It was a day that many breeders had been eagerly awaiting for several weeks: at the R+V Holsteiner Regional Foal Championship, winners were crowned in three categories, selected from the best foals registered during the registration periods in the individual licensing districts. In the end, it was the daughters and sons of Dinken, Cahil and For Romance that particularly impressed the trio of judges.
Henrik Klatte, Matthias Wittke and Marten Witt assessed the foals, which were divided into filly, colt and dressage-oriented categories to compete for victory and placings. In the filly category, the winner was a daughter of the association stallion Dinken out of an Uriko dam (line 3401), bred by Björn Boysen from Struckum. She had already been crowned champion in her North Frisia licensing district and was able to confirm this form at the State Championships. “This foal is very self-assured, and quite rightly so,” commented Matthias Wittke on behalf of the jury. “She impresses with superbly supple, feather-light movements – a truly successful mating.” Second place went to a daughter of Cahil – also based in Elmshorn – out of a Caretino dam. Hobe Magens from Ottenbüttel (Steinburg licensing district) presented this contender from the famous Bühne line 8769 at the championship. “A large-framed foal that leaves little to be desired and, backed by this outstanding line, will hopefully remain in the Holsteiner breeding programme,” said judge Wittke. Rounding off the top three fillies was another daughter of an association stallion, a filly by Uriko. Her dam, by Colman, represents the Wodka II family and thus the 1916 line, which Boie Behrens maintains in Volsemenhusen (Dithmarschen licensing district). “An extremely typical foal with plenty of drive from the hindquarters,” remarked Matthias Wittke.
Congratulations and numerous honorary prizes for the breeder of the winning filly by Dinken, Björn Boysen (centre), presented by Sebastian Rohde and Kornelia Kindermann on behalf of Hengsthaltungs GmbH, First Chairman Ulrich Steuber and Birte Stapelfeldt from R+V Insurance (from left to right), flanked by judge Matthias Wittke and presenter Tade Petersen (on the outside).
Two is better than one – winning colt by Cahil
Bernd Börger from St. Michaelisdonn (Dithmarschen licensing district) has known for some time that the mating of his Clarcon-Aljano mare (line 306) with Cahil is an excellent match: After all, back in 2022 he produced the State Champion among the colts with the full brother of this year’s winner. The judges agreed and singled out the black-bay foal as one “that moves very well and whose future is something to look forward to”, as Marten Witt predicted. Second place went to a colt by Esmeraldo-Cormint (line 741), bred by Hans-Joachim Gerken from Hammoor (Stormarn-Lauenburg licensing district). Judge Marten Witt particularly highlighted the stallion’s engaging charisma and his movement qualities. Bronze in this championship was secured by the Magens family from Ottenbüttel with their foal by Duplexx-Cachas (line 8769). “This foal has presented itself here as a very typical and highly interesting prospective stallion,” Witt noted.
“A true champion” – For Romance son is dressage winner
The jury also regarded the winning son of For Romance, out of a Carpaccio dam (line 1947), as a “colt prospect whom we hope to see again at the licensing”, the jury also regarded the winning son of For Romance out of a Carpaccio dam (line 1947) among the dressage-oriented foals, for whom Sonja Franzenburg-Much from Holstenniendorf (Steinburg licensing district) is the breeder. “A real champion,” commented Henrik Klatte. “A large-framed foal with a superb canter – everything about him is just right.” Silver went to a colt by Raven-Rubin Royal, bred by Thomas Nissen from Süderbrarup (Schleswig-Flensburg licensing district). “A dream horse with real charm, a great expression and, in my view, the foal with the strongest conformation in the dressage-oriented group,” said Henrik Klatte. The third-placed colt among the dressage prospects comes from the stud of Thälke Marie Zachow (Niendorf/Stormarn-Lauenburg breeding district). He is by Escaneno-Belissimo M and was described by the judges as “a foal with plenty of charm and an outstanding canter”.
The dressage-oriented winner, by For Romance-Carpaccio, was bred by Sonja Franzenburg-Much.
Canter as part of the assessment
Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs GmbH has been organising the R+V Holsteiner State Foal Championship for many years. Managing Director Sebastian Rohde gave a positive summary: “We saw a field from which the top foals of the year clearly stood out and which, genetically, presented a good cross-section of Holsteiner breeding,” he said. “Particularly pleasing is the balance between established sires and young and younger stallions who have produced their offspring.” For the first time, there was a deliberate decision to showcase the foals’ canter and incorporate it into the judging. “Sport and breeding go hand in hand, and we have all long been aware of the importance of a good canter for sport horses,” says Rohde, explaining this move. Cheques for the winning foals were awarded by the R+V General Agency Edzards and Stapelfeldt. High-quality prizes for the winners and runners-up were sponsored by Bense & Eicke, ClipMyHorse.tv, LKD Hauke Ahsbahs and Salvana Pferdefutter, whilst stud fee vouchers for every participating foal were sponsored by Holsteiner Verband Hengsthaltungs GmbH.
You can find the full results here:
Photos: Janne Bugtrup (cover photo: winning colt by Cahil)
