Volker Göttsche-Götze of Groß Buchwald can look back on a memorable year. Home-bred JL Dublin by Diarado-Canto (mare family 1907) has placed Göttsche-Götze on the top of the WBFSH worldwide eventing horse breeder ranking. JL Dublin‘s achievements include team gold with Tom McEwen (GBR) at the Paris Olympics, placing in the world‘s most challenging horse trials and now also securing Volker Göttsche-Götze one of the most prestigious awards given by the Holsteiner Verband: He was named Holsteiner Breeder of the Year 2024.
“I’m super proud JL Dublin has been such a top achiever at elite level for years now“, says his delighted breeder Volker Göttsche-Götze, who generally breeds two mares. “JL Dublin encourages me as a breeder, indicating that I did well with this mare family and that I should carry on.” Next year he is expecting a foal by Keaton out of a Coriall-Lombard mare, an aunt to JL Dublin. The Groß Buchwald-based breeder was obviously moved when he received the award from chairman Olaf Rörden as part of the grading of the young Holsteiner stallions. He is convinced that “this happens only once in a lifetime“.
From Holsteiner Auction Horse to Olympic Champion
JL Dublin started his picture book eventing career through a Holsteiner auction, as he changed hands in autumn 2015 as an elite riding horse. Up to then he had been owned by Göttsche-Götze, who had taken great pains with raising and producing him. Francesca Pollara – one of Europe‘s most successful eventing horse scouts and brokers – had discovered the gelding’s talent in the auction. JL Dublin has been a force on the international eventing scene for years now and took for example European team gold with Britain’s Nicola Wilson in Avenches (SUI) in 2021. Following Wilson’s career-ending injury, fellow Brit Tom McEwen took over JL Dublin’s reins in 2022. They placed in the 5-star-rated Three-Day Event in Lexington, Kentucky (USA), as well as in the 4-star-event in Luhmühlen (GER), and were on the British team travelling to the Paris Olympic Games this summer. In addition to team gold, they also secured an excellent fourth place individually. “He is the perfect championship horse”, McEwen says about Dublin. “Riding him is a true privilege and every competition feels like an opportunity to show what he is capable of.” Volker Göttsche-Götze was in Paris as well, and it was quite touching for the breeder. “Watching him against this backdrop was really emotional for me”, he says. “He is a super sport horse, athletic and at the same time affectionate and intelligent.” According to his breeder, he has always been like this, already as a foal, and has never changed. “A truly exceptional sport horse.”
Photo: Janne Bugtrup
