The best mares of the year chosen

Prestigious Oldenburg mare families set an exclamation mark in Rastede. The Oldenburg Elite Mare Show once again thrilled spectators in the impressive setting of the Rasteder Schlosspark. The champion mares come from highly successful dam lines – a recipe for success à la Oldenburg.

Füchtels Hedda, born 2021, by Bonds out of El./OLHPrSt. High Heels by Damon Hill–Roadster–Sandro Hit, bred and owned by the Gut Füchtel Breeding Community, the von Merveldt family from Vechta, was crowned the champion mare of the Oldenburg Horse Breeders’ Association (OL). Her dam, High Heels, has produced five Oldenburg Main Premium mares or candidates and placed sixth at the Bundeschampionat in Warendorf as a five-year-old under breeder’s daughter Patricia Seddig. This year, she sends her daughters OLHPrA. Füchtels Hailey by Don Martillo and El./OLHPrSt. Füchtels High Light OLD by Floriscount, who dazzled at the 2021 Elite Mare Show in Rastede, to the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden. The granddam, El./St.Pr.St. Highness, produced Füchtels Damon’s Hope, who won at S*** level under Patricia Seddig, and Füchtels Indigo OLD by Ibiza, who won the bronze medal at the 2022 Bundeschampionat for five-year-old dressage horses with Ann-Christin Wienkamp and caused a stir at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses.

Weihe's Happiness, born 2021, by Dynamic Dream out of El.St. Weihe’s Hope by Sir Donnerhall–Don Schufro–Sandro Hit, bred and owned by Christine Arns-Krogmann from Lohne, took silver in the lot of dressage-bred mares. Her dam, Weihe’s Hope, is a daughter of the legendary Oldenburg multi-champion Weihegold OLD. She has already produced the premium stallion L’avenir by Le Formidable and the licensed Everglow Gold by Escolar, and is also the dam of the Brilliant Ring mare Weihkjenta OLD by Kjento. The granddam is none other than the iconic Weihegold OLD, who paraded as champion mare in the Rastede Castle Park in 2008 and won team gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The 1c award went to Pommery Look, born 2022, by Florida TN out of El./St.Pr.St. Pandora by Sir Donnerhall–Lavauzelle AA–Inschallah AA, also bred and owned by Christine Arns-Krogmann from Lohne. Her dam, El./St.Pr.St. Pandora, received the 1e prize at the 2011 Elite Mare Show. She has produced several licensed stallions: Don de Niro by De Niro, Filou by For Romance I, First Man by For Romance II, and a son by Viva Gold OLD. Her daughter Passion by Grey Flanell was awarded main premium candidate status and is now successful in S-level dressage, as well as Perla Negra by Negro.

In the show jumping division of the Oldenburg International Jumping Horse Breeding Association (OS), Casalique, born 2022, by Casalido out of Vb.Pr.St. Laquirinha by Quality–Landor S–Contender, bred by Gerd Sosath from Lemwerder and owned by his son Hendrik, was crowned champion mare. On her dam’s side, the champion mare traces back to the prestigious Heida dam line. Her dam, Vb.Pr.St. Laquirinha, is the sister of the 2017 champion mare Lady Cadora OLD by Catoki and of the international show jumpers Cador and Cadora, both by Catoki. In pairing with Casino Berlin, Laquirinha produced the 2021 reserve champion mare Late Night Berlin and Caiphirinha OLD by Clintissimo, who has already placed internationally at S** level. The granddam, Brilliant Ring and Elite Mare Lady Heida II by Landor S, is also the dam of licensed stallions Comanchero by Comme Prévu, Calandor by Casalido, Diamant de Landor by Diamant De Semilly, and Cador by Catoki, having produced five offspring successful at S level.

Ulala Ute, born 2021, by Conthargos out of Unit by Abke–Grannus–Parabol, bred and owned by Heinz Prüllage from Molbergen, was named reserve champion in the show jumping lot. Her dam Unit was herself successful in jumping classes up to M level. The granddam El./St.Pr.St. Utana produced the S*-level jumpers Akteur by Argentinus and Quattro’s Win for me by Quattro B, as well as the elite mare Zypria, who in turn produced two offspring successful at high levels: C’est Dracula by Cassini II and Quickstep WL by Quintender.

Nea's Fantastica, born 2021, by Flic en Flac AA out of Nea’s Caretina by Caretinus–Controller–Zeus, bred by Josef Kathmann from Hausstette and owned by the Voelkel-Hilbrich breeding community from Rheurdt, received the bronze award. The granddam El./Vb.Pr.St. Nea’s Lady K produced the licensed Catapult by Cartogran, OS main premium candidate Nea’s Chance by Chaccodello, and the S-level vaulting horse Ferrero K by Furejev.

Numerous mares started their careers at the Elite Foal Auction in Vechta. You too can secure your future champion mare on August 9 at the Oldenburg Horse Center Vechta.

Here you can find the results of the Brillantring:

Brillantring Verband der Züchter des Oldenburger Pferdes.

Brillantring Springpferdezuchtverband Oldenburg-International.

Photo: The celebrated champion mares: OL: Füchtels Hedda by Bonds out of El./OLHPr.St. High Heels by Damon Hill, breeder: ZG Gut Füchtel, Vechta; and OS: Casalique by Casalido out of Vb.Pr.St. Laquirinha by Quality, breeder: Gerd Sosath, Lemwerder. (Beelitz)