Where Are They Now? Confess Color

Focus

F.O.C.U.S.

Confess Color, the Hanoverian stallion which sold for the sensational amount of 1.89 million euro in a highly controversial auction, garnered much attention with his sales price, but unfortunately health issues have marred the horse's career in sport and breeding.

Eurodressage got in touch with owner, Gestut Bonhomme, for an update on the beautiful bay stallion.

Auction Sensation

Confess Color is a 2017 born Hanoverian by Cadeau Noir out of Lilly Fee (by Licosto x Damsey). He is bred by Walter Woehlke.

At the 2019 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing he was named premium stallion and sold at auction for 1.89 million euro to Rebecca Gutmann of Gestut Bonhomme.

Counter-bidding against Bonhomme were Helgstrand and Schockemohle, but auctioneer Bernd Hickert did not see them raise their hand and/or ignored their bid. After the auction the German/Danish duo issued a public complaint, which was followed up by the Hanoverian society with a statement and a temporary suspension of Hickert from his job.

One Year of Breeding

The stallion moved to Bonhomme in Werder near Berlin, where he began breeding his first mares in 2020, while Lena Waldmann took on the initial dressage training of the youngster.

Unfortunately Confess Color started to develop health issues and in February 2021 Bonhomme announced that the stallion has been pulled from stud duty to give him the time to recover. The horse had been showing signs of "a diffuse lameness that is better and worst from time to time" and the veterinarians suspected Lyme disease.

Massive Blow

Gestut Bonhomme suffered a massive blow when its owner and manager, Rebecca Gutman, passed away on 14 May 2022 after a short and serious illness.

Rebecca's mother Evelyn Gutman retained Gestut Bonhomme in memory of her horse-loving daughter and the daily management of the yard remains in the hands of Saskia and Robert Conredel.

Offspring in the Spotlight

The stallion's first and only crop of foals, however, started to make its mark in 2023. Horsetelex has 41 offspring listed in its database across studbooks.

Westfalian premium licensed stallion Cirion
(Photo © NRW Landgestut)

From his well-sized crop came three licensed stallions of which two are premium. At the 2023 Westfalian Stallion Licensing his first licensed son was named: the Oldenburg bred Cirion (by Confess Color x Sir Donnerhall), who became premium. He is owned by the state studs of Warendorf and Moritzburg. In Austria a further two sons are licensed: the premium stallion Champion K (by Confess Color x Toto Jr) and the licensed Confession of Love (by Confess Color x For Romance)

The German equestrian federation has 7 broodmares by Confess Color registered of which no less than 3 (!!) are state premium mares. He has 14 offspring registered for sport with the German equestrian federation.

Where Is He Now?

Since the February 2021 announcement on Confess Color's condition all has gone quiet..

Confess Color in the 2020 Bonhomme Stallion Video

Eurodressage contacted Saskia Conredel for an update of the now 8-year old Confess Color. She explained that they were able to stabilize his condition with much dedication and care.

"Confess Color faithed a very bad time during the acute period of his disease," Conredel told Eurodressage. "He had a lot of up and downs depending on the attacks of the disease. Finally, we managed to optimize all conditions in terms of medication, treats and feeding."

His condition improved considerably and he was able to get back into training.

"He recovered better and better, so we started riding him again," Saskia explained. "Over a period of 1,5 years we built him up very slowly and trained him up to L-level. Confess showed his great quality in movements but we always had the feeling that he is struggling with his overall condition and doesn’t build up strength like other horses on that level of training. As he has probably the sweetest character ever, he always tried everything we asked for, but especially in the movements with more collection you could feel his physical deficits."

Realising a sport career was not in the cards, Bonhomme chose in the best interest of the horse to give him a happy, horsey life.

"Basically, Confess Color is a horse like every other horse in our barn. He doesn’t know how much he cost. Horses’ well-being has ever been first priority on Bonhomme, so we decided to castrate him and enable a nice life in a small group of retired geldings in beautiful fields here in Brandenburg for him," Saskia concluded.