The legendary pony breeding sire Valido has passed away at age 33 two weeks ago. Despite his age he died unexpectedly.
"Till his end he was the pride of our station and will be greatly missed," said breeder and owner Friedrich Schmitz. "He was a real pony personality: expression, strong and healthy are just a few characteristics to describe him. We are so grateful to him."
Born in 1985, Valido was a Rhinelander stallion by Very Important x Chameur x Nazim x York.
He was licensed at the 1988 Rhinelander stallion licensing in Aachen and became the DLG winner in Frankfurt in 1989
He sired no less than 21 licensed sons and 30 state premium mares. In Germany he has 136 offspring registered for sport.
His most famous offspring is undoubtedly British team gold medal winning pony Valido's Sunshine (Rebecca Bell, Isobel Lickley) as well as the internationally compete FEI ponies Valido's Starlight (Rebecca Bell, now under Megan Barratt), Norwegian team pony Valerossi (Sahra Solbakken), Luxembourg pony champion Virgil (Michele Thill), and Belgian, French and Swiss team pony Dolce Vita/Oualidaluna (Celine Miereanu, Jamina Gijsels, Zoe Schipper, Renee Stadler). In Germany Valido's Contrast won the Bundeschampionare in 2004 and 2005.
Related Links
British Long List for 2018 European Pony Championships
Megan Barratt and Valido's Starlight Shine Bright at 2017 CDI Keysoe
Valido's Sunshine and Valido's Starlight Stay in the U.K.
Solbakken, Fjornes, Gulli, Lokken Win 2016 Norwegian Dressage Championships
Raphael Netz and Rebecca Bell Snatch the Trophies at 2015 CDI-P Vienna
Dream Pony Valido's Contrast, 5 year old Bundeschampion
Photos of the 6-year old Dressage Ponies at the 2005 Bundeschampionate