the race track. With an impost of 90,5 kgs, he was accepted as a breeding stallion for the German warmblood breed. The well-known horse expert and stallion owner Maas J. Hell, who died some years ago, discovered the bay horse. He maintained good contact with State Stud Manager Dr. Burchard Bade, and in 1991, Lauries Crusador xx became an active breeding stallion for the Lower Saxonian National State Stud in Landesbrück.

He was frequently used by the breeders right from the very beginning. He had not only a considerable influence on the mare population in the Kehdingen area, but also on the whole Hanoverian breed. There are totally 1560 registered offspring, 349 mares registered into the Studbook, among them 103 state premium mares. He fathered 39 licensed sons, 13 of them being registered into the premium stallion register.  546 registered competition horses complete this impressive balance. With his successful offspring, the thoroughbred stallion Lauries Crusador xx is certainly about to create a new Hanoverian stallion line.

Le Bo counts among his most successful offspring in sport. In 2005, he ranked third at the German Dressage Championships for lady riders under Carola Koppelmann. The former Verden elite auction horse Lesotho and Ellen Schulten-Baumer belonged to the Olympic team in Athens. The stallion Louis Heslegard and Gerda Lehmann participated with the Danish Olympic team. At the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Le Primeur competed with Marie-Line Wettstein for Switzerland. The Lauries Crusador xx-son Londonderry created a sensation; he won his stallion licensing as well as the Federal Championships of four-year-old stallions in Warendorf. Apart from that, he also underlined his excellent prepotency. Two of his sons entered the scene this year: Locksley II won the Federal Championships of four-year-old stallions, just like his sire, and at the 115th Verden Elite Auction, Londontime was sold at the incredible, sensational price of Euro 510.000,00, a sum never achieved at a riding horse auction so far.

Privately owned stallion Argentinus is the Stallion of the Year 2005. The Argentan/Duden II-son is a first-class breeding stallion with an international reputation and well-known beyond Lower Saxony borders. His offspring are not only successful jumpers, but also excellent dressage horses. On behalf of the deceased breeder, his daughter Jutta Hagner was awarded the Wohlklang-statuette and the remunerative cheque. Since 1992, the Uelzener Insurance Company has been honouring valuable breeding stallions.

On February 15, 1980, Argentinus was born on the farm of Jacob Büther in Hollern-Twielenfleth. With his sire Argentan, the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 1994, and his dam’s sire Duden II, he carries valuable and successful Hanoverian bloodlines. His breeder sold the modern, bay colt to Jan Munderloh and Kurt Meiners, Elsfleth. 23 years ago, Heinrich Klatte discovered him there and bought him for his stallion station in Klein Roascharden near Oldenburg where top-class stallion Grannus was stationed as well. Argentinus passed his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf and ranked third with totally 126 points. He was licensed in Verden in the same year. From totally 548 registered offspring, 15 daughters were awarded state premium mare. Seven of his sons are registered Hanoverian breeding stallions, among them the former Federal Champion of German Dressage Horses, A Jungle Prince, as well as Adlantus As FRH who competed under Lars Nieberg for the German team at the last World Equestrian Games in Spain.

His offspring in sport count among the best ones worldwide. Their lifetime earnings have been exceeding the two-million-limit. Two years ago, the Oldenburg mare Anka won the Jumper’s World Cup under Marcus Ehning. In 2001, Albano and Heike Kemmer became Team European Dressage Champions. Right from the very beginning, the stallion was one of the most important stallions registered for the Hanoverian Breeding Program for Show Jumpers.
Argentinus also enjoys an excellent reputation as supplier of Verden auction horses. 16 foals were sold in Verden, 20 riding horses at elite auctions and eight offspring at other sales events. At the Elite Foal Auction in 2003, All Star ZH achieved the sensational price of Euro 60.000,00. At the 109th Elite Autumn Auction two months later, the lot went down at Euro 65.000,00 for the four-year-old Almost Famous.

The Celle state stud stallion Graf Grannus is the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2004. Heike Oltmanns, Neuengland is the breeder of the black youngster. He was awarded a valuable Wohlklang-sculpture as well as a remunerative cheque. With this reward, the Uelzener insurance company is honouring those breeding stallions that play an important role in the Hanoverian breed. Graf Grannus is the successor of Brentano II. In 1992, the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year was honoured for the first time.

Graf Grannus was born on the farm of Heiko Oltmanns in Neuengland in the West of Lower Saxony on April 8, 1988. His sire Grannus by Graphit/Ozean counts among one of the most important show jumping stallions worldwide. His dam Goldmädel by Goldlöwe/Goya gave birth to this colt only. Following this short breeding session, she successfully competed at show jumping ability competitions up to advanced level. At the age of 2 ½, the breeder sold the black youngster, true to type, to the raiser Alfons Frehe-Siermann, Mettingen.  Upon prior agreement with the manager of the national state stud, Dr. Burchard Bade, Graf Grannus passed the eleven month of his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf. With 138,04 points, he achieved the second best show jumping result, and with a final result of 130,51 he finished the whole competition as the third best of his age-group.

The young stallion moved into his stallion box in Schillers-lage, and the breeders started to task him frequently right from the start. In the meantime, 308 of his daughters are registered Hanoverian brood mares, 44 of them were awarded state premium mare. His sons are also very popular. 19 of them are licensed for Hanover, six are registered in the premium stallion book. Ginsberg, Goodman and Graf Top enrich the team of the Lower Saxony National State Stud. In 1995, Graf Grannus presented the winner of the stallion licensing, Golden Champ. Unfortunately, this youngster died only shortly after. 13 of his offspring were sold at Verden elite auctions, 34 found new owners at other Verden sales events.

With his extremely talented offspring that are successfully competing worldwide, Graf Grannus enjoys an excellent reputation as a show jumping stallion. When the Program for Breeding Hanoverian Show Jumpers was started up, he already counted among the stallions that were especially recommended for stud purposes. Last year, he achieved a show jumping breeding evaluation of 156 points, his breeding evaluation based on show successes reveals 136 points. The licensed stallions Gem of India with Michael Whitaker and Kasting Horses Gavi with Helena Weinberg belong to the best young show jumping horses. In the United States, Gardenio and Todd Minikus show up on the winner’s list of advanced level competitions.

The Celle state stud stallion Brentano II is the Hanoverian stallion of the year 2003. At the Verden stallion licensing, the chestnut stallion was awarded this prestigious title. His breeder, Dr. Max Schulz-Stellenfleth, Stellenfleth, was honoured with a cheque for EURO 10.000,00 and a valuable Wohlklang-statuette. The Uelzener insurance company always generously supports this award that honours important Hanoverian stallions who have a tremendous influence on the breed.

In 1983, Brentano II was born on Dr. Max Schulz-Stellenfleth’s farm in Kehdingen. His dam, the Grande-daughter Glocke, descends from one of the most important mare families in Hanover, going back to the Schumann-daughter S449. The stallions Garibaldi I and II, Wolkenstein I and II and Beltain as well as Beauvalais, one of the internationally most successful dressage horses with Beatriz Ferrer-Salat, belong to this equine family. Recently, Beltain caused a highlight in Warendorf: Under Holga Finken, his son Belissimo M became Bundeschampion of three-year-old stallions. After having won the stallion licensing, Brentano II moved to the Celle National Stud. At his stallion performance test, he presented the best dressage performances, and with a final score of 129,97 points, he ranked second. One year later, he achieved the fourth place at the Bundeschampionate of  Riding Horses. He is trained up to advanced dressage level, and he belongs to the Celle Quadrilles for years now. Since 1987, he has been stationed in Artland, first in Natbergen, later on at the Ankum insemination station.

That is were Brentano II met suitable mares. The chestnut stallion is the sire of 68 state premium mares and 15 licensed stallions. In 2000, his daughter Bona Dea II left the Ratje-Niebuhr-Show as the winning mare. Together with her full sister Bona Dea, she won the Ratje-Niebuhr-Prize. Brentano II supplied totally 19 horses for elite auctions, among them the first-class horses Brentina, Brasseur P, Bandito and Bon Jovi. At the World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Brentina won the team silver medal under the American Debbie McDonald. Her fullbrother Barclay is just about to start his international career with Gonnelien and Sven Rothenberger. In the youngster division, Bernstein and Christian Ritter are a successful equine pair. This year, Bon Jovi was especially successful: He won the Bundeschampiont-title of four-year-old horses in Warendorf. Apart from that, he is the dam’s sire of the Brandenburg mare Poetin who is on everyone’s lips after having won the World Breeding Championships Dressage of Young Horses and the Bundeschampionate. Brentano II is a dressage stallion with an exemplary inheritance, and his dressage breeding evaluation reaches the above-average mark of 137 points. With his successful offspring, he is one of the sons of the trademark stallion Bolero who ensured a revival of this bloodline in sport. Thus in October, Bonaparte (Heike Kemmer) was awarded the most successful dressage horse of the world.

The Celle state stud stallion Warkant by World Cup/Grande is the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year. The audience in the crowded Niedersachsenhalle applauded when his breeder, Helga Axhausen from Schiffdorf, received the valuable Wohlklang-statue as well as the cheque for 10.000,- EUR. For 10 years now, the "Uelzener Versicherungen" has been awarding prizes to tried and tested Hanoverian breeding stallions. This is to thank the breeders for the excellent and tradition-conscious co-operation.

Warkant was born in 1983 on Helga Axhausen’s farm in Schiffdorf near Cuxhaven. He spent his youth on the stallion rearing station Hunnesrück. Because of an injury, he could not participate at the stallion performance test’s finals. His final result was projected up to 119,20 points. Warkant was the winner of the licensing of the Hunnesrück stallions. In 1987, he started his breeding career in Beedenbostel. From 1993 to 1998, Warkant was stationed in Celle before he moved to Grethem in 1999. He was one of the stars of the Celle stallion parades because of his excellent basic gaits and his expressive trot.

Warkant’s offspring caused a sensation on auctions and at tournaments. 37 of his offspring were the best horses of their auctions, 13 of them were sold at top prices of more than 50.000,- EUR. The lot went for example down at 200.0000,- EUR for Wilberforce by Warkant/Eiger or at the sensational amount of 255.000,- EUR for Wahajama by Warkant/Acapulco. Many of his offspring followed the successful path of auctions, federal championships and tournaments. In 1991, Wanessa by Warkant/Eiger won the Federal Championships of the German Riding Horse. In 1999, Wahajama followed in the dressage horse category. Presently, she is on her way to become one of the most successful dressage horses with Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff. Wansuela Suerte by Warkant/Wachmann is another example. She counts among one of the most successful Grand Prix-horses trained by dressage trainer Hubertus Schmidt. World champion Ulla Salzgeber also bought a Warkant-offspring of exceptional quality: World Magic by Warkant/Cavalier is already qualified for the Nuremberg Championships.

Warkant is the sire of 46 state premium mares. His daughters passed their mare performance tests with excellent results. It ensued that Warkant achieved a marvellous breeding evaluation of 156 points and that he is one of Hanover’s top-quality dressage stallions. Nine of his sons were licensed. 

The Celle State stallion Drosselklang II by Don Carlos/Frustra II is Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2001. At the stallion licensing at Verden his breeder Margarethe Hagenah from Himmelpforten was awarded a precious bronze statuette and a check for 20,000.00 DM. The bay stallion is the tenth Stallion of the Year, honoured for his importance for the Hanoverian breed. The Uelzener Insurance Company has donated this prize since 1992 as a thankyou for the good and intensive co-operation with Hanoverian breeders.
 
Drosselklang II was born in 1984 at Margarethe Hagenah`s at Himmelpforten. His dam Forstlady had already produced a successful swarm of children before. His full brother Diavolo, born in 1971 won numerous international jumper classes under his rider Peter Schmitz and belonged to the most successful offspring of his sire Don Carlos. In 1985 the manager of the State Stud Celle, Dr. Burchard Bade purchased his full brother Drosselklang I and stationed him at the insemination station Oberndorf for the next five years. Both Drosselklang I and II grew up at Heinrich v. Allwoerden`s at Krautsand. At the Verden stallion licensing 1986 Drosselklang II was purchased in the first Celle lot together with the legendary Weltmeyer and finished his performance test with first place in the jumping part. He then moved to the breeding station Berglage where he has since then been available by natural cover. His career would almost have come to an end five years ago when he suffered a serious injury when loose-jumping. It is due to his toughness and intelligence that he survived this injury.

Drosselklang II is one of the last sons of Don Carlos in the Hanoverian breed. The good mind we find in him is also typical for his offspring and he is one of the top sires in the Hanoverian Jumper Breeding Programme. Quite a lot of his offspring changed owners at top prices at Verden`s auctions. For instance Donnerlitchen who under Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum became Vice-Bundeschampion of German show-jumpers last year or the Dobrock champion Don Oscar. In 1998 Dorain under his rider Karl-Heinz Markus became vice-world champion of young show-jumpers at Lanaken. Dorincord and the Canadian Ian Miller took part in the Olympic Games. Further offspring on international level such as Dobel`s Frechdachs under team Olympic gold medalist Otto Becker, Skyboy and Delany ridden by world champion Rodrigo Pessoa or Boeckmann`s Bella Donna under Gilbert Boeckmann contribute to furthering the excellent reputation of this Celle State stallion. Drosselklang II – in the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2001 we find classic bloodlines in a modern appearance, ready for the next century.

For Pleasure by Furioso II/Grannus, Olympic team gold medalist in Sydney, was elected Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2000. His breeder and owner Robert Diestel was awarded a precious bronze statuette and a check for 20,000 DM at the Verden stallion licensing. Supported by Uelzener Insurance Company outstanding stallions in the Hanoverian breed have been honoured since 1992.

For Pleasure`s list of successes is long: Olympic team gold medalist in Atlanta and Sydney, team World Champion in Rome and team European Champion at Mannheim and Hickstead. Lars Nieberg and Marcus Ehning lead him to numerous wins and countless top placings all over the world, the prize money he has won so far exceeds two million German marks. Another important criterion for his election was his positive influence on the Hanoverian breed: Although only being little used for breeding he produced 15 State`s Premium Mares, eight approved sons and ten Verden auction horses. His offspring are as enthusiastic jumpers as he is: 97 sons and daughters are registered as competition horses in Germany, which brought him a breed value of 156 points in jumping. 50 daughters were tested in mare performance tests – the resulting breed value of 162 points is far above average. His son For Feeling won his 100-day-test at Adelheidsdorf last year, nine-year-old For Joy, ridden by Jessica Kürten, is successful in open jumper classes.

For Pleasure was born at Robert Diestel`s in 1986. His mother line is a collection of prominent sires of show-jumpers and the breeding to Furioso II added sought after refining French blood. A breeding which matched. For Pleasure passed his performance test at Medingen as winner in the jumping test with 145.95 points. Afterwards he was trained by Hans-Jürgen Giebel. In 1993 the then seven-year-old celebrated his first win in an open jumper class and became Lower-Saxony Champion. With his new rider Lars Nieberg, For Pleasure`s spectacular international career began in 1994. Three times the pair won gold at international Championships. Last year Marcus Ehning took over the reins and a new dream pair was born. Only seven months after their first start the two chestnuts won team gold at the European Championships and reached fifth place in the individual ranking. Their latest highlight was the win of team gold with the German team and a brilliant fourth place in the individual ranking at the Olympic Games in Sydney.

Eiger I was awarded the title Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 1999 in Verden. He was born in 1975 at Hans-Wilhelm Oltmann`s at Drochtersen. His father Eisenherz was a sought after sire of dressage horses at that time. The sire of Eiger`s dam, Abermals adds the famous Tempelhüter blood to his pedigree. The chestnut stallion grew up at the stallion rearing farm Hunndesrück and passed his performance test at Adelheidsdorf in 1978. With above average results in both dressage and jumping he proved his versatility and reached fourth place with a total result of 113.66 points. Among his competitors were the stallions Grossfuerst (winner of the performance test), Bolero, Pik Bube II, and Don Juan.

After being licensed he was awarded the title „Best stallion of his age-group". Beedenbostel (1979 – 1992), Celle (1993 – 1996), and Mandelsloh have been his breeding stations so far. He passes on his type, his correct conformation and his very good rideability to his offspring. Very often they are talented for both jumping and dressage, just like their father is. Empire, ridden by Dr. Martina Fincke has won over 85,000 DM in dressage on Grand Prix level. His most famous sons, team world champion Esprit FRH (ridden by Lars Nieberg) and Easy Jumper who, ridden by Jos Lansink is also highly successful on international level make Eiger one of the most important sires of jumping horses in Hanover. But his virtues are appreciated in other equestrian disciplines as well: Ute Volmer and Elliot by Eiger belong to the most successful combinations in western riding in Germany.

Eiger produced 35 State`s premium mares and seven licensed stallions, among them Espri, who became Hanoverian Stallion of the Year four years ago. They gave new impetus to the Hanoverian E/A line which traces back to the Thoroughbred stallion Adeptus xx who was born in 1884. 19 offspring of Eiger were sold at the Verden elite auctions and he sired the dams of a number of top horses. For instance the stallion Wilberforce by Warkant who sold for sensational 400,000 DM is out of a dam by Eiger just as Wanessa by Warkant who became Bundeschampion in 1991 or Windsor Queen, dam of the present Bundeschampion Londonderry.

The Celle state stud stallion Weltmeyer by World Cup/Absatz bred by Hermann Meyer, Allwörden, is Hannoveraner Stallion of the Year 1998.

Weltmeyer - what a name, what a horse, what a power of heredity. When Hermann Meyer presented his stallion at the licensing in Verden in 1986, breeders and judges were all over the moon. The name, the victories at the licensing, in the stallion performance test, at the Bundeschampionat and at the DLG show were a prediction that eventually came true. He has produced 51 licensed stallions for Hannover, delivered stallion performance test winners and Bundeschampions in series, many of whom are beginning to prove themselves in breeding.

His daughters belong to the top of broodmares, 150 times they received the State Premium. In mare performance tests, they are regularly to be found in front. The estimated breeding value of 189 points in dressage makes Weltmeyer the class leader in this field as well. The Federal Mare Show in Warendorf this year can be described as a Weltmeyer festival. Four of the six mares in the champion or reserve champion families had him as their sire. The bronze medal in the championship of three- and four-year-old mares went to Hans-Heinrich Brüning's magnificent Wesley (by Weltmeyer)-daughter Wisconsin. In the championship of five-year-old dressage horses, the Weltmeyer/Gelria-son Weltino under Holga Finken won the bronze medal, the same rider taking the private stallion White Magic to fourth place. And of course, the championship victory in the three-year-old mares and geldings of the Wittinger (by Weltmeyer)/Grenadier-daughter Weltspitze under Alyona Bilan also fits into the balance of success.

More importantly, the first Weltmeyer offspring are also leaving their traces of success in the "big sport". Ellen Schulten-Baumer, for example, won individual and team gold at the European Dressage Championships for Young Riders with the Weltmeyer/Marbod-daughter Weserperle S. Like Weltmeyer, out of a Dynamo dam, she is now successful at Grand Prix level under Holga Finken. 615 registered show horses have earned over DM 200,000 on German show grounds so far. This results in a breeding value in dressage of a spectacular 177 points.

Don Juan, born 1975
by Don Carlos/Eljen
Breeder: Klaus Jarck, Drochtersen
Owner: Niedersaechsisches Landgestuet Celle

World Cup, born 1977
by Woermann/Sender
Breeder: Hans-Eduard Boerger, Loxstedt
Owner: Niedersaechsisches Landgestuet Celle

Espri, born 1981
by Eiger/Diplomat
Breeder: Rolf Deecke, Lachendorf
Owner: Niedersaechsisches Landgestuet Celle

Argentan, born 1967
by Absatz/Wohlan
Breeder: Juergen Clasen, Hiddestorf
Owner: Niedersaechsisches Landgestuet Celle

Gralsritter, born 1965
by Grande/Frustra II
Breeder: Johann Lange, Oyten
Owner: Niedersaechsisches Landgestuet Celle

Werther, born 1973
by Wendekreis/Marcio xx
Breeder.: Hans-Joachim Schrader, Bledeln
Owner: Niedersaechsisches Landgestüt Celle