The modern Holsteiner horse is well known as a superstar in jumping competitions worldwide. Year after year the Holsteiner Verband ranks at the pinnacle of WBFSH jumper rankings. However, observing their standing in the dressage ranking they have been relegated to a far less dominant position.
While sport history will attest there are highly successful dressage horses from the Holstein region in Northern Germany it is certainly not the first stop of most dressage enthusiasts when they embark on a horse shopping expedition. Maybe it should be?
While the characteristics of power, freedom of movement, quick reflexes, and willingness to perform are of paramount importance to jumper riders they also are highly regarded by today’s dressage professionals. More and more sport breeding organizations recognize the particularly desirable attributes of the Holsteiner and are adding those genes to their recipes for breeding horses.
The result can be seen today in dressage horses performing at the highest levels who wear the emblems of a variety of breed associations but can trace much of their heritage to the jumper stock from the “Land Between the Seas”.
Did you know that …… 10 of the top 15 Grand Prix dressage horses in the USA in 2011 carry Holsteiner genetics?
Ravel, ranked in the # 1 spot is sired by Contango a son of reknowned Holsteiner Verband stallion Contender. On the dam’s side of the pedigree we find the Holsteiner Raimond by Ramses and Farn, a Holsteiner who bred extensively in Holland creating a lasting dynasty through his son Nimmerdor.
Wizard, in the # 2 spot is out of a mare sired by the Holsteiner stallion Classiker. Classiker is a product of the top progenitor Calypso II crossed with a mare by the TB outcross stallion Nevado (who bred in Holstein from 1971 – 1979).
Come On III is ranked 3rd and is sired by the Corde son Come Back II out of a Lantaan (by Lord) mare, classic C and L Holsteiner breeding despite his Danish passport.
Lucky Tiger sits in the 4th position, another horse with Danish papers who is 100% Holsteiner bloodlines from Lucky Light/Caletto I/Faustus carrying stamm 2456.
Cooper, ranked # 6 is another full blood Holsteiner from Coriall/Latino/Fontan
Rhett, the gelding in 7th position was sired by R. Johnson, a stallion who stood in the USA, and is sired by none other than the fabulous Holsteiner jumper sire Ramiro.
Strauss in 8th place is by the Dutch stallion Idocus who boasts the Holsteiner Joost in the top side of his pedigree. The dam of Strauss is also sired by Ramiro.
Wadamur, who ranks 11th has a dam-sire of Silvio I who owes his existence to the Holsteiner stallion Sandro. Sandro has left no doubt of his quality by siring both top international jumping horses as well has a dynasty of dressage horses through his grandson Sandro Hit.
Ikaros is tied for the 13th position and is another of the Danish papered Holsteiners in the ranking. His sire is the 1993 Neumunster licensing champion Akinos by Alcatraz/Calypso I with his dam being sired by the Farnese son Fernando.
Rantaro finishes up the ranking in 15th place – a US bred AHHA papered gelding by Rantares out of a Lacoste dam.
Text by Wendy Webster
Photos © Mary Phelps/Phelpsphotos.com
Related Link
Wendy Webster: Keeping the Holsteiner Horse Up to Standard