Freiherr von Nymphenburg to Belgian Paralympian Barbara Minneci

Belgium

-- text by Silke Rottermann

Freiherr von Nymphenburg, a former premium stallion at the 2017 Westfalian licensing, has been sold to Belgian Paralympian Barbara Minneci.

Freiherr von Nymphenburg is an 11-year old Oldenburg gelding by Follow Me out of elite mare Kabayo’s Elmira (by Sir Donnerhall x Florencio). Originally named Kabayo’s Fantastico, he is bred by Swiss Urs Schweizer.

Kabayo’s Fantastico

Freiherr von Nymphenburg became the winner of a foal show in Lienen, Germany, and was selected for the German foal championships. He was subsequently sold to Helmut von Fircks.

Helmut renamed him Freiherr von Nymphenburg and presented the stallion at the 2017 Westfalian Stallion Licensing in Münster-Handorf and named premium stallion. He reportedly sold at auction to "Bavaria" for 180,000 euro but ended up back with Von Fircks at Nymphenburg Stud.

He has been briefly competed between 2018 and 2021. He did three shows with Shereena Satzer in 2018, while in 2019 he was shown more extensively by Jan-Niklas Nürmann and Elsa-Luisa Graf at regional shows. A two-year break followed and in 2021 it was Zina Facklam-Schlüter who showed him at L-level. His last competition was in Helle in September 2021 where he retired from an L-level test.

Paralympic Mount

Freiherr von Nymphenburg at the 2017 Licensing

On the lookout for a horse who could carry her to her 5th Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028, Belgian Paralympian Barbara Minneci found the now gelded horse at the Nymphenburg Stud at the end of 2025.

"Initially I travelled there with my trainer Nick van Laer to look at a different horse, but they also proposed to try out Freiherr," Minneci told Eurodressage. "Actually both horses were first presented by a rider of the stud, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Freiherr, it was love at first sight."

Freiherr took Minneci’s wheelchair, her being lifted on his back, and her missing leg aids like a duck to water, proving his great character and suitability for becoming a para Grade III horse.

Minneci bought the horse she nick-names „Mouse“ and took him home to Belgium.

Show Debut

Originally planning to take it slowly with her new acquisition and to rely on her trusted partner of a decade, the 17-year-old Oldenburger gelding Stuart (by Sir Donnerhall), for the international 2026 season, Minneci changed her plans.

Freiherr developed so well in his first months as a para horse that she debuted him at the 2026 CPEDI Waregem at the end of April. The elegant and light-footed bay started his international para career with a bang, promptly winning the Grade III Grand Prix A and placing 3rd in Grand Prix B.