D'Olympic Passed Away

Sat, 09/21/2019 - 12:04
Oldenburg
Michael Thieme and D'Olympic at the 2000 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Arnheim :: Photo © Dirk Caremans

The Redefin state stud said goodbye to D'Olympic, one of their long-time most prolific dressage breeding stallions on the roster. The 26-year old stallion passed on 28 August 2019. 

D'Olympic was born on Christmas eve 24 December 1993 in Dorothea Zielke's stable. He was by Donnerhall out of Vivian (by Cor de la Byere x Moltke I x Farn). 

Discovered as a youngster by Paul Schockemöhle, the liver chestnut was first licensed as a 4-year old for Mecklenburg at the licensing in Schwinkendorf. The bigger studbooks followed later (1999 Hanoverian, 2000 Oldenburg, 2007 Holsteiner).

He arrived in Redefin as a 3-year old and was allocated to Michael Thieme to do his 100-day stallion performance test there. The horse scored 136 points in dressage (1st) and 124 points in show jumping (3rd).

"Although he was only medium sized, D'Olympic quickly stole my heart," Thieme reminisced. "Especially his uncomplicated nature and outstanding rideability convinced me quickly. The breeder once told me that he just wanted to breed a dressage horse for his daughter."

D'Olympic became one of the most successful dressage horses in the show ring that Redefin has produced. He  was a Bundeschampionate finalist in 1999 and 2000 (9th as a 6-year old). In 2000 he won silver at the World Young Horse Championships in Arnheim, in 2001 he competed in the Nurnberger Burgpokal and he was the regional dressage champion in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. D'Olympic competed up to national Grand Prix level. 

D'Olympic sport career ground to a halt between 2007 and 2009 when he started to have some injuries. As of then he became a full time breeding stallion and moved to the stallion station in Rostock/Kritzmow.

As a breeding stallion D'Olympic did not really tap into the biggest dressage breeding market because he was not widely marketed and he was located in East Germany. Still he produced seven licensed sons (Dancing Shadow, Doldinger, D'Olympic Son, D'Osmor, Don Aurilium, Doubles Well, Dujardin) and 49 state premium mares. He was named Elite Stallion. 326 of his offspring are registered for sport in Germany, in dressage, show jumping and eventing.

Photo © Dirk Caremans

Related Links
Scores: 2000 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses
Germans Dominate 6-year old Qualifiers at 2000 World Young Horse Championships
Michael Thieme Sustains Severe Head Injury
Scores: 2002 CDN Redefin
Scores: 2001 CDI Frankfurt
Scores: 2000 Bundeschampionate
Scores: 1999 Bundeschampionate