"Today is a difficult day for the entire stallion keeping team of the Holsteiner Verband," says Managing Director Felix Flinzer. "After careful consideration, we have had to let Uriko go".

With Uriko, Holsteiner breeding loses a stallion that has left traces in a remarkably short time such as are granted to very few sires. A stallion with extraordinary presence, great scope and that rare blend of sportiness, modernity and hereditary strength that gave rise to his own stallion line – in Schleswig-Holstein and far beyond its borders.

For Uriko became a sire in the fast lane. His children and grandchildren shape licensing sites, championships and international courses all over the world. With type-y, modern and highly athletic horses, he struck a chord with modern show jumping horse breeding. Early on, he produced the licensing champion of the 2016 Holsteiner licensing with Unlimited and the reserve champion with Uno I in 2017. But his extraordinary hereditary strength became visible above all in sport.

Horses like Uricas v/d Kattevennen under Harrie Smolders, Olympic horse and successful at the highest international level, Bull Run’s Jireh under Kristen Vanderveen, or Charisma HS, who became Bundeschampioness under Richard Vogel and is now successful internationally, impressively carry Uriko's signature out into the world. Not to forget the association stallion United Way. Uriko has decisively shaped modern Holsteiner show jumping horse breeding.

Uriko also knew how to impress in sport. Under Thomas Konle, later with Maximilian Gräfe and Ebba Johansson, he was successfully campaigned up to the 1.50-metre level. An injury ended his career in the course at the end of 2019. Due to an untreatable orthopaedic condition, the stallion now had to be put down at the age of 19 after consultation with the veterinarians. With Uriko, breeding loses not only an outstanding sire, but also a stallion that was a bearer of hope, figurehead and trailblazer all in one. Uriko leaves traces that remain.

Photo: Janne Bugtrup