Breeder Stefanie Löhmann Makes a Wish and Rides Vitalis

Breeding

Germany

Renowned German dressage horse breeder Stefanie Löhmann saw a dream come true last weekend as it was her wish to once in her life sit on her favourite stallion Vitalis.

Brave Battle

Lohmann has been diagnosed with brain cancer after sustaining an aneurysm. She has undergone multiple operations in the last few months and is bravely battling the disease.

Her last surgery took place on 26 September 2024. Löhmann has openly talked about her illness on Facebook and never lost her sense of humour in the process.

"And now enough crying," she posted the day before her operation. "Now it's time for surgery. I didn't manage to get liposuction and a few small cosmetic corrections, but the new tumors will be dealt with." Lohmann further quipped, "Ms. Löhmann, 'ave you retained any abnormalities from the previous operations and the stroke???' Counter question, 'young man, I'm standing here in front of you with a rubber doll in my arms... what do you think???'"

Stefanie Löhmann in the hospital for another operation

Löhmann has experienced much support from her close friends. "I would like to thank you all again! From the bottom of my heart, for all the many prayers, candles and good wishes. And to say how much that means to me. This togetherness instead of alone. For each other and not against each other. You are great!"

Lohmann is a highly successful Oldenburg dressage horse breeder, having bred dressage horses and licensed stallions such as Destello OLD (by Dimaggio x Furst Fugger), Bueno SL (by Bonds x Foundation), Bernstein SL (by Bonds x Quaterback), Simply Nice (by San Amour x Furst Romancier), amongst others.

Make a Wish: Ride Vitalis

Löhmann told stallion owner Lone Boegh Henriksen multiple times that it was her wish to once sit on Vitalis and this dream came true during last weekend's Oldenburg Autumn Elite Auction, where Löhmann got decorated with the Oldenburg Gold Pin.

Löhmann expressed her love for Vitalis on Facebook in this anecdote, "Eugene (Reesink) once told me a story about Vitalis and I think it says everything about this stallion: He had a pasture full of foals... including Vitalis' first year. He got customers who wanted to buy a foal from Vitalis and drove with them to the pasture... They walked across the pasture together and the customers asked him: yes, but how are we supposed to recognize Vitalis' foals from all these foals? And Eugene answered, 'all those foals that come straight to you, want to be stroked and picked up and held, those are the Vitalis foals.' And it is still like that... and every rider in the world will be able to confirm this character when breaking in and under the saddle!"

Boegh Henriksen took Löhmann to Schockemöhle stallion station in Mühlen, where she cuddled the stallion and sat on the stallion for a few rounds in walk. She could not wear a helmet due to the recent surgery to her head, but Löhmann was in safe hands with mellow Vitalis being accompanied by his steady groom as well as rider Isabel Bache.

Dreams do come true.