The 2011 Trakehner Stallion Show in Münster-Handorf - Part I -

In early February of 2011, the annual Trakehner Stallion Show was hosted by the breeding district of Westfalia at the Equestrian Center in Münster - Handorf. The Stallion Show has a long tradition now, and is a highlight of the Trakehner year worldwide. Along with the show, the weekend also hosted the Trakehner Spring Approvals. Our introduction to the newly approved stallions can be found here. We would like to thank Jutta Bauernschmitt for the photos that you get to see in this report. And Video links were kindly provided by Trakehnervideos. A first report on this event was published on Eurodressage, Feb 14th 2011.

VHS and DVD material of this event is available through Trakehners International. Please contact us for details!

This year, we'll present all stallions in alphabetical order, not the order of their appearance. We hope you'll find this easier to search and follow up on.

Abendtanz (by Hirtentanz - Kostolany) was ridden by World Eventing Champion Michael Jung and debuted over jumps in public. He is developing nicely and showed good scope and overall attitude. Abendtanz is owned by Burkhard Wahler and stands at his Klosterhof Medingen Stud.

Two full brothers were presented by their respective owners. Gestüt Tasdorf showed All Inclusive (by E.H. Gribaldi - E.H. Buddenbrock), well on his way under saddle. The impressive liver chestnut is a horse with obvious FEI potential and can already look back at an impressive string of achievements in his young career. Maybe time for a break? He appeared slow in his hind end we've seen him better before. His full brother All Agility (owned by Hengststation Kretschmer) is a stark contrast - black, refined, light, still with a lot of maturation ahead of him. The stallion was approved in 2010 and was shown in hand and at liberty.

Amadelio (by E.H. Lehndorffs - Lauries Crusador xx) was presented by Gestüt Hohenschmark. The black youngster just recently finished a good 70 day test in East Germany and impressed especially under saddle during this show. It was a general consensu in the ranks that the riding of Hohenschmark's staff really left quite a bit to be desired - light contact at the forefront of that list. Amadelio has shon in the past that he is a very good dressage prospect with the pedigree to back it up - now he just needs a chance to shine.

A superstar of the current Trakehner breed is Axis TSF (by E.H. Sixtus - E.H. Angard). Not only his younger sons appear as top notch sport horses (Hirtentanz, Sidney Bay, Ballzauber), but he himself, after winning the "best jumper" award during his approval many years ago, shows true Trakehner versatility and is now a successful Grand Prix dressage stallion under longtime partner Terhi Stegars. Axis TSF is a popular sire these days and not only in the Trakehner breed. A very special Axis foal is about to be born in Holland, since Uusminka, Edward Gal's Small Tour horse and full sister to the great Totilas, is due in 2011.

From the most recent approval crop in 2010 came a Neumünster crowd favorite with the radiant chestnut Banderas (by Le Rouge - E.H. Friedensfürst). Shown in hand, he is maturing well and still impresses with his active hind leg. The stallion is stationed at the State Stud in Warendorf and is a very close maternal relative to the major sire E.H. Buddenbrock.

C'est Bon (by E.H. Distelzar - Tycoon) came from Denmark and despite being ridden with a bit too much pressure, impressed with his three high quality gaits and the way he seems to progress from year to year. The former NMS Reserve Champion, who began his career at Gestüt Sommerlade, is a worthy representative of the Kostolany - Gribaldi stallion line.

Another most promising young show jumper came from Klosterhof Medingen - the impeccably bred Come Close (by Heops - Almox prints J), best jumper in Neumünster 2009, was presented well by Christoph Wahler over jumps and is a horse to look forward to in coming years. His power seems endless, the size of obstacles here really only something for him to play around with.

Two younger stallions that are not seen a lot in public were Gestüt Hohenschmark's former NMS premium Cousteau (by E.H. Hohenstein - E.H. Marduc) and Gestüt Freiberger Hof's Dajan FH (by Poker E - Lamarc). Especially Dajan impressed during his approval with his refined type and high overall athleticism, and he ssems to be progressing in the right direction. With a bit more time and routine, this stallion in particular could offer an outcross pedigree with the sport quality to back it up.