The 30-year old Hanoverian stallion of the year Espri passed away Tuesday 14 June 2011. A few days ago his condition started to deteriorate rapidly and massive organ failure forced the Celle State Stud to euthanize this grand old sire yesterday.
In February Espri celebrated his 30th birthday but at the beginning of the new breeding season, the stallion was having problems mounting the phantom. It was then decided to retire him completely and no longer offer fresh semen to the breeders. As a pensioner, Espri was enjoying daily outing in the paddock, grooming and his special feed for seniors.
Born on 7 February 1981, Espri (by Eiger I x Diplomat x Lukas) was bred by Rolf Deecke Sr. in Lachendorf, Germany. Espri was reared in a herd with other colts in Hunnesrück, Germany, and started his career in the performance test. 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.
Espri 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.
Photo © Marianne Schwöbel
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