Sion Passed Away

Sun, 11/16/2014 - 07:10
Oldenburg Breeding News

The Dutch warmblood bred but German studbook approved sire Sion has passed away at the age of 30. Sion has been breeding in Germany since 1988 and has produced numerous successful dressage offspring.

Sion was born in 1984 and bred by the Dutch Fritz van Arkel in The Netherlands. He was sired by Sultan x Ronko xx x Heidelberg x Wachtmeester.

Sion was never KWPN approved but made his fame in Germany, especially for the Oldenburg society. He sired 12 licensed sons, including Sampras, Seidon, Shine On, Sonnengold, Sir Oldenburg and Sterntaler. Sion sired the 1995 Oldenburg Elite Mare Champion of Rastede, Viktoria B (by Sion x Landadel).

Sion's offspring were renowned for being quite difficult to ride and his babies often turned out small.

His most successful offspring was Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff's Sterntaler. He was initially licensed as a breeding stallion but then gelded to be focused on his sports career. Linsenhoff competed Sterntaler herself and was later taken over by Matthias Rath who was very successful with the talented bay, who for a period refusied to piaffe at X on the centerline. Rath and Sterntaler were members of the bronze medal winning German team at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Tony Pidgley's Spirit Freedom (by Sion) won silver for Great Britain at the World Young Horse Championships and was named British Dressage Horse of the Year 2005.

Related Links
Sterntaler Retired from Competition
Rath and Langehanenberg Added to the German A-Team
Sterntaler to Make Show Come Back with Matthias Alexander Rath
Spirit Freedom, British Dressage Horse of the Year 2005
Second Place Feels Like Winning, Hallam and Spirit Freedom Win Silver