On 7 February 2011 the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 1995 Espri celebrated his 30th birthday. Still an active breeding stallion, Espri is the nestor of the Hanoverian breeding society in Germany.
Born on 7 February 1981, Espri (by Eiger I x Diplomat x Lukas) was bred by Rolf Deecke Sr. in Lachendorf, Germany. Deecke Jr., who is now head manager of the breeding farm, can still remember the days he had Espri as a foal at home.
It was a tiring enterprise as the chestnut colt was stubborn and obnoxious when he had to be presented in hand. The Celle state stud manager at the time, Dr. Burchard Bade, already liked the colt with his special character and excellent conformation.
Espri was reared in a herd with other colts in Hunnesrück, Germany, and started his career in the performance test. When one asks the riders who rode him during this 11-month testing, they all laugh a little bit and admit that Espri held the record of bucking off approximately 30 riders at the time.
Still it must have worked because Espri completed a good stallion performance test and was licensed. The chestnut lived up to the expectations. He was first stationed in Loxstedt from 1985 to 1992 and then moved to Dorum from 1993 till now and sired Olympic competitors in show jumping including Hugo Simon's E.T., Carsten-Otto Nagel's Elwood, and Lars Nieberg's Esprit FRH. In the dressage ring Nadine Capellmann's Elvis VA is his most successful dressage offspring. He has more than 300 offspring currently competing between M and S-level in dressage and show jumping. Espri is the foundation sire who keeps the E and A-line in Hanover alive. Especially through his son Escudo I, Hanoverian Sire of the Year 2009, the legacy lives on.
Even today, it is a challenge to take a good photo of Espri. Not because the stallion is no longer so photogenic due to his age and not because he stands tired in the picture. On the contrary: the stallion can not stand still. He's highly impatient and restless. Dry bones, still solid in the topline and fresh eyes, Espri is very much alive. His nap at noon might take half an hour longer now, but he still has his eyes on everything what is happening in the barn. The Hanoverian Verband hopes that Espri will be around for much longer.
Photo courtesy: landgestuetcelle.de
Related Links
Escudo I, Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2009
Elvis VA Wins the 2005 Otto Lörke Prize
Eiger I, Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 1999