The 16-year old Hanoverian licensed breeding stallion Royal Prince has passed away on 20 January 2015 at the New Bolton equine clinic following an acute colic attack.
"Unfortunately due to complications discovered during surgery, the only humane choice was to euthanize him," Royal Prince's owner Hilltop Farm explained.
Royal Prince was born in 1999 and bred by Fredi Schaefer. He was sired by Rohdiamant out of Piri Piri (by Prince Thatch xx x Wenzel). He was approved for breeding at the 2001 Hanoverian Stalion Licensing in Verden. He was Reserve Champion of the 30-day Stallion Test at Adelheidsdorf in March 2003 and finished the 70-Day Performance Test in Adelheidsdorf on November 6, 2003, with a total of 129.9 points.
Royal Prince garnered fame as a young sport horse. Under German Anja Rietbrock the stallion competed at the 2002 and 2003 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf. In November 2003 Royal Prince sold to Hilltop Farm in the U.S.A.
As a 5-year old he competed under Susanne Hassler at the 2004 World Young Horse Championships, where he finished fourth in the Finals, the highest American finish at the Championships to this day. They went on to win the 2004 U.S. Young Horse Championships that same year. In 2005 they represented the U.S.A. again at the World Championships in Verden but finished 9th in the consolation finals. They withdrew from the 2005 U.S. Young Horse Championships because the bay stallion was not fit to compete.
Royal Prince continued a modest show career in the U.S.A. but never competed internationally at FEI level. He was trained up to Prix St Georges level and was show by three different American riders in his lifetime: Susanne Hassler, Michael Bragdell, Chris Hickey.
Royal Prince developed into one of Hilltop's most prominent stallions including winning the USEF Dressage Breeding Sire of the Year Award for five consecutive years.
Royal Prince has no licensed offspring, but has sired 8 Elite Mare/Elite Mare Candidates with the American Hanoverian Society.
Related Links
Royal Prince Earns Fourth USEF Dressage Breeding Stallion of the Year Title
Royal Prince Not to Compete at 2005 American Young Horse Championships
Royal Prince and Revolution win 2004 American Young Horse Championships
Susanne Hassler Shines on Royal Prince at the 2004 World Championships
Hanoverian stallion Royal Prince Sold to Hilltop Farm