Foundation Honoured with 2020 Grande Prize

Breeding

Hanoverian

The international Grand Prix stallion Foundation has been honoured with the 2020 Grande Prize, a special award handed out annually by the Hanoverian Breed Society to a successful Hanoverian breeding stallion.

The 12-year old Foundation (by Fidertanz x De Vito) is bred by Gerd Pigge and owned by Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff.

"Foundation not only attracts attention with above-average sons and daughters, but also dances successfully through the dressage arena at the highest level with Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath," said the Hanoverian society.

From Unapproved Colt to Licensed Star

Foundation was born in 2008 and came to the Verden Foal Auction under the name Figo II.

Two years later he went to the 2010 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing in Verden, but was not accepted. At the auction following the licensing he sold to Paul Schockemöhle, Katrinelund and Priess Stutteri for 95,000 euro as an unlicensed colt. He wasthen renamed "Fur Drei" to refer to its three owners, but a little later the name changed to Foundation. He was licensed at the Verden stallion licensing under saddle.

Foundation completed his suitability test with top marks, which earned him a dressage breeding value of 149. Anja Engelbart took over the basic training of the bay and qualified him for the Bundeschampionat. Later Matthias Alexander Rath took over the reins.

When he was eight years old, he achieved his first international successes at Inter I level and two years later his first top placings came at Grand Prix level. With the German Nations Cup team, the pair finished second last year in Falsterbo, Sweden.

Grande Prize

The Grande Prize is a distinction for the breeding success of a stallion. Foundation can impress in this respect. As many as ten foals from his first crop were accepted to the Verden auction. In the meantime, almost 50 riding horses and foals have found new owners in the Niedersachsenhalle. Seven of his 22 Hannoveraner Premium candidates were awarded prizes at the Herwart von der Decken-Show.

All breeding values for Foundation confirm the evaluation that was made in 2011 with the breeding value from the suitability test. The results of his daughters in mare performance tests earn him a breeding value of 145, his breeding value for young horse tests is 153 and for the highest class achieved already 131.

The awarding of the Grande Prize is connected to the hope that Foundation will have a lasting, positive influence on Hanoverian breeding. An award ceremony was planned for the gala evening during the Spring Elite auction in April. Due to the corona crisis this event had to be cancelled.

The honouring of the breeder and the stallion will be made up for later.