Ewald's Elfe and Spirit of Hope Win 2025 German Foal Championships

Breeding

Oldenburg

Two Oldenburg bred foals became the winners of the 20225 German Foal Championship in Lienen, Germany on 13 July 2025. The filly Ewald's Elfe and the colt Spirit of Gold took home the title and champion's sash.

Fillies: Ewald's Elfe

In the filly division Ewald's Elfe, by Ibiza out of elite mare Elfenperle 'by De Niro x Florencio) took highest honours and strutted to the gold medal.

It was fairy tale story as this filly is the last bred by Oldenburg renowned breeder Ewald Grotelüschen who passed away in February.Almost 20 years after his first victory in Lienen with Florion OLD (by Florencio out of elite mare Elfensonde by Sion), Ewald Grotelüschen became the champion's breeder once again. Many remembered how Grotelüschen almost arrived too late to the triangle ring with his mare and foal due to a broken horse trailer. This time the owners of Ewald's Elfe, Hermann and Michael Klumpe, saw Ewald's chapter cose with the moving victory of his last filly at the German Foal Championships.

Dam Elfenperle also produced the full brother Independent, who sold as the top priced foal for €154,000 at the Oldenburg Elite Foal Auction under the name It's Me. The colt became a premium licensed stallion this year and was renamed Independent.

"The licensed stallion Independent and the filly are like two peas in a pod. It's incredible, both the markings and the type. This foal naturally possesses this wonderful feminine charm, and she is wonderfully built with uphill gaits and is perfectly muscled. This foal also has a completely correct, dry foundation with generously proportioned, good joints, an excellent walk, and such strength in the hindquarters that one can already imagine her piaffe and passage," enthused judge Dr. Evelin Schlotmann.

The silver medal and reserve champion's title was for Love in Motion S (by Fiji out of Love (by Quaterback x Diamond Hit)). She is bred and owned by Austrian Kim and Christopher Schaudien, who are based in Vienna.

The bronze was for the Hanoverian registered filly Voila (by V-Power x Bon Coeur), bred by Johannes Westendarp.

Colts: Spirit of Hope

In the colt division the champion's title went to another Oldenburg registered foal: Spirit of Hope.

Spirit of Hope is by Seacrest out of elite mare Weihe's Hope (by Sir Donnerhall x Don Schufro) and is bred and owned by Christine Arns-Krogman. Dam Weihe's Hope is a daughter of Oldenburg multi-champion Weihegold and produced the licensed L'Avenir (by Le Formidable) as well as brilliant ring mare Weihkjenta OLD (by Kjento) and Weihe's Happiness (by Dynamic Dream) who will compete in Rastede this year.

The reserve champion is the Oldenburg bred Escamour J (by Escolar out of elite mare Heiderosis (by Without Love x De Niro), bred by Vera Jurgens. Dam Heiderose was awarded the 1I prize at the Elite Mare Show in Rastede and produced Heideromanze (For Romanc), the 2019 Oldenburg elite mare champion.

The bronze went to a Hanoverian registered colt by Escaneno x V-Plus, bred and owned by Karsten Hemker.

Results - 2025 German Foal Championships - Lienen

Fillies (top 10)

1. Ewald's Elfe (OLD by Ibiza x De Niro) - Owner: ZG Klumpe, Hermann - Breeder: Grotelüschen, Ewald
2. Love in Motion S (OLD by Fiji x Quaterback) - Owner & Breeder: ZG Schaudien
3. Voila (HANN, by V-Power x Bon Coeur) - Owner & Breeder: Westendarp, Johannes
4. n.n. (OLD, by Escolar x Desperados) - Owner & Breeder: Schwierking, Arndt
5. n.n. (OLD, by Bon Bolero x Baron) - Owner & Breeder: Krug, Matthias Alexa
6 n.n (WESTF, by Emiliano x Santo Domingo) - Owner & Breeder: Prenger, Katy
7. n.n. (BRAND, by Proud James x Quaterback) - Owner & Breeder: Brune, Andreas
8. n. n. (by Va Bene x Zackerey) - Owner & Breeder: Moormann, Frank
9. n.n. (HANN, by Von Und Zu x Alabaster) - Owner & Breeder: Albers, Elisabeth
9. n.n (HANN, by Bon Courage x Fred Feuerstein) - Owner & Breeder: Schmidt, Isabel

Colts (top 10)

1. Spirit of Hope (OLD, by Seacrest x Sir Donnerhall) - Owner & Breeder: Arns-Krogmann, Christine
2. Escamour J (OLD, by Escolar x San Amour) - Owner & Breeder: Jürgens, Vera
3. n.n. (HANN, by Escaneno x V-Plus) - Owner & Breeder: Hemker, Karsten
4. n.n. (OLD, by Freigeist x De Niro Gold) - Owner & Breeder: Lange, Hans-Peter
5. n.n. (OLD, by V-Power x For Romance) - Owner & Breeder: ZG Schaudien, Kim
6. n.n. (HANN, by Diamantenglanz x Florencio) - Owner & Breeder: Harten, Catharina
7. n.n. (HANN, by Dream Boy x Finest) - Owner & Breeder: Mehlhorn, Marina
8. n.n. (OLD, by For Romance I Jazz) - Owner & Breeder: Töllner, Hella
8. n.n. (OLD, by True Hope PS x Sezuan) - Owner & Breeder: Fromer, Dr. Martin
8. n.n. (WESTF, by Dynamic Dream x Janeiro Platinum) - Owner & Breeder: Wilms, Jan

Complete results: colts - fillies