At the 2000 Oldenburg stallion licensing in Vechta, the most asked question was "Would they or would they not let him win." Would the approval committee chose Davidoff E (Don Gregory x Rubinstein) as champion stallion, or not?
The problem was that Davidoff E, the breath-taking winner of the 3-year-olds' stallion class at the Bundeschampionate, was neglected last year by the board of judges and got transferred to the auction of non-licensed stallions.
Auctioneer Uwe Heckmann explained the situation as following: "Of course Davidoff was an excellent mover in 1999, but he was tall, very slim and not at all developed. So, that's why we -- the approval commitee of the Oldenburg Verband -- decided to accept him for the auction in order to give him a 2nd chance next year." Horses such as Bianca Kasselmann's Welt Hit I O had to do the same mileage to get approved. The liver chestnut stallion by Weltmeyer x Hill Hawk xx had to show his potential under saddle first, before the committee said, "yes, he's the one!".
Davidoff E presented himself very well in hand and passed the 30-day-test, which is part of the new Oldenburg stallion programme, with an average of 89% right before the keuring. How brilliant this young star has turned out to be, became obvious when ridden by owner Ann Kathrin Ehlen. She presented her black at the stallion parade together with Dr. Ulf Moeller and Sandro Hit. Emotions were unleashed as the two blacks made the audience cheer, yell and even shed some tears.
Once again Donnerhall was the leading sire, as he produced the reserve champion (De Niro x Luciano), the 3rd placed D-Dur (Donnerhall x Landadel) and the fourth placed Donnerschwee x Rubinstein; all young stallions which carry Oldenburg's fantastic dressage genes. The Donnerschwee-liver chestnut was the most expensive of all stallions sold at the stallion approvals throughout Germany; this year. His knock-down-price was 380.000DM. In the future, he will be trained by Holga Finken. D-Dur (Donnerhall x Landadel) was sold to the Groenwohldhof stables of Karen Rehbein. Champion of the 4,5 year-olds became the 1999 Bundeschampion Don Larino (Don Primero-Larinero).
The Oldenburg Stallion Days were filled with many highlights but it was the appearance of Bonfire which absolutely thrilled the audience. In a "Bye Bye Bonfire"-ceremony, Anky van Grunsven showed her Sydney Kur to Music. For her promotion of the Oldenburg horse through Bonfire (Welt As x Praefectus xx), she recieved the Golden Needle of the Oldenburg Verband. Bonni, however, preferred the carots that were given to him!
Complete Results of the Oldenburg Stallion Days
Image courtesey: Sherry White - Graystone Farm Sporthorses.
Text by Jan Toenjes - Supreme Oldenburg Connoisseur with Internet Access