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| He is one of those who is never overlooked, who is never passed by, who attracts attention
… like no other: Argentinus.
This Hanoverian who led the FN statistics of his age group for the sum of prize money earned by his offspring
for an astounding seven years, is a true genius when it comes to passing on desirable traits. Only very
few stallions have sired high performance horses that reached international level not only in dressage but in
jumping as well. But for Argentinus, this was common place. In 1996, the son of the Celle stallion, Argentan
I, became Germany’s youngest millionaire measured by the prize money his off-spring won. Successful in
advanced level jumping himself, this imposing sire has produced 28 approved sons and 48 State Premium
mares. Horses such as the Oldenburg, Albano, who won team gold at the 2001 European Championships
in dressage with Heike Kemmer, Isabell Werth’s two-time German Champion in dressage, Amaretto, who
unfortunately died too early, or Autogramm, ridden by Thomas Mühlbauer, who participated in 10 Nation
Cups - all of these and many more are examples of the willingness to perform that Argentinus gave to his
off-spring. Expressed in numbers: his children have earned more than three million D-Mark which comes to
approximately 1.5 million Euros.
Argentinus was born at Jacob Büther’s farm in Hollern, Stade county in Lower Saxony located just a few
miles from the dikes along the Elbe River on February 15, 1980. His dam, Dorle, was 15 years old when
this bay stallion with the characteristic flowing star and snip was born. “Dorle had a very sweet disposition
and was a loyal mare with a wonderful personality” remembers the breeder’s daughter, Jutta Hagner, who
describes the State Premium mare as “a work horse, a bit on the heavy side - the way all Hanoverians were
in those days.”
Mr. Büther sold the Argentan I son as a weanling to Jan Munderloh in Elsfleth, a very experienced, elderly
stallion raiser. Heinrich Klatte senior discovered him during the pre-selections for the Oldenburg approval.
“At that time, Argentinus was already a very impressive horse. He stood out as soon as he came into view.
My husband wanted the stallion right away, before he had even been selected for the approval”, says Gisela
Klatte, thinking back. Their son, Heinrich, remembers, “My father was all excited when he got home. ‘I saw
a stallion that I just have to have’, he said. But easier said than done. Negotiations went on for two whole
days and ended with Klatte also having to buy two very average yearlings as well before they could take
Argentinus home. 65,000 DM crossed the table before the Hanoverian and the two yearlings were loaded
onto the trailer.
Large-boned, narrow and elegant but a bit skinny was the way Argentinus looked at two and a half when he
moved to Zuchthof Klatte in Klein Roscharden. His stable - the first one on the left side of the stallion stables
- became his permanent residence. Argentinus has become a member of the family like no other horse. “You
can buy practically anything here”, Heinrich Klatte senior once said, “but not my wife, my children, Grannus or
Argentinus”.
At the approval, the two and a half year old Argentinus presented himself so impressively that even Uwe
Heckmann, an approval commissioner, got carried away with praise. However, the Waldlöwe son, Waldstern,
became Champions Stallion and the new boy in Klein Roscharden received the Ib Premium. Two years later,
based on Argentinus’ stallion performance test and the evaluation of his first crop, he left all of his competitors
far behind, ending on first place and thereby receiving the Main Premium. Unfortunately, his breeder, Jacob
Büther, did not live to see Argentinus’ glorious day. He died in 1984 at the age of 77, the year Argentinus’ first
crop was born.
Argentinus proved his versatility at the stallion performance test in 1983 in Adelheidsdorf. With a score of 126
points, he finished third out of a group of 54 stallions. The bay stallion entered his first show as a four year
old - a novice level jumping test. Argentinus and his rider, Andreas Nienaber, sovereignly finished the course,
taking first place. In those days, it was not common at all to enter breeding stallions in shows. A year later,
the Hanoverian collected blue ribbons in elementary level jumping tests. His first entry with Heinrich’s brother,
Guido Klatte, who owns a worldwide shipping agency for transporting horses, was also a complete success.
In the meanwhile, Argentinus was collecting ribbons in medium level. In 1987, Alexandra Klatte, who now
lives in Australia, sat in Argentinus’ saddle and the pair were also successful in fault and style and time score
jumping. Whether with Alexandra, Guido, or later with Henrik, Argentinus proved his potential at shows until
he was 11 years old, collecting around 4,000 Euros in prize money.
His willingness to perform - that is probably the most significant trait of this impressive sire. There really
are stallions that radiate their exceptional potential, and without a doubt, Argentinus is one of these. With a
proudly curved crest, Argentinus prances on the hand of his long time groom and insemination technician,
Werner Venekamp, on his way to the breeding station. Majestic whinnying, excited tail swishing, veins that
stand out plastically under his skin. “A stallion of excellent character” says Venekamp proudly. It’s very rare
that Argentinus brings pearls of sweat on Venekamp’s forehead - usually only when Argentinus knows he
has an audience. “A trot is no longer possible then - it’s cantering on the spot, prancing, piaffing, whinnying,
snorting - you know, the way we are all used to seeing Argentinus when he is presented at the Oldenburg
approval, especially when he’s marching in the Old Stallion Parade. Then he acts like a three year old who
hasn’t been outside for a year, forgets himself completely and does as he pleases.” But at home, whether
he’s being groomed or ridden, and even when he’s breeding, he’s like a lamb. “Argentinus is always very
gentle at home”, says Venekamp. But he does have a quirk that he will probably always have: just as if
he had a thermometer to read, Argentinus takes his blanket off - by himself, or course - as soon as the
temperature reaches 15°C (60°F). It’s amazing: “In the morning, the blanket lies in the corner, not torn or
damaged, just neatly left there. We’ve never been able to catch him when he does this, and he does it so
carefully and neatly, at first we thought someone had forgotten to but his blanket on”, grins Ingrid Menne,
Heinrich Klatte’s life partner.
Character and charisma - Argentinus has more than his share of both. “He jumped out of his paddock into
the neighbor’s pasture once and the gate to the pasture was open. He just stayed put and started to graze.
Any other stallion would have taken advantage of his freedom, but not Argentinus”, remembers junior boss,
Heinrich Klatte. In spite of his gentleness, there is one thing he absolutely insists on: being the number one
in Klatte’s manège. When visitors arrive at the farm and the door to the stallion stable is opened, if steps go
past his stable without opening his door or, God forbid, they continue to another stable instead, his majesty is
insulted and sulks with his head down in a far corner - his backside facing the door. If that isn’t the airs of
a star!
Argentinus has classic Hanoverian performance lines pulsing through his veins. Longevity must have also
put into his cradle: the sire, Argentan I, who was a sire in the State of Lower Saxony’s State Stud Celle at the
traditional Bargstedt Station all of his life, died at the age of 29. Argentinus’ dam’s sire, Duden II, even lived to
celebrate his 30th birthday.
Dynamic movements and impulsion were passed down to Argentinus’ dam’s sire, Duden II, from his sire, the
great Duellant. And a dash of Thoroughbred from the steel-hard Der Löwe rounds off his pedigree. In other
words: the very best of Hanoverian performance lines of that day are consolidated in Argentinus.
If it says Argentinus on it, it is Argentinus - you don’t find too many stallions whose off-spring can be identified
at a glance without looking at their papers. But Klein Roscharden’s top sire is certainly one of those.
His first crop produced the approved stallion, Azarro, who was an active sire in Australia from 1987 to 1992 at
Heinrich Klatte’s brother’s - Ulrich Klatte’s - stud farm. This chestnut stallion was successful in the dressage
ring up to St. Georg and left a number of successful off-spring in Australia before he returned to Germany.
Back in Germany, Holger Wulschner, a show jumping rider from Mecklenburg, purchased Azarro for his
new breeding station. “A stallion with unlimited possibilities, enormous talent and very careful”, is the way
Wulschner describes the stallion who became successful under a jumping saddle. In 1995 the two of them
took eighth place at the German Championships, won many advanced level jumping tests, even placed up
front in puissance and in 1996 also placed at the biggest show in the world, the CHIO in Aachen.
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| DE NIRO - 2008 HANOVERIAN STALLION OF THE YEAR!
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 honored with
the Wohlklang-statuette and a check.
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.
DE NIRO - OUTSTANDING SIRE OF CHAMPIONS
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.
De Niro has 14 Approved sons. De Niro continues to produce high priced auction horses at Vechta and
Verden. At the Elite Auction in Verden in April 2000, the colt Day Dream, by De Niro, was the top auction foal
selling for DM45,000. In April of 2001, the two high priced foals were by De Niro and sold for DM41,000 and
DM31,000. Of the 5 high priced foals, 4 were by De Niro. At Vechta, a De Niro filly sold for DM70.000.
His son Dancier (De Niro/Lancier/Lauries Crusador xx) was the Champion of the 2004 Hanoverian Stallion
Licensing in Verden with an outstanding dressage score of 158.46 and an overall score of 142.17.
De Niro is the dam sire of Hotline by Hofrat. Hotline won the 70-days test at Schliechau with a total score of
137.34. (Dressage was above 149 points). He received an award for being best stallion in Niedersachsen
(Germany), at his performance test. Hotline was champion of the 2005 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing in
Verden, Germany. 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
De Niro is an extremely popular sire in Germany due to his outstanding movements, extremely high rideability
and beautiful type. He scored an impressive 145.42 in rideability at his 100-Day Test finishing 2nd. His foals
are consistently elegant, modern type, show excellent conformation as well as outstanding movement. His
first foal crop got an overall note of 9 by the Oldenburg commission and based on the exceptional quality of
his foals, he received the “Hauptpraemiensieger” (Main Premium Champion) award in 1997. From his first
foal crop, four of his sons were licensed; one in Westphalia, one in Hannover, who was taken into the first lot
by the State Stud Celle and two in Oldenburg, both of which were sold for very high prices to Sweden. He
now has the prestigious honor of being named as the 2008 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year.
DE NIRO - GRAND PRIX DRESSAGE CHAMPION
In 1999, De Niro won many dressage shows at the Fourth Level and has qualified more than once for the
German “Bundeschampionate”. Today, De Niro continues to advance in dressage while competing at the FEI
levels. He has been winning at the Grand Prix Level since he was a seven year old and at 8 years of age won
the Grand Prix Special with the top score of 73.22%.
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| Don Kennedy is an ideal model of a dressage horse. He is very correct with three
excellent gaits and was the undisputed 2003 Oldenburger Champion Stallion at
the approvals.
In 2004 he was outstanding Oldenburger County Champion of the three year old stallions in
Rastede. He won the final in superior fashion with a dream note of 9.5. At the National Young Horse
Championships, once again he knew how to please and was second in the final qualification. As a
son of the legendary Donnerhall combined with what has to be the most prominent mare lineage in
the Trakehner Studbook; “Kassette” from the national championship winning family “Kalinka,” make
this exceptional stallion very valuable in today’s breeding. The dam’s sire Kennedy, who only bred
for a short time, but was also an approval champion, produced Karon in the third generation. Once
again a connection from the Trakehner Stud book into Oldenburger country. We all know the former
elite mare Weltspitze, who in her time won the county and national championships and was the most
expensive horse at the Vechta Auction.
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| Donnerhall was by Donnerwetter, a stallion who stood at Grönwohldhof and
competed at Grand Prix level with Herbert and Karin Rehbin before he was sold to
the United States in 1990. His other approved sons include Donnerkiel, Dobrock and
Don Wienero L.
Donnerhall’s dam, Ninette, also produced the mare Noblesse (by Pik Bube I). Ninette was from the
Nagate line of mares. Her sire, Markus, was half-Thoroughbred and his sire Manolete xx is also found
in the great eventing horse Volturno, winner of two Olympic silver medals and a silver medal at the
1978 World Championships in Lexington.
Dressage career
Donnerhall began his career in 1984, placing second out of 70 horses at his Stallion Performance
Test held in Adelheidsdorf, with a score of 131.92. According to his rider, he was very easy to train,
reaching the Grand Prix level of training in two years. He was especially known for his expressive
passage, piaffe, and extended trot.
Donnerhall had a stellar career as a dressage horse, winning some of the most prestigious
competitions, including over 65 FEI Grand Prix Dressage classes and a life earning of D.M. 640,000.
He was 1986 German DLG Champion in Hanover, beating out the very athletic Hanoverian stallion
World Cup I. In 1994 German Champion (Mannheim), won the team gold and individual bronze at
the Dressage World Championship in 1994 and at the European Dressage Championship in 1997
in Verden. In 1997, he also won the World Cup European League. Donnerhall earned his third team
gold while finishing 4th individually at the 1998 Dressage World Championship. He was also named
Oldenburg Stallion of the Year in 1998.
The stallion then went on a “farewell tour” that same year, retiring from competitive sport at the age of
17. He died January 2002 of acute intestinal toxicopathy.
Breeding career
Donnerhall has the highest dressage breeding value of all stallions at 271, and has produced over 77
approved sons, 450 broodmares (84 State Premium), and over 636 competition horses.
Like his sire, Donnerhall stood at Grönwohldhof. His first few years produced only a few offspring, as
the stud was a good distance from the main Oldenburg breeding areas. Within a few years, however,
his popularity grew immensely. At the 1998 Federal Championship in Warendorf, more than 50% of
the horses had Donnerhall in their pedigree.
Donnerhall passes on his flowing gait, presense, trainability, and excellent temperament.
The 2007 Hanoverian Stallion had Donnerhall offspring 763 winning dressage competitors (84 as
show jumpers), with prize money totaling Euro 1,502,302.
• Don Primero: Champion 5-year old German dressage horse in Verden at the 1990
Bundeschampionate (score of 9.3), now a Grand Prix level dressage horse, siring offspring
which sell at 6-figures. Don Schufro: exported to Denmark, successful at Grand Prix with
Andreas Helgstrand
• Donnerschlag
• Donnerschwee: sold for DM 220.000, the highest price up to that time paid for a horse at a
German Breeding Association auction. Now competes at Grand Prix.
• Primavera: Champion Mare of the Oldenburg elite mare show in 1992, Champion Riding Horse in
1992, and third in the federal championships
• Deutsche Einheit: second in the Federal Championships in Verden in 1992. Sold for what was at
that time a record price at the German Breed Societies auctions reaching DM420,000 (£147,000).
• Rastede Schloßpark: 4th place at the German Dressage Horse Championships
• De Niro
• Davignon I: Federal Riding Horse Champion of 1992.
• Hallo: won the elite mare show in Rastede in 1994.
• Duntroon: vice-champion stallion of the Oldenburg approvals in 1993; won the stallion
performance test in Adelheidsdorf in 1994.
• High Noon 15: top dressage mare, full sister to Hallo.
• Donatello: Germany’s highest priced auction horse at the time he was sold (1996).
• Deinhard: sold to The Netherlands for DM 155,000 (£54,500) at the Vechta foal auction in 1998, a
record price for a foal.
There are many factors contributing to success. Pure coincidence is probably one of the most
decisive factors when we speak about the careers of top horses. This is undoubtedly true as regards
Donnerhall, who certainly profited from pure chance, more than once. When the mare Ninette foaled
on the 30th of May 1981, the breeder Otto Gärtner was there, beside her as always when his mares
foaled. Gärtner has a little stable and a few pastures with rich, fertile soil in Wensin in the vicinity of
Travethal . The Holstein hill region is not only a region that is beautiful to behold during the time of
the rape blossom, but also one that seems to yearn to be populated by mares and foals. Otto Gärtner
is not one of the big breeders who breed with five or six broodmares. Sometimes he’s got two,
sometimes three - depending on how many fillies are born and what he thinks of the little darlings,
whether he wants to rear them and whether they are to become broodmares themselves one day or
not . In his selection, Gärtner is a man of principles: “The main thing is that they are black”.
His weakness for black horses goes back to his childhood: Gärtner originates from Silesia which
prior to the Second World War was the rearing area of the Oldenburgers. These horses were heavy
and solidly built - the idea of sport, of showjumping or dressage was not entertained for a long
time to come. Young Otto grew up with the notion that a horse had to be black and powerful and
displayed a lot of dynamism in front of a coach, really putting in a lot of effort and fascinating through
the characteristic knee-action, not in an overdone fashion, but sufficiently pronounced - like an
Oldenburger - what else!
That is what Otto Gärtner breeds in his new homeland of East Holstein. He had to search for a long
time before finding a mare that had all these characteristics: Ninette an Oldenburg mare from the rebreeding
period. Her sire Markus, a half-bred derives from Manolete xx, a Schlenderhan horse that
is also to be found in the legend of three-day eventing Volturno - a sire who by the way even before
Donnerhall’s entry into horse-breeding and equestrian sport, brought these two aspects of equestrian
life together. Ninette cannot deny her origins from Manolete xx. When one gets down to eye contact,
one sees the big black eyes of the thoroughbred that beam towards the observer. Ninette cannot
deny her ancestors in other respects either. More than a century of breeding engagement pulsate
in her veins. All the mares of her family begin with the letter “N”. An indicator for the cultivation of a
mare bloodline in that breeding region that has for centuries practised private stallion keeping. The
fact that the capital city of Oldenburg remained unscathed by the Thirty Years War is no coincidence,
but rather due to a very special present to the marauding troops of General Tilly by the duke of
Oldenburg, who gave presents of horses which placated the mood of the ruthless tyrant and let him
remain in position in Wardenburg, a short distance from the south gate of the city.
Irrespective of whether it is legend or historical truth, the historians agree on the horses as the
saviours of Oldenburg. One can read it in black and white in the chronicles. Although the bloodline
of the family that would once bring forth the much praised DLG champion stallion Donnerhall cannot
be traced back to the times of count Anton Günther, it can however be traced back to the nineteenth
century. The old studbooks of the “Association of Breeders of the Oldenburg Horse” reveal 1884 as
the date of birth of Nagate, a daughter of the stallion Naumann. Even if the ink has faded somewhat,
one can see in the curved, sweeping letters, how painstakingly the name was recorded onto the
paper in handwriting: Calligraphy rather than electronic data processing. Nagate is situated near
Esensham, a tiny borough in the Wesermarsch, between the Weser river and the Jadebusen bight.
Rodenkirchen which today is more or less insignificant and only made the news in the nineteenseventies
due to the nuclear power station Unterweser which is situated nearby, is not far away.
Rodenkirchen is the seat of the North Oldenburg Horse Breeder’s Association, an organisation with
a good reputation world-wide. In the same manner that the classical car from Sindelfingen, with its
three-sided star enjoys both a national and international reputation today, the coach horse from the
marshes of North Oldenburg was a status symbol, a cult object in years gone by. It is just as true
today as it was in the past: One drives black, varnish black.
The Nagate line is characterised by longevity. Whilst browsing through the old volumes that lie in the
safe of the “Association of Breeders of the Oldenburg Horse” today, one encounters them time and
again, mares with the letter “N” at the beginning of their names, mares that gave birth to numerous
foals, with sales abroad recorded.
Around the year 1910, when the Kaiser’s Empire was in its last throes, and during the difficult years
of the First World War, the catch cry was “service for the fatherland!” Mares were recruited for the
cavalry. The bloodline however managed to survive the aberrations and welter of the twentieth
century and is meanwhile widely distributed over the entire Oldenburg breeding region which came
into being through the fusion of the North and South Oldenburg Horse Breeding Associations. Otto
Gärtner’s Ninette was born in the area around lake Dümmer in the vicinity of Osnabrück. She is black
and re-awakened childhood memories of Gärtners youth in Silesia. So she simply had to be bought.
Her first covering resulted in a furore, one of the first Furioso II sons, a black horse, what else could
be expected? Then a filly was born, likewise black in color. Heart, what more do you want...?
In 1980 a fine young stallion was standing on the Grönwohldhof, a Hanoveranian, black as the ace
of spades - this already aroused Gärtner’s interest, but when the stallion went through his motions,
all remaining doubts disappeared: “Donnerwetter!” This exclamation which literally translated means
Thunderweather actually means more or less “by jove” In the literal translation we can certainly speak
about “Nomen est Omen”.
Ninettes partner, Donnerwetter derives from Disput. Otto Schulte-Frohlind purchased the stallion at
the Verden stallion market from Günter Pape from Hemmoor. Ninette became pregnant and gave
birth to a colt, her first son. On the 30th of May 1981, the foal was born that would become DLG
champion stallion, German champion and team world champion one day. The breeder was however
initially shocked: A white nose appeared, but once the foal lay in the straw it soon became apparent
- a chestnut. Black horse here, black horse there and then a chestnut! Nevertheless, a dark chestnut
- a liver chestnut. Otto Gärtner was dismayed. He had Ninette covered once more, and again it was
a chestnut. Discovery was meanwhile successful in advanced dressage. Yet Otto Gärtner decided
to change sires. Wanderfalk was black, but the colt which was born in 1984 was also a chestnut. It
was hardly six months old, when his older brother made the headlines for the first time. At the stallion
performance test in Adelheidsdorf, Donnerhall achieved the second best result - vice-champion,
unbeatable in rideability, with a score of 9.5.
The path from the pastures of Otto Gärtner in Travenhorst via the Grönwohldhof to the stallion
performance test is however everything else but stringent. Donnerhall only reached the Grönwohldhof
by roundabout ways. Gärtner fondly remembers the devotedness of this conspicuous colt, which
characterised Donnerhall from the very beginning, but nevertheless he decided to sell him. A
prominent interested customer was soon found: Bernhard Huslage from Brokstreek in the South
Oldenburg region came to Holstein as part of his duties as approvals commissioner, to inspect foals
reared in the exclave. The liver chestnut with the big dark eyes caught his attention right away.
Huslage and Gärtner made a deal: the stallion was to cost DM 5.000. When it came to branding him,
the stallion winced so strongly when the branding iron neared him, that the crowned O was from
thereon resplendent on his hindquarter at a significant angle. According to the agreement, all further
formalities were to be completed via the head breeding official of the Oldenburg Horse Breeding
Association of that time, Dr. Roland Ramsauer a very busy man who could at times forget one thing
or the other: bureaucratic stress! Otto Gärtner rang up in Oldenburg a number of times and each time
Dr. Ramsauer forgot to pass on the information entrusted to him. Gärtner thus had to assume that
Huslage had backed out of the bargain and that his interest in the Donnerwetter foal had lapsed. That
was a blessing in disguise: Otto Schulte-Frohlinde wanted to buy the liver chestnut foal. Donnerhall
then went to the Grönwohldhof where he was reared as a stallion. That autumn, Bernhard Huslage
and Otto Gärtner met. The breeder wanted to know why the approvals commissioner had lost interest
in owning the stallion.
That was the first time that Bernhard Huslage heard about the telephone calls and the neglect of
Dr. Roland Ramsauer. He confronted the head breeding official. Still, his summary today is that it
was actually fortunate that the Grönwohldhof got the stallion in the long run, because “if I had had
him, Donnerhall would not have become what he is today”. The potential of the horse that caught
everyone’s eye, especially because of its very dark coat, the deep red bay chestnut colouring was
something that the approvals commissioners of the 1983 approval were not yet aware of. Even
though they go off into raptures about him today, the judgement at his approval was no more than
simply “approved”, nothing more. He was not considered for a premium, that was reserved for others.
The names of the radiant horses of the 1983 young stallion approval, Welttraum and Fernblick are
hardly known by anyone today. But they were mature and proper whilst the little Donnerhall on the
other hand was still quite slender, the neck not so developed yet and the top line, that was an issue
that the fanatics of correctness liked to address. Forget such trivialities - what genius is recognised
from the beginnings? Child prodigies are in the limelight from early on. A title like that was granted
to Donnerhall belatedly as a three-and a half-year old ! In the heath landscape outside the gates
of Celle the stud grooms were fond of the liver chestnut who was slowly but surely growing up and
taking shape. After 90 days it was clear: Donnerhall would most certainly absolve one of the best
performance tests of the 1984 Adelheidsdorf age class. But how well would he do? Full of suspense,
Otto Gärtner watched the rounds of “his” stallion on the course. No-one doubted that he would
sovereignly be in the lead in dressage. But what about the coloured poles? Gerd Folkers a member
of the approvals commission had his doubts, which were not however shared by Otto Gärtner, “he
won’t throw down any poles, he is related to Deister”.
Whether it was luck or breeding efforts - Donnerhall remained faultless becoming vice-champion of
the stallion performance test. What great joy! Not only the breeder was happy, the owner, too. Otto
Schulte-Frohlinde had a soft spot for him in his heart. A liking that Otto Gärtner would also profit from:
Since then, the man from Travenhorst has always been invited to the annual duck shoot.
Donnerhall prospered well. He changed over to the dressage stables and quickly developed to
the darling of the Stallgasse scene under Karin and Herbert Rehbein with the nickname “Donni”. A
personality from the very start. Easy to work with and eager to learn. In breeding terms his career
also constantly improved. 1986 was a milestone, not only in Donnerhall’s career, but also in the
chronicles of the Oldenburg Horse Breeding Association. The DLG is held in Hanover. Traditionally
the state stallions from Celle and Warendorf decide events there. The representatives of other
breeding regions usually only have a minor role to play there. This seemed to be the case at first in
1986 too, when Hanover unleashed its “secret weapon” World Cup I, hoping that the chestnut would
win the sought after trophy in the second round. But then there was Donnerhall and he was really
well-liked, especially by the audience, which celebrated him frenetically: Ingo Pape led the five-year
old and he left quite a few kilometres behind that weekend. “The people just wanted him” remembers
approvals commissioner Bernhard Huslage. And his colleague Folkers adds “There was a fantastic
hullaballoo each time that Donnerhall entered the hall”. It did not take long for the feeling of the
audience to jump over to the jury, too. Whilst the German representatives tended to fault the top line
of the stallion somewhat and constantly looked in the direction of World Cup I, there was no doubt
about it for the Dutchman Van der Veen: The Oldenburger deserved the crown!
The decision was felled for Donnerhall. Indescribable jubilation in the hall. Ingo and Donnerhall took
deep breaths and sprinted as best they could. Otto Schulte-Frohlinde let the marionettes dance per
telephone, it was not possible for him to be present. He gave his orders: “Irrespective of what it costs
- I’ll pay for it” The Oldenburgers did not have to be told this twice... Karin Rehbein, who afterwards
also presented Donnerhall under the saddle remembers as if the show had been decided yesterday.
“He is a showman, he loves the big stage. When the people participate then he really gets going”.
That was already the case then, even when Donnerhall was not yet such a widely-travelled jetsetter.
And he’s certainly got strong nerves. When the Equitana, the World Equestrian Fair calls, Donnerhall
comes, with the champion’s ribbon. Things really got going at the Hop Top Show. Bright lights, glaring
spotlights, loud music. Behind the scenes: ponies, torches, coaches. “Still Donnerhall remained
cool and that at his - oh so young age”. At the latest at that moment, it was clear for Karin Rehbein
that Donnerhall was an exceptional horse. Donnerhall was a quick learner. Flying changes being
no problem for him, a characteristic that is just as true for his progeny. After two years of training,
the stallion mastered the Grand Prix programme. Before Herbert and Karin Rehbein decided to
utilise him in the most difficult class of the dressage sport however, they first of all let “Donnie” gain
experience in intermediate class dressage and Prix St. George tournaments. During the first start it
was impossible not to take notice of the stallion, as he neighed from the beginning of the first greeting
parade to the end. On the next day it functioned more smoothly. He boldly announced himself when
he stopped at X, but then concentrated himself fully on his task.
It did not take long for Donnerhall to start in Grand Prix. He received placements from the outset
and the first win was soon forthcoming. Highlights of the programme included extended trots, the
magnificent gallopade, passage and piaffes.
The first Donnerhall progeny were now coming under the saddle. During the first few years only few
mares were led to Donnerhall, as the Grönwohldhof is too far away from the core Oldenburg breeding
region between the Weser and Ems rivers. Nevertheless one stallion from the first age class which
was bred at the Grönwohldhof was approved: Don Primero. As a five-year-old he became federal
champion 5-year old German dressage horse in Verden with a points score of 9.3. Today he is
successful up to grand Prix Special. Like his sire before him, the performance class I tested stallion
has also presented horses for the Vechta auction, which were sold for six figure sums.
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| French Kiss, black Baden-Wurttemberg stallion owned by the private stud
Schlossaecker originates the successful combination Florestan x Donnerhall,
which brought outstanding stallions also in other breeding areas, like the
unforgettable Westphalian stallion Fuerst Heinrich who passed so early and
Fuerst Donnerhall a young many promising Hanoverian licensed in October 2005
in Verden.
The career of French Kiss is marked through continuous outstanding successes:
• 2001 three years old Dressage Champion in Baden-Wurttemberg, outstanding winner of
the 30 days tests in Neustadt/Dosse with the final score 8,8, from it 8,38 in Dressage and 8,28
in Show Jumping and at least final participants with the Federal Champion Chip in Warendorf
• 2002 fastening at his successes he became Dressage Champion in Baden-Wurttemberg
again and was the glorious winner of the 4-year old stallions in Warendorf at the Federal
Champion Chip
• 2003 he achieved the 4. place with the Bundeschampionat -Federal Champion Chip and at
crowning success the Bronze Medal with the World Champion Chips for young dressage
horses in Verden
• 2004 finally the coronation of his previous career: World Champion of the young dressage
horses in Verden with the dream scores trot 9,0 - canter 8,8 - walk 9,7 - rideability 9,0 -
total 9,3!!!
His descendants are not less successful: 2002 and 2003 he had participants in the final of the
German Foal Champion Chip in Lienen. 2005, 2 stallions from his first year became licensed
straight away under them the 2. reserve winner and later Baden-Wurttemberg Vice Champion
First Kiss. In Denmark, Gagarin by French Kiss/Michelangelo becomes 1. reserve winner of the
dressage stallions and was later winner of the 30 day test with outstanding scores. The “licensing
under the saddle” of the Wurttemberg Breeding Association won Ferrero Kiss by French
Kiss/Don Gregory.
For this high offspring performance, French Kiss was awarded with the main prize of his breeding
association. The sport- and heredity performance is safeguarded by his mother, the State Prime
Mare Donnerfee, who carries finest Hanoverian performance blood by World Cup II and Matrose.
Out of her line descends the stallions Feinsinn and Watzmann, but also the Federal Champion
Mare Bini Bo. Donnerfee is highly decorated and show successful and represented the colours of
Baden-Wurttemberg on the Federal Mare Show successfully.
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| Jonggor’s Weyden was the most expensive horse sold after the 1988 Hanoverian
Stallion Licensing in Verden, Germany.
Weyden’s most important achievement in his competition career was winning the individual bronze
and team silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta under Sven Rothenberger. In 1997,
the pair finished 2nd in the World Cup Finals. Gonnelien Rothenberger took over the ride in 2000,
when husband Sven suffered from severe back problems. Gonnelien and Weyden won the 2001
Dutch national dressage Championships and finished 14th at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in
Jerez de la Frontera.
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| Highlights in sport have been participation in the Bundeschampionat finals for five
and six year old dressage horses, 5th place at the World Championships in the class
for six year old dressage horses as well as 5th place at the Nürnberg Burgpokal
2003, prior to which he won the VTV Dressage Stallion of the Year Award.
With first places in international Grand Prix in 2004 and winning World Cup B finals in Dortmund ,
he was then nominated for the Olympic Games in Athens. His off-spring are very popular because
of their modern, noble looks, outstanding rideability and strong movements and they also have
the good jumping ability his pedigree promises. All of these characteristics are impressively
documented in the FN’s 2004 Predicted Breeding Value statistics.
He is by the significant stallion Quattro, whose bloodlines speak of great jumpers, yet also super
movers with power and suspension. Quattro, himself, excelled in dressage, yet showed talent over
fences. And well he should, being by Qredo de Paulstro. That sire line goes back to French blood
through Galoubet Alme- Z – Ibrahim – Furioso xx.
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| Shown here after winning the Bundeschampionat division for 3year old Stallions in 2006. Scores for
the Bundeschampionat:
Trot: 9.5
Canter: 10
Walk: 7.5
Conformation: 9.5
Overall Impression: 9.5
Licensed for Berlin-Brandenburg, Oldenburg, Hanoverian
This exceptional moving young stallion has already started his winning ways. Paired with the talented
young rider, Christian Flamm of Hessen, Quaterback galloped away from the competition at the
Bundeschampionates in 2006.
He started his stallion career by being named Champion of his licensing in Neustadt/Dosse in 2005.
In 2006, after the Bundeschampionates, he went on to win his 30 day test at Neustadt/Dosse with
outstanding scores:
Int.: 9.0
Trot: 9.25
Canter: 9.75
Walk: 7.63
Riding Qualities: 9.75
Jumping: 7.75
His pedigree is steeped in the traditions of the Brandenburgisches Landgestuet. His sire, Quaterman,
was bred there and is by Quando-Quando, the excellent dressage competition stallion that Christy
Oatley-Nist rides.
Everybody is just awestruck by this young stallion. The 3-year old chestnut stallion Quaterback was
the undisputed victor at the 2006 Bundeschampionate. He was the talk of the breeding and dressage
world, but his presentation at the Althengst parade convinced everyone of his extraterrestrial potential.
You can’t imagine a canter any better than Florencio’s, but you’re wrong. Quaterback is uphill, superbly
engaged, elastic, stunning and unbelievable. What’s the source of all this success? Poetin’s dam Poesie.
Quaterback is by Quaterman (by Quando Quando) out of Brandenberger x Brentano II. His grand dam is
Poesie, who produced world champions Poetin and Samba Hit I, II, and III. This mare line has produced 23
approved stallions. Quaterback is just amazing. Rarely do we see a stallion of this quality.
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| Quaterman has been a very good sire and competition horse, having qualified for
the Finals of the Bundeschampionates in 2003, 2004 and 2005.
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| Quattro is a French stallion with an outstanding performance record and off-spring to prove his
qualities as a sire. With a score of more than 130, he finished his performance test in Medingen on
2nd place.
In 1994 he became the Reserve Champion Stallion at the Oldenburg approval. In the meanwhile he has
been successful internationally at shows in Caen (FRA), Leeuwarden (NL), Berlin, Munich, Geneva (CH)
and Moscow. Along with many State Premium mares, he has also sired 13 licensed sons so far and has
supplied jumpers as well as dressage horses in series that have reached top international level, particularly
Oliver Q under Ryuichi Obata for Japan at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.
QUATTRO was 2nd in the Performance Test at Medingen with a high score of 130 points. In 1994, he
was Reserve Champion of the Oldenburg Korung, based on his performance test and his first offspring.
QUATTRO jumped very well in 1996 with his rider Gilbert Bockmann and they won more than twenty 1.30m
courses through the summer. QUATTRO jumped on the international circuit successfully, including 2nd
in the Grand Prix of Emsburen, Kiel and Bremen. He also was successful in Caen, Leeuwarden, Berlin,
Munich and Geneva.
His first offspring show spectacular gaits and also inherited QUATTRO’s beautiful type and free jump very
well. Since 1997, QUATTRO has more than 10 approved sons: Quando Quando, Quantes, Quatier Latin,
Quell Charmeur, etc. QUATTRO’s offspring Quando Quando, Much Ado and Quantum Tyme are famous
in Grand Prix dressage. QUATTRO had two offspring qualified for the Olympics in Athens 2004: Quando
Quando for dressage and Oliver Q for jumping! Quattro is also the paternal Grand sire for the incredible
World Champion Quaterback.
QUATTRO is a son of Qredo de Paulstra, winner of the Grand Prix of Bordeaux. Qredo is sired by the
legendary Galoubet, who two times won World Cup qualifiers and produced international jumpers such as
Quick Star and Baloubet du Rouet. Grandfather Alme is even more famous with offspring such as Jalisco
B and I Love You. On Qredo’s mare’s side, we find Furioso, father of Lutteur (Gold Medalist Tokyo) and
Le Tyroll. On QUATTRO’s dam’s sire, we find the important Quastor, Uriel/Nankin and Enfant Terrible.
QUATTRO is a beautiful stallion with extraordinary movement and is beloved by many breeders.
“The All-Rounder” was the title he was given in the number one German horse magazine. Successful in
international show jumping all the way to World Cup competitions with Gilbert Böckmann, he also sires
winners in dressage, show jumping and eventing tests.
His son Rosemount Quando Quando, who wins dressage up to Grand Prix level, is also the sire of the
Champion Stallion at the licensing in Redefin 2007. Oliver Q participated in the Olympic Game in Athens
2004, Quanta Costa and Don Diego are internationally successful under Rolf Göran Bengtsson and Quick
Silber was the 2005 World Champion of five year old jumpers in Lanaken, Belgian. Quinaro took bronze at
the Bundeschampionat in the class for five years old jumpers under Oliber Ross. Last not least, Quattro is
also the sire of the current World Champion in eventing that took place in Le lion d´Angers, France. Quite
Easy, whose dam is by the Thoroughbred stallion Akitos, won the gold medal under his breeder and rider
Frank Ostholt.
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| Wynton’s list of credentials is already impressive for a young stallion. At four, he was named
CHAMPION of the KWPN stallion licensing of 2007!
As most of you surely know, the stallion selection criteria for the KWPN are stringent and cover many facets
of the young stallions; from x-rays, to performance to semen quality! WYNTON surpassed all other Dutch
stallions in every category. He was Champion of his 70 days testing in the spring of 2007. The members
of the judging panel had this to say about WYNTON: “WYNTON is a well developed, uphill stallion with very
good capacity as a riding horse. This stallion has a very good attitude and is very easy to ride. WYTON has a
very good technique in his legs, a good posture and a very good balance.
The notes are:
Walk: 8.5
Trot: 9
Canter: 9
Suppleness: 8
Posture and balance: 8.5
Rideability: 8.5
Capacity as a dressage horse: 9
The dam line consists of pure German top-dressage stallions. His dam is by the famous former dressage
champion MATADOR II, ridden so successfully by Kyra Kirklund. Grand-dam sire is the immortal
RUBINSTEIN, top producer of riding horses so well known for their tremendous “willingness to work” and well
balanced gaits. The Oldenburg dam line traces back, through a strong pedigree, to early foundation of the
riding horses of the Oldenburg region.
The sire of WYTON is the famous dressage stallion JAZZ (keur). Not only is he a currently consistent top
placed Gran Prix dressage competition stallion, but he also is extremely successful in Holland with 8 licensed
sons, 187 star-mares, 77keur-mares, 50 elite-mares and 1 preferent-mare, which is an extremely high score.
Wynton was the vice-champion in the prestigious PAVO-Cup for 4 year old horses which can be compared
with the Bundeschampionat in Germany.
Wynton is a beautiful, modern type of riding horse. He has the quick, active hind leg from his sire, JAZZ,
coupled with the riding horse qualities and temperament of both MATADOR II and RUBINSTEIN.
He is tall (17 hands at 4 ½ years,) elegant, leggy model….lovely topline; good joints and feet. He is still
youthful in his appearance, and will continue to deepen and broaden as he matures. I see in him great
possibilities to blend his type and pedigree with many of our German mares of “older” type, as well as
bringing the valuable blood from his damline in to the Dutch mare base here in North America. He already
has been well received by the breeders in Holland, and will have a good chance to prove himself here in
North America as well.
We are proud to be one of the first to bring this wonderful young stallion to your attention and to have two of
his foals this year.
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