Continued...
Graf Anton traveled even more extensively, bringing back stallions from Naples, Spain, Poland, England, Tartary, and Barbary (North Africa). He permitted his tenants and other commoners to use his stallions, and soon the 17th Century Oldenburgs were in great demand throughout Europe, serving as riding and carriage horses. Leopold I, King of the Holy Roman Empire, rode through Vienna on his wedding day astride a black Oldenburg stallion. He was followed by his wife who sat in a splendid carriage pulled by eight dark brown Oldenburgs. Graf Anton was also well known for his traditional dressage riding, most notably on his Oldenburg stallion, Kranich who is portrayed with him in the painting above.
The period following was shaped by three important events: the first stallion approval decreed by state in the year 1820, the introduction of a register of origins in 1861, and the foundation of two horse breeding societies by the Horse Breeding Act of April 9, 1897. These two societies merged in 1923 to form today's "Verband der Züchter des Oldenburger Pferdes". The first measures to refine the breed were introduced in 1935 with the thoroughbred Adonis xx. By the 60's, more thoroughbred stallions were approved, and the turnaround in breeding towards the modern sport horse was underway.
Towards the end of the 1960's the French stallion, Condor, was proving to be very successful so Oldenburg stallion owners once again turned to France. Practically no other breeding area was able to achieve the success Oldenburg reached with stallions of French origin. Furioso II was the first Anglo-Norman of modern breeding times. Horse breeders the world over still have the highest regard for this sire. French Anglo-Arabians such as Inschallah AA were also used in Oldenburg in small doses with great success. By combining the various bloodlines on the base of Oldenburg mares, our breeders were able to breed a horse in a relatively short period of time that now belongs to the top group of modern sport horse breeds.
In 1986, a privately-owned Oldenburg stallion, Donnerhall, became DLG Champion for the first time. Donnerhall, born in 1981, was one of the most successful sires of his generation in Germany. As no other, he combined success in breeding and sport - in 1994 in Den Haag he was a member of the German gold medal winning dressage team at the World Championships, and won the individual bronze medal. He was also a member of the German European Championship team and won the individual bronze medal there as well.
The next legend in the making in the world of sport horse breeding is the Oldenburg bred, licensed, and approved stallion, Sandro Hit. Sandro Hit not only won the World Championships for the 6 year old dressage horses in 1999, but his offspring have dominated the young horse championships and are emerging with great success at Grand Prix in international competition. His daughter, Poetin, won both the German National Championships and the World Championships for the 5 year old dressage horses in 2003 before selling for the record price of 2.5 million Euro at the PSI auction the same year. The success of his daughters continues through Silberaster, two time German Champion, and Samira who also broke records winning the German National Championships in 2007 for the 6 year old dressage horses. Judge Christoph Hess commented, "We've never seen anything like this in this arena" before awarding her 2 perfect scores of 10 resulting in an overall score of 9.7.
Sandro Hit's licensed and approved sons are also dominate in the sport horse world. Sir Donnerhall who combines the lines of Sandro Hit and Donnerhall, was the Reserve Champion of the 5 year old dressage horses and the German National Champion in 2006 has already produced the Reserve Champion of the 2007 Oldenburg stallion licensing, Sir Rubin, and the Champion of the 2008 Southern German stallion licensing, Sir Nymphenburg.
Around the globe today, Oldenburg dressage horses such as Salieri, Don Schufro, Silberaster, Deveroux, Don Angelo, Dolomit, Ringo Starr, or jumpers the likes of Sandro Boy, Air Jordan Z, Special Ed, Sancho, Leena, and Coleur Rubin put fear into the hearts of competitors. Outstanding athletes such as these and Bonfire, ridden to unprecedented 5 World Cup titles by Anky van Grunsven, and an individual dressage gold medal in the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia are excellent examples of the high standards of breeding from the Oldenburg Verband that will continue into the future.
From the Oldenburg Verband
The Beginning
Oldenburg horse breeding gained recognition all over Europe under the Count of Oldenburg, Anton Günther (1603-1667), who was well-known as a most knowledgeable horseman and promoter of horse breeding. The stage that followed was marked by three important events: the first stallion licensing regulated by the state in 1820, the introduction of a studbook in 1861 and the foundation of two horse breeding societies governed by the law of April 9, 1897 on horse breeding. These two societies merged in 1923, becoming today's "Verband der Züchter des Oldenburger Pferdes e.V". The first measures to refine the breed were undertaken with the Thoroughbred stallion, Lupus xx, in 1935 and again in 1950 with the Anglo-Norman stallion, Condor.
The Refinement Process
In 1959, another Thoroughbred stallion, Adonis xx, was introduced who was quickly followed by others and the breed was switched to the direction of a modern riding horse in the 60's. After the good experience breeders had made with Condor, Oldenburg stallion owners again turned to French stallions at the end of the 60's. Practically no other breeding area has been as successful as Oldenburg with stallions of French origin.
Furioso II was the first Anglo-Norman in modern day breeding. To this day, horse breeders the world over still have the greatest respect for this sire. French Anglo-Arabians such as Inschallah AA were also used with great success in Oldenburg, albeit in careful doses.
Successful Sport Horse Breeding
By combining the most various bloodlines on top of Oldenburg mare lines, our breeders were able, within a comparatively short period of time, to breed a horse that is meanwhile considered one of the very best in modern day sport horse breeding. Illustrious names give significant testimony such as the Oldenburg sire Donnerhall, team World Champion twice under Karin Rehbein. This stallion represents the successful synthesis of breeding and sport like no other. Or the auction mare, Weihaiwej, who won the individual and team World Championships in jumping in 1984 with Franke Sloothaak, or Bonfire, who started for the Netherlands with Anky van Grunsven and won four Olympic medals in dressage, including individual gold in Sydney in 2000. At present, °Sandro Boy and Anka with Marcus Ehning, °Couleur Rubin with Ludger Beerbaum, Arko III with Nick Skelton (GBR) and °Sterntaler-Unicef and Renoir-Unicef with Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, °Escapado with Carl Hestr (GBR) and °Aramis with Hubertus Schmidt as well as many other Oldenburgs are highly successful in international sport.
In the Limelight
Year after year, four-legged Oldenburg athletes impressively prove at all of the important national and international championships as well as championships for young horses that Oldenburg is one of the world's leading sport horse breeds. The secret of the horses with the crowned O brand lies in a combination of willingness and ability to perform, rideability and pronounced modern type as well as the Verband's liberal breeding policy.
