The influential Holsteiner breeding stallion Contender passed away at age 30 on Monday 13 January 2014. The bay stallion was suffering from old age and it was decided in the horse's best interest to have him euthanized.
Born in 1984, Contender was bred by Niko Detlef in Westfehmarn, Germany. He was by Calypso II out of Gofine (by Ramiro x Ladykiller xx x Heidkrug x Loretto). Contender was licensed for the Holsteiner society in 1986 and won the 1987 Stallion Performance Test in Adelheidsdorf with 133.41 points. He initially stood at stud in Oldenburg but later served for the Holsteiner verband.
Norbert Boley bought Contender as a foal. At the stallion selection, Klatte from Oldenburg expressed interest for the stallion over a pint of beer. "Things developed so enthusiastically with a number of studbook people that Klatte already believed that he had bought the stallion, while I, the authorized person, did not know anything about it," Boley told in an interview with Z Magazine. "When I learnt one day later that Klatte genuinely believed he was the new owner, I did not send him away just like that. Never treat your clients with disrespect – at least not when they act in good faith. We talked about it and came to a compromise. The stallion was leased to Oldenburg for a number of years.”
Contender has produced 80 licensed sons and 59 state premium mares including Riconda, which won the 1993 Oldenburg Elite Mare Show in Rastede.
Contender was mainly a show jumping horse producer but also sired several dressage horses, including licensed stallion Contango (sire of Steffen Peters' Ravel), licensed stallion Contendro I, which produced some FEI dressage horses on his term, and Elizabeth Ball's Calimero.
Photo courtesy Holsteiner Verband
Related Links
Contango Passed Away
Contango, Indoctro and Libero H Proclaimed Preferent
Contendro I Sold to France