The Association of Breeders of the Holsteiner Horse mourns the loss of a long-standing and esteemed member: Prof. Dr. Hartwig Schmidt (Borsfleth) passed away on 14 May at the age of 86.

Championship horses, licensed stallions, winning mares, highly decorated foals, and top auction horses have emerged from the breeding programme of the scientist. Representative of successful performance breeding, mention should be made here of team world champion and multiple European Championship-medallist Corradina by Corrado I (Carsten-Otto Nagel), Corland VDL by Cor de la Bryere (9th place European Championships in Arnhem 2001, Wout-Jan van der Schans), Clapton VDL by Caretino, Cornetino by Cornet Obolensky, or the top horse of the 2017 elite auction in Neumünster, Catharina by Casall-Montender, whose full sister left the Steinburg breeding district's mare registration as the winner a few days ago, thereby qualifying for the Verband mare show in June. The breeder was still able to enjoy this most recent success.
Prof. Dr. Hartwig Schmidt has rightly received various honours for his breeding merits. For instance, he was awarded the coveted Georg Ahsbahs Medal and the Landgraf I statue as Breeder of the Year by the Holsteiner Verband. The German Equestrian Federation (FN) honoured him with the Golden Plaque. The breeding successes of Prof. Dr. Hartwig Schmidt will be described in detail in the July issue of PFERD+SPORT.