The 2007 Trakehner stallion show in Münster-Handorf - Part III -

And when one moves even further back in the NMS hopeful crops, we come across names like In Flagranti, the premium Pricolino (by Schwadroneur - EH Skorates), Ippon (by Buddenbrock - Siegbert) or Lowelas (by Hockey - Inster Graditz). All of them made an appearance this year. Especially Pricolino received praise for his natural way og going, his great suppleness and his exceptional walk. He came across as a stallion of great temperament and beauty, a classical Trakehner who is also tall and leggy enough to possibly add size and frame to his foals. Since he is stationed at Gestüt Domselshof, we dare to predict a great future in the dressage ring. this farm usually turns out their stallions in impeccable condition and knows how to treat young horses well. It was nicely seen in Pricolino!

Ippon was only presented in hand, so we will skip comments on that, but it was Lowelas who was a sad bit of contrast program to the above mentioned Pricolino. Lowelas was the star of his approval, where he was named premium, and did well in young horse dressage classes. He also just finished an outstanding 70 day test, which is why it was hard for many to understand that he had such obvious problems in movbing over his back. One can only wonder what went "wrong", because the quality of the foals of this stunning chestnut is simply breathtaking. In Handorf, Lowelas was presented by his owner, British Grand Prix rider Fiona Bigwood, who just very recently got on him. We hope this will mark a change for the better in this stallion's career.

Besides the glory and spectacle of Neumünster, there is also no denying that the spring approvals, and some of the unscheduled approvals at private places, have produced a number of very interesting horses that have just as well been able to get a foot in the door of breeding and sports. One of those examples is the chestnut Patmos (by EH Friedensfürst - EH Lehndorffs), who is ridden by Eva Zigelwalnerand on his way to the S-class. The very pretty stallion has great movement, and is a dream for any dressage rider due to his kind and willing nature. He was also able to produce two stunning foal crops, including one of the top sellers of the summer foal auction in Hanover last year.

Another great example of "spring quality" is Gestüt Birkhof's tall Meraldik (by EH Münchhausen TSF - Caramel xx), an Anglo Trakehner out of the full sister to the important TB stallion Heraldik xx. Although he appared a bit distracted in Handorf this spring, the stallion is well remembered by many from his NMS Gala Show appearance in 2006 and his gig at the Oldenburg Stallion Show in vechta only a few weeks ago. The stallion is very tall, and not yet done, but has excellent movement in all three gaits and a great deal of elasticity over his back. He also won the Baden-Württemberg State Championships in 2006. Maybe it is a secret recipe for breeders to match EH Münchhausen TSF with full TB mares, as that is exactly what also worked well in the case of the bay Sambatänzer (dam by Zinaad xx). He too, has a high quality level in all three paces and appears super rideably with a great mind. And like Meraldik, Sambatänzer will probably need another 2.3 years to fully mature. But then, there is great potential!

Then there are two EH Latimer sons from spring approvals that are worth mentioning because of their great dressage potential. Finckenstein (by EH Latimer - Kennedy), who was approved in Wickrath in 2005, is a lovely black stallion with picture-perfect Trakehner type and great movement that will probably make it rather easy for him to progress in dressage. The other is the impressive Karolinger I (by EH Latimer - EH Hohenstein), who is a maternal half brother to the premium stallion Krokant and was the highest seller at the klosterhof Medingen Fall Elite Auction two years gow (250.000€). Karolinger I passed an excellent performance test, placed in the finals of the Bundeschampionat, won the approval in Sweden and is now in training with the Grand Prix rider Peter Koch (Shannon TSF, Avoni TSF, Konradi).

And finally, another recent spring approval candidate made an appearance at Handorf, the US-bred Lord Luciano (by Enrico Caruso *Ps*E*- Unkenruf *Pg*E*). He came from Tylord Farm to germany, passed an outstanding 30 day test and was then approved in Wickrath in 2006 (winning all hearts!). The stallion was then stationed at Tasdorf Stud and now, for the 2007 season, has moved on to Gestüt Webelsgrund, where his dressage training will also progress.

Another in-hand presentation was the dark bay Houston (by Sir Chamberlain - Saros xx), who was a successful eventer with Germany's Marina Köhncke and has bene retired at stud for some time now. He is an excellent producer of upper level jumpers and eventers and is stationed at Hengststation Kretschmer in Warendorf, along with Insterburg TSF and Zöllner.

The final leg of stallions once more consisted of proven FEI dressage performers. Polarzauber (by EH Charly Chaplin - EH Tenor) showed in a most impressive way, why he was able to qualify for Germany's inofficial championships of young Grand Prix horses, the Nürnberg Burgpokal. He is the last direct descendant at stud from the impeccable EH Mackensen line, a fact that is very sad given the hugh impact these horses had in competition, both in eventing and dressage. Polarzauber is stationed at Klosterhof Medingen and ridden by his long-time trainer Nicole Hochskämper.

Goodwood (by EH Partout - Ibikus) was also back, after he had sort of disappeared for a long time. the stallion showed at M-levels in dressage and show jumping, but had clearly seen better times than his appearance suggested. Hopefully he will find back to his old self soon, as his offspring are exceptionally supple horses that also jump very well. One would wish the stallion gets a good chance at breeding.

Then it was another ride for Eva Zieglwaler, who now presented her star in the stable, the impressive dark bay Kapriolan F (by Exclusiv - Karon), who was bred at Gestüt Hämelschenburg. Kapriolan F was a premium stallion of his approval (under the name of Kaiserberg) and was later sold through the Elite auction at Klosterhof Medingen. The stallion progressed nicely through the levels and Eva and this powerhouse have recently mastered their first Grand Prix placings. Good luck for the future, Eva!

One of the most consistent stallions in the entire breed, based on performance, is the bay Ursprung TSF (by Cornus - EH Bartholdy). For reasons we can't point out to you, he hardly ever gets noticed. Maybe it is because he is not a stunning show star, but rather a very quiet, yet very high quality horse with the rideability, mind and willingness to perform that one needs in a top dressager horse ... more so than the big trot! Ursprung, who was approved in Neumünster, has been trained by Dorothee Schneider for many years and it shows in his very secure freestyles and his correctness. The stallion is certainly one to keep in mind, and has just started to win at S-level in 2006.

Since the 2006 World Equestrian Games, one name has stood out as the new star in dressage: Blue hors Matine. The Danish daughter of the Trakehner Silvermoon (by Kostolany - Mahagoni) was the center of heated debates on the internet and thousands of downloads at YuoTube. And since her three medals in Aachen, all of a sudden, breeders remember the shining white stallion Silvermoon, who had a pretty quiet life so far at his Bavarian home at Ammerland Stud. Now, he is the center of attention, and was quickly thrown back under saddle and has been forced into Grand Prix freestyle and freestyle. While he is a stunning animal, a little less in his case would probably be more ... he doesn't have much left to prove, and despite the fact that his breeding fee skyrocketed this past season, he should get a fair amount of mares now. Finally!

We want to finish our story here with another stallion, who had been "gone" from the scene for quite some time, and is now back at stud in Germany, to the delight of many breeders: Polarion (by EH Van Deyk - Insterruf). This is a stallion with an international Grand Prix dressage career, and offspring on the ground that is simply amazing. His son Birkhof's Grafenstolz TSF is one of the most versatile sport horses of his time, with wins at M-levels in all three disciplines, and an individual bronze medal from the German National Eventing Championships (CCI*** level) around his neck. Polarion was presented in Handorf by Markus Gribbe, his long-term international partner, and will be stationed at Gestüt Webelsgrund in 2007. Welcome back!!

We can only conclude that indeed, this was probably the best show ever. Some German discussion forums (also non Trakehner) go so far as to say it was the best stallion show of the season in Germany. We don't even want to go that far ... undeniably, our breed is on the right track back to stardom. We can only hope that all the youngsters will stay sound and come back for many more years to come, and that breeders will not only value what is known and proven, but also what offers true genetic diversity, especially coming from the East and our own excellent TB stocks. See you uin 2008 in Münster-Handorf!

King Arthur TSF and Hofrat say good bye!