Event
The Southern German stallion festival is an annual event lasting three days, being one of the top stallion shows in Germany, organized by members of the Southern German breeding associations, with a gala evening including the Southern German premium stallion awards. It also consists of the stallions' licensing with champions award ceremony, and an auction of some of the stallions. This year, over 70 stallions from all across Germany took part.
Impressions from the Southern German Stallion Festival
International Riders present their stallions
Among the international riders presenting stallions at Munich were German dressage World Cup winner Uwe Schwanz, Swiss Olympic dressage rider Jasmin Sanche-Burger and international showjumping rider Rene Tebbel. Burger's (Catalogue Nr 2, by Diamond Hit x Cordeur) and Tebbel's (Catalgoue Nr. 6, by Florencio x Top of Class) stallions were both licensed, and Schwanz's stallion (Catalogue Nr. 23, by Lord Loxley x Caligula) was licensed, received the premium award and made overall reserve champion.
Uwe Schwanz and Catalogue Number 23, by Lord Loxley
Catalgoue Nr. 2, owned by Jasmin Sanche-Burger
Rene Tebbel presents catalogue Nr. 6
New Champions
The overall champion is a chestnut stallion by Sir Donnerhall x Regazzoni (Catalogue Nr. 45). Reserve Champion is the catalogue Nr 23, by Lord Loxley x Caligula, bred by Martin Niedermair who also bred Lord Sinclair. During the award ceremony, Niedermair was honored for his contribution to world-wide warmblood breeding. The stallion was shown and trained by Uwe Schwanz (www.uweschwanz.com). The jumping champion is a Cento son, out of a Pilot's Treffer dam (catalogue Nr. 68).
Reserve Champion by Lord Loxley
Jumping Champion by Cento
Champion by Sir Donnerhall
Auction Results
Not all the stallions shown went through the auction. Of those that did, the top priced stallion was the overall champion (Catalogue Nr. 45) that sold for 150 000 Euros to a Munich-based breeding operation and will be standing at stud at Marbach. Also sold for 150 000 Euro was a son of Contender, out of a Lavall I dam (catalogue Nr. 73), for whom the German international jumping squad trainer Kurt Gravemeier placed the winning bid. A very good buy was a Rubin Cortes son, out of an Acord II dam, sent by the Pidgley family in England. The impressive black stallion, which was not licensed, sold for 17 000 Euros.
The Auction followed the licensing and award ceremony
Kilbee stud rider receives special award
Also present at the stallion festival was Kilbee stud rider Markus Gribbe, who will be showing Federal Young Dressage Champion Samira, a Sandro Hit daughter, next season. Samira was purchased by the Pidgley family, directors of Kilbee stud, and brought to England, last year. For their contribution to European Sports Horse breeding, the Pidgleys were given a special award by equestrian high end clothing supplier MFN Sportsline who specialize in tailor-made show clothing for riders. The award was a voucher for a tailor-made dressage suit, presented to Gribbe at the event, with Samira's breeder, Heinz Bernd Schumacher, present at the scene.
From left: Hans Joerg Ulber of MFN Sportsline presenting the award to Markus Gribbe, with Schumacher (right) looking on
Lots of famous faces in the crowds
Aside from the above-mentioned international riders present, Jasmine Sanche Burger, Uwe Schwanz and Rene Tebbel, and the visitors from Kilbee stud and Lord Sinclair breeder Martin Niedermair, the rider and owner of Alassio's Boy, Cathrin Burger, was there. She showed the stallion at the gala evening on Friday night. Landprinz, who is currently one of the hottest young jumping sires in Germany, was shown personally by Sandor Szaz, who stands him at stud. Also spotted in the crowd were the parents of international show jumping rider Lutz Gripshoever.Also present was Thomas Muehlbauer, dressage queen Anja Ploenzke, and high ranking representatives of the Schwaiganger and Marbach state studs. The jury consisted, among others, of Karsten Huck.
Lord Sinclair breeder Martin Niedermair (right) with his Lord Loxley son at the champions presentation ceremony, with Uwe Schwanz on the left
Burger and Alassio's Boy in the Warm-up Ring
Szaz presents Landprinz
Southern German Premium Stallion Award for Arrivederci
The Schwaiganger state stud stallion Arrivederci was awarded the prestigious title of Southern German Premium Stallion, which is bestowed on the best young sports horses that were bred in Southern Germany. Owned by, and standing at stud at, the government state stud of Schwaiganger, Arrivederci was prepared for his international career throughout the 2006 season by Uwe Schwanz, who aside from being an international dressage rider also participates in showjumping up to puissance level. Following his period of training with Schwanz, Arrivederci returned to Schwaiganger for the 2007 season, where he was shown successfully by a rider from the stud. The Asti Spumante son, out of a Pilot dam, is regarded as one of the most promising young jumping sires to come out of Bavaria this past year.
Arrivederci receiving the title of Southern German Premium stallion
All Images by Philip Crebbin
