Ten Premium Colts at 2023 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing, Realistic Auction Prices

Breeding

Hanoverian

-- by Kerstin Aronis for Eurodressage

The Hanoverian Stallion Licensing in Verden 2023 is behind us. Time for a summary.

A New Version and New Rules for the Hanoverian Licensing

This year the "Stallion Market", as the Hanoverian society aptly calls their licensing, was also open to stallions from other breeds and 5 Oldenburger bred colts took advantage of this. The Hanoverian breeding management and association superiors justified this step with the maturity of the breeders, but financial considerations were certainly also involved.

The fee for stallions that only came to the licensing and were not for sale was rightly increased to EUR 10,000, but in my opinion it can be even more for the premium stallions.

There were fewer stallions registered than ever before, far fewer than 300. 72 of these were selected by the commission, 62 were listed in the catalog and only 57 were actually entered for the licensing.

When registering, the exhibitors received a letter of several pages, which not only the exhibitor but also the trainer had to sign. It stated exactly how the stallions were to be trained in the interests of youth development and animal welfare. Doping tests during the pre-selection were not only threatened with, but also carried out on a random basis. This is absolutely the right approach, because unfortunately in the past we have seen many stallions that did not look their age.

Ten Premium

The Hanoverian stallion licensing committee

Of the stallions entered, 30 stallions received a positive verdict and were licensed, ten received the premium.

For many spectators, the number was too high, and one premium stallion was criticized for not having an optimal hind leg. But when has there not been a stallion at a licensing that the spectators did not want to have licensed or criticized a premium stallion? In the end, it is the buyers, whether dressage athletes or stallion owners who decide whether to buy the stallion. And it is also the breeder's decision to use him later or not.

The auction was eagerly awaited, as most spectators were aware that the big fantasy prices, the "made" prices, were probably over. It was already apparent last year and that was how it would turn out.

On Friday, the action on the triangle started. It was already cold in the fall, but dry and still very well attended. With catalog no. 1, Benji, a descendant of Benicio x Valentino entered the track, who received a premium. Bred by Dr. Michael Lühe and exhibited by Gestüt Allerhop, he was auctioned off for 72,000 EUR.

A colourful chestnut Brillant (by Bon Courage x Ehrenpreis) followed the track with catalog number 4. He was exhibited by Theo Lenzen, who also bred him and he was not for sale. He will work at the Westphalian State Stud, where his grand dam's brother "Ehrentusch" also stood.

And the next candidate Bon Ludwig (by Bon Courage out of a Rotspon dam) was also awarded a premium. He goes into all the best training hands of Ellen Schulten-Baumer and was the most expensive stallion of the licensing at EUR 170,000. He was bred by Hans- Ludwig Dittmer and exhibited by ZG Dittmer. He appeared very powerful and kept his form on all days.

Then came two sons of Confess Color, both of whom were not licensed. It was the first crop of the stallion who was sold to the late Rebecca Gutmann of Gestut Bonhomme four years ago in a fierce bidding duel. The stallion was only at stud in his first year after which he was pulled from breeding due to a rumoured neurological disease, which was never officially confirmed beyond the point of Lyme's disease. His sons will not appear again.

Premium colt by Valdiviani x Sir Donnerhall

Three sons of Damaschino followed, none of whom were licensed.

With No. 13, another stallion was awarded a premium. Damour Gold (by Dancier Gold x San Amour) exhibited by Heinrich Giesselmann and bred by Martin Honigfort. He was sold at auction to a stallion farm for 55,000 EUR.

The next stallion Don Vivaldi (by Dancier Gold out of a Vivaldi dam) also received the premium and was knocked down for 150,000 EUR. The breeders are Michael and Claudia Roerhoff and the exhibitor is Gestüt Sprehe. This Oldenburg-bred stallion thus goes down in the annals of the Verband as the first non-Hanoverian bred stallion licensed in Verden at the main licensing.

This was followed by the largest continent of stallions by Dynamic Dream with 7 in number, three were licensed. A Dynamic Dream x Lord Loxley son (bred by Andreas Ingenbleek and owned by Elsbeth Schult) sold for 100,000 euro to Luxembourg. This makes the liver chestnut the most sought-after licensed stallion without a premium.

The next premium stallion entered the track with 33, Le Mans. His pedigree was Le Formidable x Florencio exhibited by Katharina Ehrengut and bred by Harten Denker. He was sold to a regular customer from Schleswig Holstein for EUR 135,000.

The next premium stallion by Secret x Lord Loxley was exhibited by Johann von der Decken, who is also a breeder. He went to a stallion owner for EUR 110,000.

Another premium stallion not involved in the auction is Vjento (by Valdiviani x Sir Donnerhall) and was exhibited by Tobias Schult, breeder is ZG Wenke, Sonsbek.

Velvet (by Von und Zu son out of a Santino dam) was the last premium stallion according to the catalogue and was exhibited by IB Berger and breeder is Heiko Feldhus. He goes to Bavaria for 40.000 EUR.

Less Massive

After the triangular course, one could see that the stallions were not as "massive" as in previous years. The strong mechanics in trot were noticeable, whereby some candidates are perhaps a little too soft in the back and the walk could not really be judged in the heated atmosphere. If you look, you can find something in the conformation of every stallion. It's like that every year and it was the same this year. .

Premium colt by Le Formidable x Florencio

The lunging work was eagerly awaited. It was actually supposed to be a test of age-appropriate showing. Unfortunately, it is always the same trainers who show unattractive pictures. And so some of the stallions lost out on the lunge. Trotting like world champions, not staying under the centre of gravity in canter, sometimes out of rhythm.

The hall was well filled and there was a lot of excitement about how the stallion market would go. Everyone agreed that the prices would be balanced and that there would be no major outliers. And it was always the same complainers who ruined the entire stallion market in advance. This behaviour is simply unobjective and unfair for all exhibitors, breeders and trainers. I can still remember Toto Jr from his time, who was booed mercilessly (and then went on to become a fine producer and international Grand Prix horse).

Saturday was then dominated by free-running and the arena was sold out. The atmosphere was good and the stallions, some of whom lost on the lunge line, won in their natural movements. The walk also improved significantly, although this must always be a focus when mating.

Despite all the prophecies of doom, it was a well-paid stallion market, even though the big Danish shoppers like Helgstrand and Blue Hors kept their wallets firmly closed this year. An average of 70,541 euro had to be paid for a licensed stallion. For the unlicensed ones 23,023 euro.

A buyer from Baden-Württemberg paid 50,000 euro for a Dynamic Dream x Don Nobless son (bred by Johannes zur Lage, owned by Gennadii Sydorenko, Kiev/Ukraine). He was the most expensive non-licensed stallion.

Public X-Rays

The dressage riders who bought at the stallion market should have a clue and recognise a good horse for training. It's outrageous how such an event is being run down.

Whether it is really necessary to post all x-rays on the internet is questionable to me. If a potential buyer comes along, you can discuss this directly with the vet. It should perhaps be compulsory for stallion owners to make the x-rays public for breeders later on. But what happens now with the x-ray protocols, that you post them publicly on FB or elsewhere is just wrong.

As an exhibitor, I can only say that today it is much more difficult to breed a horse that has nothing due to the ever more precise pictures and reports that are being produced.

Horse breeding with the changed parameters is becoming more and more difficult. The increased GOT, inflation, the ever-dwindling rural breeding and much more. Why not stick together and also mentioning the positive things, I don't understand. Criticism is always appropriate if it remains constructive, but destructive is a no-go for me.

We have certainly not seen the strongest stallion market of all time, but beautiful and modern stallions with sporting attributes. I am sure that we will see some horses in the next few years.

Results - 2023 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing

Premium

Benji (Benicio x Valentino) ==> sold for 72,000 euro to Applicat Prazan, France
Brillant (Bon Courage x Ehrenpreis)
Bon Ludwig (Bon Courage x Rotspon) ==> sold for 170,000 to Ellen Schulten-Baumer
Damour Gold (Dancier Gold x San Amour I) ==> sold for 55,000 euro
Don Vivaldi (Dancier Gold x Vivaldi) ==> sold for 150,000 euro
Le Mans (Le Formidable x Florencio I) ==> sold for 135,000 euro
Cat.nr 40 (Secret x Lord Loxley) ==> sold for 110,000 euro
Total Unique (Totilas x Sezuan)
Vjento (Valdiviani x Sir Donnerhall I)
Velvet (Von und Zu x Santino) ==> sold for 40,000 euro

Licensed

Bernie (Bernay x Livaldon) ==> sold for 26,000 to Denmark
Benjamin Franklin (Bon Vivaldi x Royal Blend) ==> sold for 50,000 euro to Celle
Cat.nr 15 (Danciero x Romanov) ==> sold for 86,000 to Holland (owned by Nils Kramer, NL)
Cat.nr 18 (Dynamic Dream x Finest) ==> sold for 40,000
Cat.nr 19 (Dynamic Dream x Millennium) ==> sold for 65,000
Cat.nr 20 (Dynamic Dream x Belissimo M)
Cat.nr 23 (Dynamic Dream x Lord Loxley) ==> sold for 100,000 euro to Luxembourg
First-Edition (For Romance x Spielberg) ==> sold for 50,000 euro to Australia
Cat.nr 30 (Jovian x Sezuan) ==> sold for 60,000 euro
Marco Polo di Fonteabeti (Jovian x Franklin)
Secret USB (Secret x Spörcken) ==> sold for 47,000 to Joop van Uytert/Brouwer - NED
Seraphin de Jeu (So Unique x Don Romantic) ==> sold for 96,000 euro
Seattle (So Perfect x De Niro)
Cat.nr 48 (So Unique x Totilas) ==> sold for 30,000 euro
Tamino (Totilas x Sir Donnerhall I) ==> sold for 106,000 euro
Venturini (Vitalis x Apache) ==> sold for 40,000 euro
Cat.nr 56 (Vitalis x Fürst Romancier) ==> sold for 46,000 euro
Cat.nr 58 (Viva Gold x Laries Crusador xx) ==> sold for 29,000 euro
Vienna Ninja (by Viva Gold x Bodyguard) ==> sold for 52,000 euro to Austria
Cat.nr 61 (Von und Zu x Dancier) ==> sold for 38,000 euro

Sales statistics here.