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Cento: Saying farewell to a legend

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Cento in the hands of Otto Becker (GER) during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Photo: Peter Llewellyn

Analysis by Adriana van Tilburg: At the beginning of February Cento (Capitol I - Viola XI x Caletto II, stamm 2137, bred by Heinrich Schoof) sadly died. For more than 20 years, Cento was partnered by German international showjumper, and current chef d’equipe, Otto Becker. It’s important to take a look at the history of Cento’s line.

In 1865, the mare Lotte was born. She became the first registered mare of stamm 2137, whose roots are in Christianskoog in the Dithmarschen region, where even today this stamm is still active.

The mare Echta (Diskus) was born in 1944. She was sold as a four-year-old to Claus Voss in Windbergen, with the purpose of working on the farm, alongside which she produced a foal ever y year. In 1958 she gave birth to a filly from the stallion Löwenjager (Lockvogel) who was registered under the name Legende. As a four-year-old Legende was sold to Otto Hinrichs as a riding horse. One year later she recorded good results in lower level jumping classes and soon after started her international career with the owner’s nephew, Reiner Hedde. Her biggest success was winning the Grand Prix of Rome, as well as several other Grand Prix classes, including Berlin, Hannover, Dortmund and Kiel.

The owner received many offers to buy Legende, but he declined them all. In 1971 she was retired from sport because of an injury and bred to a non-approved stallion. In 1974 Legende gave birth to a filly from the stallion Liguster (Landsturm), who was known under the name Lady Legende. Legende only had two foals because after Lady Legende was born they could no longer get her in foal. So, at the age of 20, she found a new home with the 70-year-old rider Dr. Günther. She then showed her longevity by being his riding partner for six years.

Lady Legende

The mare Lady Legende is mother to the national showjumping horse Charmeur (Calando I), born in 1978, under the saddle of Reiner Hedde. In 1983 a filly by Caletto II was born and, in 1984, Otto Hinrichs sold his horses due to his own old age, and sold the mare Lady Legende together with her yearling daughter to Heinrich Schoof from Hedwigenkoog. Lady Legende gave birth to three more foals at Heinrich Schoof’s farm...

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