The Oldenburg and KWPN licensed breeding stallion D-Day has been retired from competition sport. The Dutch based D-Day was already gelded in 2007 but has proven to be a valuable sire, especially in the damline.
The 20-year old Oldenburg D-Day (by Donnerschwee x Welt As x Goldpilz) is bred by Bernhard Huslage in Essen, Germany. He was licensed with the Oldenburg verband, won the dressage index of the 1996 Stallion Performance Test in Neustadt-Dosse and got approved for the KWPN society in 1999 after a shortened HLP test.
For many years D-Day stood at stud at the late Adri Gordijn's stallion station De Ijzeren Man in Weert. Between 1997 and 2002 D-Day bred in Sweden, where he sired approximately 500 offspring.
In 2007 the grey sire was sold by owner Stable Bolderman to Denmark, where he was to be used as dressage horse for young rider Anne Sofie Aaen. He was gelded in Denmark because of his dominant character.
In 2009 D-Day returned to Holland and was sold as schoolmaster for Desiree van Limpt.
"The goal was to ride D-Day at Z-level but because of his special character this wasn't always easy," said Desiree. With much patience and under the professional guidance of Emmelie Scholtens Desiree was able to achieve her goal and she showed the horse under the name Diego.
Because of recurrent soundness issues it was decided to retire the 20-year old D-Day as competition horse. "Where and how he will enjoy his retirement is still to be decided," van Limpt added.
Renowned D-Day offspring are the late Dacardo (Lars Petersen) and Grand Prix horses DJ One More Time (Maria Paes do Amaral) and Dark Surprise (Susanna Bordone), as well as Vincidore (Timna Zach). He is also the dam sire of the Westfalian reserve licensing champion Vitalis (by Vivaldi x D-Day). Especially in Sweden D-Day returns in the pedigree of many successful young dressage horses (Synovia, Falco, Hera, Rico, Montoya, Royal Jester).
D-Day has two full brothers, Deutsche Order and Dr Lobo, which both sold at the Vechta Elite Auction.Full sister Rudona is a broodmare which produced a Sir Donnerhall I foal in the AOS auction and the licensed stallion Let's Talk About (by Laurentio).
Photos © Sjoert.com
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