Holkenbrink's Show Star Passed Away

Dressage

Westfalian

German stallion keeper Wilhelm Holkenbrink announced the passing of his breeding stallion Show Star on his website on 23 May 2026.

"After 28 years of life, we had to say goodbye to our stallion Show Star," Holkenrbink stated "Show Star, bred by Tanja Baade, was an exceptional stallion for us in breeding and sport. Many of his offspring are highly successful in international dressage."

Licensed

Show Star was a 1998 born Oldenburg by Sandro Hit out of Feine Dame (by Feinbrand x Wendenburg).

The black became a licensed stallion at the 2000 Westfalian Stallion Liensing In Munster-Handorf in December 2000. He was approved for Oldenburg in 2001 and for Hanover in 2004.

He did his 30-day stallion performance test in Munster and scored 8.43 for dressage and 8.29 for show jumping.

He has 511 offspring registered for sport or breeding with the German equestrian federation and they list 5 licensed sons: Hit Parade SFS, Sheraton, Showmaker, Showmeister , and Spinoza.

His most successful offspring in sport are Bertrand Liegard's international Grand Prix horse Star Wars, Fabienne Lutkemeier's Sole Mio, Ilka Boening's national Grand Prix mare Sommerliebe, and several small tour horses: Anna Aristova's Shania, Joyce Lenaerts' Show Boy, Sophie Marlene Francz' Show Man M, Richelle ter Haak's Special Star, and Louise Martens' Satton Finch Louis.

Sport Career

Show Star has a long career in sport, debuting in the arena in 2001 and competing with Sophie Holkenbrink as a schoolmaster until 2017.

He was first shown by Henrike Sommer who won gold with him at the 2001 Bundeschampionate and silver in 2002. They were 7th in 2003 and 6th in the consolation finals in 2004. They competed at M level in 2005 and did their first PSG Special test in May 2006.

With Oelrich at the 2007 Nurnberger Burgpokal Final

In 2007 Oliver Oelrich took over the ride and confirmed the horse at small tour level. They were second in the Nurnberger Burgpokal in Frankfurt. In 2008 Oelrich moved the horse to the Grand Prix level.

Sophie Holkenbrink took over the ride in 2009 and competed him first at junior level. In 2010 they were 9th in the Preis der Besten and debuted internationally at the CDIO Hagen. They were nominated on the German team for the 2010 European Junior Riders Championships in Kronberg, where they won team gold and finished fourth in the individual test and sixth in the kur. In 2011 they travelled to the CDI Saumur to win the young riders division. They also won the PSG at the Preis der Besten that year but then a one-year break from competition followed. The duo continued to compete lightly at a few national shows in the next few years.

In 2016 Show Star showed once at L-level with Anna Maria Schulik, and in 2017 he did one test at his final show in Riesenbeck in January 2017 with Isabella Frei at M-level.

The Sad Goodbye

After a long retirement, Show Star passed at the age of 28.

"We were filled with particular joy and pride during the wonderful time we spent with our daughter Sophie Holkenbrink. Show Star was always a good teacher to her," said Holkenbrink. "He was a loyal companion to us for a long period of our lives. Thank you “Bobby”"