Hickstead White is VTV Stallion of the Year

As is tradition, a VTV jumping stallion was chosen again this year at the Oldenburg Stallion Days. This highly endowed award is given to a licensed Oldenburg stallion for his top performances in sport and breeding. This year, Hickstead White was decorated with the VTV sash at the stallion days of the Springpferdezuchtverband Oldenburg-International.

The R+V VTV general agency Heiko Meinen, which specializes in animal insurance, did not miss the opportunity this year to reward the breeder and owner with a generous cheque of 1000 Euros for their outstanding breeding performance.

All good things come in threes: For the third time, Hickstead White, OS, born 2012, by Hickstead out of Queentina by Coupe de Coeur - Quidam's Rubin - Watzmann - Perser xx, bred and owned by Gestüt Sprehe GmbH, Löningen, was celebrated on the occasion of the Oldenburg Stallion Days. In 2014, he left the licensing in Vechta with a positive licensing result, two years later he was delighted to win the main premium of the Springpferdezuchtverband Oldenburg-International and in 2024 the gray stallion was named VTV stallion – an impressive performance record.

In his 30-day test in Neustadt/Dosse in 2015, the OS stallion received a 9.5 for his jumping ability and was the overall winner of the field. He completed his sport test in 2017 as the best five-year-old with an 8.82. The son of the legendary Hickstead is already celebrating international success under the saddle of Jörne Sprehe. In 2023, they jumped to sixth place in a 1.55 m competition in Munich-Riem. This was followed by their first placings at 5* level, including at the CHIO in Aachen. There, Hickstead White and Jörne Sprehe placed in all four competitions they entered over 1.45 m. This was followed by further 5* successes in Hickstead, a third place in Spruce Meadows, Calgary, over 1.50 m, and in Barcelona. At the end of the year, they won the Grand Prix of Linz-Ebelsberg, a 1.50 m jumping competition.

The talent is no coincidence – sire Hickstead won the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong under Eric Lamaze. Dam Queentina was reserve champion mare at the Brillantring in Rastede in 2011 and jumps successfully at 1.60 m level with Tobias Meyer. Among other things, she won the Grand Prix of Salzburg over 1.60 m, the ‘Championat’ at the Munich Indoors and placed in the World Cup jumping competition in Leipzig. Her sire Coupe de Coeur was German Champion three times. Hickstead White's granddam Quadriga also celebrated success in 1.40 m show jumping competitions under Paweena Wernke and is the sister of two other successful 1.40 m show jumpers.

As a sire, Hickstead White has already produced numerous licensed sons and top auction horses such as Harriet from the 2020 Spring Elite Auction. His first offspring have already been placed in advanced (S) level show jumping competitions as eight-year-olds. His licensed sons include Herrera TN, Hugh Grant, Hickstead Junior, Housten White and Highscore. Hickstead White and his offspring seem to have been born into the cradle of success.

Photo: Hickstead White with Jörne Sprehe. (Lafrentz)