Wednesday December 3, 2003

Donnerhall x Kennedy Colt Dazzles at 2003 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing

The 2003 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing in Vechta, Germany, was a true success. Not only did # 23, a Donnerhall x Kennedy x Karon colt, deservedly win the Champion's title, but the quality of the entire lot of approximately 75 stallions was also of a very high level. Forty-nine colts were licensed and ten of them qualified for the premium ring.

Catalog number 23 impressed day after day and it was only normal that the judges' panel, which consisted of Mr. Schulze-Schleppinghof, Mr. Heckmann, Mr. Mr. Folkers and Mr. Thole, gave him the Ia premium and crowned him 2003 Oldenburg Licensing Champion. Presented at the licensing by Paul Schockemohle, the winning dark bay colt is by Donnerhall out of Kilkenny (by Kennedy x Karon). Heckmann praised the colt for "his lightfeetedness and he has interesting and valuable bloodlines. He has excellent gaits, both his walk and trot are superb and he performed consistently throughout the licensing." The Donnerhall x Kennedy has been sold prior to the licensing to Sarah and Anthony Pidgley of Kilbees Farm in Windsor, Great Britain. They will put the colt up for stud and in training with Holga Finken in Ganderkesee, Germany.

Reserve Champion at the licensing was a phenomenal mover, a Luxembourg bred Rubin Royal x Calmiro x Eldorado colt. The dark bay powerball had a correct conformation, a very friendly looking face and extraterrestrial movements. This young star, who is owned by Harli Seifert, will be an excellent choice for thin-boned brood mares who especially need improvement in gaits.

At the first day of the licensing, stallion owners had to decide whether to sell their colts through the auction or not. Forty-one colts were auctioned, of which 26 were licensed and 15 not. The price highlight at the auction was a Donnerhall x Rouletto colt, who was purchased by Paul Sprehe for 90,000 Euro.

Six stallions were sold to the U.S.A. The American top price of 52,000 € was paid by Kathy Connell from Colorado for a delightful, licensed De Niro x Quattro B x Feiner Stern colt. The licensed and excellently jumping Donnerhall x Pik Pavarotti x Grenadier moved to New York for 42,000 €. Nancy Gooding sold her licensed Landor S x Accord II x Polydor to the U.S. for 15,000 €.

Three non-approved colts will travel to the States. A bargain price of 8,000 € was paid for a beautiful Dormello x Ex Libris x Imperator colt and Kimberly Martin paid 10,000 € for a bay Roadster x Carprilli x Admiral I. Especially exciting was the sale of a fantastic Sandro Hit x Almeo x Furioso colt. Debra Wiedmaier purchased this athletic dressage youngster for 20,000 € and will be shipping him to Florida in January 2004.

For the very first time, the Oldenburg Stallion Licensing was organized at the Oldenburg Center in Vechta, and not in the Oldenburg Halle in Oldenburg. Although the ring is smaller and the indoor arena cannot seat as many spectators as the Oldenburg Halle, Heckmann was extremely pleased with the accommodation. "The horses are much more relaxed in this ring and know where to go, while in Oldenburg they felt lost in that big indoor arena."

Images and text copyrighted Astrid Appels

Related Links
Extensive Coverage of the Oldenburg Licensing with Photos at Eurodressage.com
Donnerhall x Kennedy Colt, Oldenburg Licensing Champion 2003
American Oldenburg Society