Michellino Passed Away at Age 33

Breeding

Danish Warmblood

The Dutch bred Danish warmblood elite breeding stallion Michellino passed away on Sunday 31 March 2025. He reached the blessed age of 33.

Michellino was a 1991 born Dutch warmblood stallion by Trakehner sire Michelangelo out of Claudette (Ulft x Lector).

Imported from Holland

He was imported into Denmark by Per Vintersbølle from Aars and licensed in Denmark in 1994. He started his breeding career with Vintersbølle at Stald Birkelund near Års before moving to Irene Braun and Niels Grøndahl's Støvring Hingstedepot.

He was briefly competed in Denmark in 2002 by Thomas Dolleris Larsen and mainly focused on breeding. The 164 cm standing stallion has 1137 registered offspring registered in Denmark.

In 2006 Danish warmblood proclaimed Michellino "elite" sire. At the 2011 Danish Warmblood stallion licensing, Michellino was decorated with the HRH Princess Benedikte’s Perpetual Prize. In 2014 Grøndahl received the Danish Warmblood's Gold Medal of Merit

Legacy

He sired two licensing champions -- Milan and Matinique -- and many more licensed sons.

His first crop of foals born in 1995 yielded Olympic medalist Mistral Hojris (Laura Bechtolsheimer) and GP horses Zalmiak Firfod, Milan, Mitchell Imhoff and Minor.

Michellino offspring are known for their highly sensitive and not always easy character, but great athleticism and he was a known Grand Prix horse producer.

The list of international Grand Prix horses that he sired is long, making Michellino the best GP horse producer in Denmark. My Lady, Smeyers Molberg, Mira, Main Stream Hotmail, Elmegårdens Marquis, Marron, Michigan, Kjærholm's Abutsiaq, Alina, Schabos Tamino, May Candeloro, Hedelunds Mefisto, Capong, M&M's to name just a few...

A Life Fulfilled

In 2012 Helle Stordal and her husband Ray Harris took over the management of Michellino from Braun and Grøndahl after he lost his fertility. He spent his retirement at Østergaard stable near Tjele, Denmark.

Michellino was proclaimed DWB elite sire in 2006

As of February 2025 Michellino began showing signs that his organs were no longer strong enough and it was decided in the best interest of the horse to not let him suffer. On his final day on 31 March Michellino enjoyed some hours in the field in the sun before being put to sleep in the presence pf Stordal, Harris, Braun and Grøndahl who all came together for this sad day.

Michellino would have turned 34 a week later on 7 April 2025. He passed just days after his most famous son, Mistral Hojris, was put to sleep at age 30.

Ridehesten posted a beautiful story with extra photos and a video of Michellino's final day and his team reminiscing on the greatness of this stallion.