American Owned Hanoverian Stallion Don Principe Passed Away

Dressage

Hanoverian

The American based and owned Hanoverian dressage breeding stallion Don Principe has passed away on 12 July 2021. He was euthanized following complications from a pasture injury. He was 22 years old.

Don Principe was by Donnerhall out of SPS Pappagena (by Prince Thatch xx x Durkheim x Duktus), by Adelheid Bruning and owned by Maryanna Haymon of Marydell Farms in the U.S.A.

Start in Germany

Haymon discovered Don Principe as a 2.5 year old colt in Germany while being on her first Hanoverian Breeder Orientation course. The stallion had been presented at the pre-selection for the Hanoverian stallion licensing but was rejected.

Breeder Bruning decided not to geld him nonetheless and sent him to Hans Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen for his preparation for the Stallion Performance Testing. In the spring of 2003, Don Principe did the 70-day HLP test in Neustadt/Dosse and scored 118.93 points for dressage (3rd) and 83.84 for show jumping (14th) to finish with an index of 105.80 points, the 8th highest overall scores out of 16 stallions.

Based on his performance test, he was was licensed by the Hanoverian society in June 2003.

Sold to Marydell Farms

The spring of 2003, Haymon and her husband Wendell were looking for a stallion for their growing broodmare band. After extensive research, they decided that the Donnerhall line was what fit for their breeding goals.

"Wendell then made several appointments to see 13 stallions in Germany from private stations to Celle and Adelheidesdorf. It turned out that our first appointment was to see the stallion that impressed us two years earlier, Don Principe," Maryanna reminisced. "As I was videoing , my husband came out to offer to video for me so I could watch without the camera. I declined the offer and told Wendell that this was the horse we would purchase. Wendell was annoyed and told me we would not buy the first one we saw. I agreed to look at the others, including the then 2-year old old Danone I. After looking at all the prospective stallions, we concluded that Don Principe was the right choice."

Koford and Don Principe at the 2016 CDI Wellington

The Haymons acquired Don Principe but left him in Germany for one more year to cover there.

He competed in just two shows in Germany, according to the FN database: Meyer zu Strohen rode him once in a riding horse test in Isernhagen in June 2003, and Philipp-Colin Tusch presented the then 5-year old in an L-level test in Bremen at the end of September 2004.

Move to the U.S.A.

In the USA, Don Principe went to be trained by Jim Koford in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Jim qualified Don Principe for regionals and also for the FEI Young Horse 6 yr old finals in Kentucky.

Under Koford the stallion made his international show debut in 2009 at Grand Prix level at the CDI-W West Palm Beach. After Koford, Olympian Courtney King-Dye trained Don Principe. However, Courtney's horrific accident put an end to the partnership. Courtney’s assistant, Jennifer Marchand, took over the ride briefly. In 2011 Don Principe returned to the international arena with Jennifer Baumert, who showed him extensively in Wellington through 2012.

In 2014 Don Principe moved to Hilltop Farm and was ridden by Michael Bragdell. "Our concern was that Don Principe was not getting the breeding bookings that we had wished for him. He was moved to Hilltop Farm for better exposure to the mare owners," Maryanna explained. Bragdell competed him for two years.

In 2017 it was Under 25 rider Kaitlin Blythe's turn, competing him in the Under 25 division at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington. It was the 18-year olds last year in international competition. The pair won the 2017 U.S. Under 25 Championships.

Don Principe was entered to compete at the CDI Tryon in September 2017 under Ecuadorean Julio Mendoza, but withdrawn from that show. Don Principe continued competing on national level with Cait Kincaid, who earned her bronze, silver and started her gold medals with him.

Legacy

His stud career in the U.S.A. began in 2005 although there were already some foals on the ground through frozen semen from Germany.

Don Principe is the sire or grandsire to several of the USDF “Traveling Trot” perpetual trophy winners including EM Duet MF, EMC Dansuse MF, David Bowie MF – also top foal at Dressage at Devon, EMC Danae MF- winner of the 3 yr old prospect at Dressage at Devon 2017. Two Grand Champions at dressage at Devon- Dansuse MF and Danae MF.

His most successful offspring is the Russian 2021 Olympic short listed horse Doctor Wendell MF, bred by Haymon/

In Germany, Don Principe is recored as sire of one licensed son, Doctor Wendell, but in the U.S.A. he also produced licensed sons David Bowie MF and Don Pharrell MF. He is a grand sire to a string of home bred licensed stallion Debonair MF, ES Dionysus MF, Bruce Springsteen MF, and Doc Dancer MF. Eight of his daughters are named state premium in Germany.

"I have lost “the Other Man” in my life as Wendell called Don Principe," said Maryanna. "He was the horse of a lifetime and he is responsible for building Marydell Farm into the entity it is today. We were blessed, humbled and honored to have you as part of our life journey. I will forever miss my sweet Prince. Run free as fast as you like now without pain. Your legacy will live on in your offspring and their offspring."