Elite Hanoverian breeding stallion De Niro was only just this year recognised and approved by the KWPN Dutch Warmblood society, but the Donnerhall x Akzent II offspring is currently dominating the WBFSH Dressage Stallion Ranking for the second consecutive year, beating legendary greats such as Jazz, Ferro, Gribaldi, Florestan, and even his own sire Donnerhall.
With more than 70 licensed sons, De Niro sired offspring that continually proves their excellence and talent for dressage with at least six of his sons nominated for the 2012 Olympic Games, including Desperados (Kristina Sprehe), Dablino (Anabel Balkenhol), D'Agostino (Fabienne Lutkemeier), Delgado (Beatriz Ferrer-Salat), Donnerfee (Claudia Fassaert) and Devon L (Diane Creech).
Olympic rider for Germany, Anabel Balkenhol knows that the De Niros make fantastic dressage horses and she believes that the majority of them are just not only great movers, but also have an excellent conformation that contributes to a lot of perfect points for a dressage horse!
“The conformation is important because a good body makes it that much easier for the horse to learn all the more difficult dressage exercises,” Anabel explained.
Admitting that sometimes the mind of the De Niro bred horses can be a little shy, Anabel says it is up to the rider to give the horse a good feeling and earn his confidence. “When you instill in them those good feelings they will learn everything and give their all for you.”
Canadian rider Diane Creech entered London on the Grand Prix gelding Devon L, who is probably one of the most talented horses she has ever ridden. "Nothing is really hard for him," says Diane. "The piaffe and passage are certainly his major strengths and I feel this is a somewhat typical characteristic of the De Niro offspring."
Diane has imported many young horses from the sales in Germany and has owned and trained quite a few De Niro sons, all whom have shown their talent and expression. "Their temperament is rather strong and maybe it does take a little time to win their trust, but in no way are they at all mean or unwilling to do their job. I would definitely always be interested to take a closer look at any De Niro bred horses and for sure there are lots of reasons why De Niro is one of the top stallions in Germany."
Italy's Federica Scolari took the stallion Beldonwelt, a horse born in Italy in 1998 by De Niro x Weltmeyer, all the way to Grand Prix with the help of Valentina Truppa. Scolari also agrees that the most difficult movements are where these horses show their superiority. "Beldonwelt's talent is his natural ability for the piaffe," Federica stated. "He is also a highly intelligent horse with no medical genetic problems and although I'm not a breeder I can appreciate De Niro and am in love with the horse for his elegant and correct movements."
Germany's Fabienne Lütkemeier's best-ever horse D'Agostino is by De Niro out of a Shogun xx dam. She acquired the chestnut gelding as a 6-year old and is equally excited about another great six year old she is currently training with De Niro as dam sire. "We also have three De Niro horses we bred ourselves who are between 8 months and 2-years old," Fabienne added. "We feel the De Niro offspring have not only great movement/paces but also a super attitude as they always want to work."
Fabienne is most attracted to De Niro because of the great hind leg and as there have been no genetic problems so far. She would definitely breed with him again in the future. "I have had great experience with them," said Fabienne. "I love not only their attitude but also the abilities they have as a sport horse!"
While the above dressage greats acknowledge the quality of the De Niro blood line, there is one rider who knows first hand what this horse can produce having ridden the great De Niro himself at Grand Prix level. Daughter of De Niro's owner Burkhard Wahler, Theresa gushed about how special the winning stallion is. "He is very intelligent, always attentive and he is very ambitious," said Theresa.
"He is certainly a stage hog and he likes the flashlights from the visitors. He really knows that he is the World’s best Stallion!"
De Niro was trained to Grand Prix level by well known German trainer Dolf Dietram Keller and after a very successful career with Dolf, taking out the Hamburg Derby as career highlight, Theresa took over the ride on the Grand Prix master when he was 16. "My father bought De Niro together with his friend Anton Boeckmann as a 2-year old at the Hanoverian licensing," she explained. "He was my teacher," Theresa added, "and he of course knew the Grand Prix test better than me and would help me get it right. He was better at me in counting the one tempi changes and he always gave 110% because he always wanted to win."
Her love for De Niro extended beyond the partnership she had with this horse and Theresa was lucky to also compete successfully on several De Niro offspring, including Danone I (by De Niro x Weltmeyer x Bolero) and Duke of Oldenburg (by De Niro x Canaster I x Caprimond).
Wahler also has some very nice breeding mares by De Niro, like State Premium Mare Dalena (by De Niro x Caprimond) and State Premium Mare Daylight (by De Niro x Weltmeyer)."
Each year at Wahler's home auction at Klosterhof Medingen, Theresa and her team successfully sell a number of De Niro offspring, generally because everyone knows that De Niro equals success. " In general you can say that almost every De Niro offspring has a very good hind leg and a sensational talent for the piaffe and passage! In training he always had an eye on any mares around and he behaved like the boss in the arena, but as soon as we entered the competition ring he was 100% focused!"
De Niro's principal rider Dolf Dietram Keller can only say “congratulations for De Niro,” when asked what the horse meant to him. "Always when I think of De Niro and in my profession I think of him quite often when I train with different horses and riders, I think of the two amazing features of this stallion. First, he is the bravest horse I ever rode and second he is highly intelligent and an incredibly fast learner.”
Dolf found that even when faced with a situation in which many other horses would show fear, De Niro would put his ears to the front and speed up a little as if he wanted to get that bit closer. “Also in the daily training he was always interested in things and without any fear. He was always willing to learn and what he learned he kept and did it even better the very next day!”
Dolf believes that is was to his very good fortune that in his riding career he would come together with this amazing stallion at the right moment and in the right place. "Still, when I meet on many occasions, inside and outside my country, the successful riders of De Niro descendants, I make the joke 'the Stallion is so amazing, he even gave his (good) education to his descendants'," Dolf quipped.
Always happy to hear the great results of De Niro offspring, Dolf finds this feedback a very regular occurrence, especially at international championships.
Although De Niro is now retired from his competitive career, the master still carries out his stud duties as well as a very strict program for the farm's retirees. "Every morning at 7 he starts a one hour ride with our rider Kristina Stricker into the forest. We call it gymnastic for seniors, and he also enjoys our turn-out from where he has a view of the entire farm," Wahler explained. "I wonder if De Niro knows how many lives he has changed and how many rider careers he has shaped?"
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Astrid Appels - Kiki Beelitz - Werner Ernst - Ben Radvanyi - LL-foto
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