Furstenball Passed Away

Breeding

Oldenburg

Oldenburg elite breeding stallion Furstenball has passed away on 10 July 2026. He was 20 years old.

Furstenball was a 2006 born Oldenburg stallion by Furst Heinrich out of Maradonna (by Donnerhall x Classiker). He was bred by Georg Sieverding.

Lone Boegh Henriksen's Heart Horse

Danish Lone Boegh Henriksen began her career as an international horse investor and breeder in the early 2000s with the purchase of Rosentanz and Hoftanz, but it was Furstenball which she spotted as a foal at the 2006 Oldenburg Elite Foal auction that truly captured her heart. She bought the foal for the then historic record price of 110,000 euro.

It was a a bold enterprise that clearly paid off as Henriksen celebrated massive success with the stallion. Presented and handled by Johannes Westedarp, Furstenball became the champion of the 2008 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing, where Lone sold half-ownership in a private deal to Paul Schockemöhle instead of putting the stallion up for sale in the auction.

Also for Schockemöhle the acquisition of Furstenball was an essential move for his breeding station with the hype and legacy of Sandro Hit and his sons slowly coming to an end. Schockemöhle was in need of a new sensational, popular stallion and Furstenball stepped in those shoes. He was a massively used stallion, especially as a young horse.

Champion at the 2008 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing

The duo Henriksen-Schockemöhle then invested in Vitalis, who took over the baton as Schockemohle's number one used dressage breeding stallion from Furstenball when he grew older.

Sport Career

Henriksen maintained strong times with the Westendarps at the time and the training of young Furstenball was put in the hands of Ines Westendarp.

Furstenball became the high scorer of the 2009 autumn 70-day performance test at Schlieckau, Germany. He achieved one of the highest test scores in history with his overall score of 145.27 points with a score of 154.98 for dressage. He got straight 9s and 10s for his basic gaits and rideability. he was approved for all major German studbooks, as well as Danish Warmblood/

As he was heavily in demand for breeding, his sport career begun in 2011 with Ines. She rode him to a 13th place at the 2011 World Young Horse Championships after placing second in the consolation finals and got gold at the 2011 Bundeschampionate.

In 2012 he returned to the World Championships in Verden and was 11th in the 6-year old finals, while he finished 12th in the Bundeschampionate.

His last year in sport was in 2013 when he was 7-year olds. He showed at S-level at locak shows in Ankum, Vechta, and Lastrup. In December 2014 the horse moved into training with Isabel Freese-Bache but was never shown again.

He was officially retired from sport then. By the end of the 2010s Furstenball struggled with his leg health. Very meticulous veterinary care and a period in a sling in his stall in Mühlen made the stallion recover fitness and he spent his days breeding, going into the paddock and getting pampered.

Legacy

Furstenball became a foundation stallion as the progenitor of the F-line in modern day dressage horse breeding.

In 2011 Furstenball sired the Dressage Filly Champion in Denmark and the Dressage Colt Champion in Germany. He was proclaimed elite sire by Danish warmblood in 2016 and named Danish Warmblood Stallion of the Year in 2018

Furstenball has sired more than 111 licensed sons in Germany and 16 in Denmark. He has 2513 offspring registered for sport or breeding in Germany alone. His most famous licensed sons are probably Finest, Follow Me, Blue Hors Farrell, Fursten-Look,

His most successful offspring are Olympic team horses Heiline's Danciera (Carina Cassoe Kruth), international Grand Prix horses First Class (Ingrid Klimke), Facilone (Nicola Ahorner), Furstenglory (Severo Jurado Lopez), Christianslund Furstino (Trude Hestengen), Fore Majeure (Yara Reichert), and Full Moon (Laura Tomlinson).

Known for passing on exceptional rideability, Furstenball also became a frequent sire of youth riders horses such as Falihandro (Virginia Spönle), Four Seasons (Alexa Fairchild), Follow Me OLD, Furst Fabrice (Lia Haggenmuller), Farlana (Lucie-Anouk Baumgurtel), Zeaball Diawind (Christian Simonson), Feingefuhl (Alix von Borries), Furst Fernando (Caroline Pawluk), Frau Holle (Lena Merkt), Fallete OLD (Veronica Pawluk), etc.

Sad Passing

With Ines at the 2013 Schockemohle stallion show

Furstenball was put to sleep on 10 July 2026. Lone Boegh Henriksen told Eurodressage that in the past few days the stallion developed a heart condition and despite all veterinary care his condition did not improve. In the best interest of the horse it was decided to let him go.

"He was a true icon - a horse of unparalleled presence and nobility," the owners' duo communicated. "He left an indelible mark on the dressage world, ranking 20th on the WBFSH Sire Ranking. But above all his achievements, he was the kindest, most wonderful stallion in the stable who brought joy to everyone every single day. We will miss him dearly."