The Oldenburg breeding stallion Donnerprinz has been euthanized due to major health issues on June 7th 2004. The 13-year old Donnerprinz (by Donnerhall x Aktuell) was purchased by Canadian Chris von Gartzen at Gestut Birkhof's in Germany in November of 2003.
"In March, Donnerprinz needed colic surgery. It went fine and he recovered nicely from it. However, we noticed some abnormalities in the front end and when he arrived in Ontario on June 1st," owner Chris von Gartzen explained. At the Ontario Vet College in Canada, Donnerprinz was diagnosed with severe Wobbler's Syndrome and the vets recommended immediate euthanasia since he was a danger to himself and anyone handling him.
"He would have episodes of suddenly loosing control of his body and either flipping or falling over," Von Gartzen said. "This was caused due to severe pain and I was told that the colic had also been due to such a painful episode."
Donnerprinz passed his pre-purchase exam in Germany with flying colors. "I do not believe that the previous owners had any idea about this and only neck x-rays would have determined that the horse did had 3 lesions on his spine. Usually neck- x-rays are not part of a pre-purchase exam," Von Gartzen stated, adding that " I had gone back to Germany to ride the horse for a week before he was imported to North America. There were no indications of anything wrong at that time either."
Wobbler Syndrome is most commonly termed cervical vertebral malformation (CVM) and is characterized by malformation or compression of the spinal cord which leads to spasticity, ataxia, and incoordination. These symptoms are caused by damage to or compression on the spinal cord.
Donnerprinz will be greatly missed as a breeding stallion and as a dressage horse. "I feel so very sorry for this horse and all he had to go through," von Gartzen said. "Never did he get upset or mean, but still tried his hardest to please. He was a very special horse."
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Donnerprinz Sold to Canada