On Sunday morning, the Herbert-Blöcker-Platz belonged to the best mares of the 2020 and 2021 crops. 35 Holsteiner mares, who had previously qualified for the Verband mare show via their breeding districts, competed against each other in four jumping and one dressage ring.
The evaluation committee, which consisted of breeding director Stephan Haarhoff, Rasmus Lüneburg (Hetlingen) and Horst-Klaus Heleine (Ober-Ramstadt), selected Operetta by Crack-Casall-Coriano, line 474A, as the jumping-focussed winner. She was bred and owned by Wendy Davis Gerrish, who had travelled all the way from the USA to accept the award. "What a mare!" said Stephan Haarhoff full of euphoria. "Operetta already impressed across the board when she was registered and she has been able to maintain this form to this day," Haarhoff continued. Operetta goes back to a proven mare line - she is closely related to Lyjanair by Lyjanero (Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, SWE).
Ophelia VI by Conthargos-Cascadello I-Heraldik xx (Günther Fielmann, Schierensee), line 3317, left the arena as the first reserve winner. The large-lined mare is equipped with a lot of cadence and feminine overflow and knows how to present herself perfectly. "Ophelia is a very modern mare model, who has a healthy self-carriage in trot and is one of the absolute top of the crop," described Neel-Heinrich Schoof (Hedwigenkoog), who was recruited to cover the event this year. The apple doesn't fall far from the famous tree with the reserve winner either. Both her dam Festel and her granddam Noble Lady were once winners at the Verband mare show.
The second reserve winner was Olivia AK by Milbridge-Crusander-Coriano (Anke Kindt, Mönchneversdorf), line 7673: "Olivia is very correct in her presentation and knows how to use her body very well. I hope that she will stay in the Holsteiner breed," said Stephan Haarhoff to the owner.
Franz Joseph Junior presents dressage winner
Odorata by Franz Joseph Junior-Catoo-Aljano, bred and owned by Elisabet Wiemann from Lutzhorn, danced to victory in the movement mares. The already performance-tested three-year-old is "a horse that leaves nothing to be desired in terms of body harmony. In addition, she has very good movement quality and the typical Holsteiner movement over the knee," said the breeding director, emphasising the advantages of the dressage-focused winner.
The dressage reserve winner Oviera by Jovian-Zack-Aljano (ZG Ellerbrock, Kayhude), line 990, was also awarded the state premium. The granddam of this large-framed mare, Zaveria I, has already produced two strong-moving winners. "With Oviera, we were presented with a long-legged and movement-opulent mare with a very active hind leg. She has already impressively demonstrated her athleticism in her mare performance test," were Stephan Haarhoff's words of praise.
Traditionally, the invited reporter has the floor before the proclamation of the winning mares. This year, Neel-Heinrich Schoof took on this task. The agronomist called for a broad acceptance among breeders to present their mares at assembly centres for registration. Especially in direct comparison, the entire spectrum of type, conformation and quality of a mare crop becomes clear. "Hold on to your Verband mare show. It is something very special!", said the breeding director and managing director of the Trakehner Verband to the Holsteiners.
Orchidee V is mare of the year
Since last year, the Mare of the Year has been awarded at the Holsteiner Horse Days. This honour was bestowed on Orchidee V by Lorentin-Caletto II from the 4303 line. The 25-year-old mare has given birth to 16 foals in her lifetime, ten of which are successful in sport. The most successful of these is Nickel by Numero Uno (Hindrick Stüvel, Rosengarten). Julia Krajewski's internationally successful eventing horse has already qualified for the Olympic Games this year. Orchidee V's breeder and owner Claus-Heinrich Petersen from Ahrenviöl was honoured with the FN Gold Medal for her successes.
Title: Operetta by Crack, photo in the article: Odoretta by Franz Joseph Junior. Janne Bugtrup
