"Hosting the R+V Foal Championships in Bad Segeberg is a long and cherished tradition of the Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs," Managing Director Sebastian Rohde opened the search for the best foals of the 2022 crop at the time-honoured showground. But apart from the well-tried, there were also some innovations - for the first time, three champions were crowned.
In addition to the foals with jumping pedigrees, where fillies and colts are judged separately, there was a separate classification for the dressage-bred foals for the first time. A total of about 40 foals had travelled to the State Foal Championships based on their previous qualification in the individual breeding districts. In the filly division, Timm Peters from Bargenstedt was delighted with the victory for the Cornet Obolensky-Colman daughter bred by him from Stamm 890, as well as the cash prize of 2,000 Euros and high-quality prizes of honour, sponsored by R+V Generalvertretung Birte Stapelfeldt for each of the three winners. "I was aware of the quality of the foal, but I didn't really expect to win," Peters was pleased to say. "We bought the dam as a foal and she has always done everything right so far: she was successful at the Foal Championships herself, champion mare in Dithmarschen and has given us very special foals year after year, including the licensed stallions Uno I and II by Uriko." The trio of judges, consisting of Fred van Straaten, Maren Schlender and Hermann Blohm, were also impressed by the winning filly: "This championess caused a stir from the very beginning - a complete, expressive well-constructed foal and perfect conditions for a sporting future," judged Maren Schlender, Deputy Breeding Director at the Hanoverian Verband. Second place went to a filly by United Way-Caretino out of Stamm 2895, for which Uwe Pahl from Dägeling is responsible for breeding. A double victory for the breeder family, because Uwe Pahl is the father-in-law of Timm Peters. The runners-up were happy to receive a 500 euro stud fee voucher from the Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs GmbH and a one-year premium membership at ClipMyHorse.TV. Manfred von Allwörden (Grönwohld) sired the third-placed filly, who sired his stallion Cieran and is out of a Contendro I daughter - the dam of the stallion Charaktervoll (Stamm 474A). Each third place winner received a high quality Holstein halter and a stud fee voucher of 250 Euros. Further prizes were given by Salvana Pferdefutter and Bense&Eicke.
Young sires dominated the colt class
The colt class was led by a son of the Verband stallion Cahil, bred by Bernd Börger out of his Clarcon mare (Stamm 306) - a very special success for a loving hobby breeding with currently one mare, which Bernd Börger runs in St. Michaelisdonn together with his daughter-in-law Annika. "The foal was impressive right from the first moment," said the proud breeder, who already bred the dam himself and is especially convinced of the very good basic gaits and the impeccable interior of the State Premium mare. "Unfortunately, I have already sold the foal, but the dam is fortunately in foal to Cahil again for 2023." Fred van Straaten, sport stable owner from the Netherlands, praised the winner on behalf of the jury: "This gorgeous foal knows how to present itself fantastically in every basic gait." A Crack-Casall colt from Stamm 104A trotted into second place - one of the last from the breeding of Prof. Dr. Hartwig Schmidt (Borsfleth), that was sold as the price leader at the Holsteiner auction at the Hamburg Derby a few weeks ago. And with an offspring of Charaktervoll (damsire Cassini II) the third place was also taken by a son of a Verband stallion: Deike Ahsbahs (Bokel) is the breeder of the foal from Stamm 275. The same score was awarded - and thus also placed third - to a foal by Clarimo-Mylord Carthago (Stamm 5064), with whom breeder Hermann Theiss had made the long journey from Hessen.
Dressage foal: Full brother of Fidano winning
In the dressage foal division a foal with proven genetics won: The full brother to the Holstein Verband stallion and multiple State Champion Fidano by Fidertanz-Silvano from the breeding station of ZG Pflügler in Weddingstedt (Stamm 776) was crowned the winner. "A very correct and elastic foal with a good hind leg," commented judge Maren Schlender. This stallion prospect - just like his brother who qualified for the Bundeschampionat this year - is owned by the Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs GmbH. "We are grateful for the good cooperation with the breeders and consider it valuable to provide Holsteiner dressage horses for our breeders," said Sebastian Rohde. Second place went to a filly by Dimaggio Black-Contender, bred by Horst-Henning Lienau (Haselau), Stamm 1947. The Lass KG from Leck was awarded bronze for their colt by Vitalis-Cormint (Stamm 504). "The quality of the foals was continous convincing," Sebastian Rohde was satisfied. "Especially pleasing was also the ranking of the three best colts, all of them descending from young Verband stallions. We thank our sponsors, breeders and the spectators for this successful championship."
Photos: Janne Bugtrup
