BY ADRIANA VAN TILBURG (COURTESY ROLEX)
PHOTOGRAPHY: PRIVATE COLLECTION; FEI/MARTIN DOKOUPIL
Under the saddle of Kent Farrington, Greya (Colestus x Contender) brought the 2025 season to a truly phenomenal close by winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Geneva. Sadly, her breeder, Wilfried Sandmann, passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.
Two years ago, I visited Greya’s breeder after her cousin Contago (Cornet Obolensky) finished fifth in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen under the saddle of Mexican Eugenio Garza Pérez. That visit and several phone calls offered a unique insight into a breeding program whose legacy is now being carried forward at the very highest level of the sport.
The Sandmann foundation
The successful breeding program of Ulrike and Wilfried Sandmann is rooted in the mare Landgräfin (1997/Oldbg), by Landkaiser out of Prinzessin (Perser xx - Angelique x Absurd [Hann]), bred by Joh. Sandmann. According to Wilfried Sandmann, speaking with great pride: “Landgräfin is the dam of our two foundation mares, Contessa by Contender and Cassandra by Cassini II. In addition to Contessa, who herself competed successfully up to 1m45, Landgräfin produced three more S-level showjumpers: Cortina Grande by Conterno Grande, who jumped internationally at 1m60with Brazil’s Lucas Martins Brambilla; Calida by Converter, successful up to 1m60 with Kyle Timm (Canada); and Cassina by Cassini II, winner at S level up to 1m40 with Fabienne Graefe. We sold Cortina Grande as a foal to Paul Schockemöhle”.
Bloodlines proven in sport
Landgräfin’s dam Prinzessin (1974/Hann), was a half-blood mare. This blood made handling both Prinzessin and Landgräfin somewhat challenging at times, but it proved extremely valuable in free jumping. “You could build the jumps as high as you liked; both mares jumped everything you put in front of them without batting an eye. And they definitely passed that on. Cassandra, for example, has incredible movement quality, a fantastic uphill canter and a very dynamic way of going. We still benefit from this blood today and are very glad that we built our breeding program on it,” Sandmann explains, reflecting on the shared breeding vision with his wife Ulrike.
The choice of Contender
The aim was to introduce more calmness into the horses, which is why Wilfried Sandmann decided to use Contender, known for his rideability and calm, balanced character.
“The offspring of Contender and himself suit our broodmares exceptionally well for that reason.”...
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