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Farewell Cero

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CSIO Masters, Spruce Meadows, CN International Grand Prix, September 2003, Peter Wylde (USA) riding Fein Cera

GERMANY (Adriana van Tilburg) Cero had just returned to the Maas J. Hell stud farm – thanks to Herbert Ulonska and Harm Thormählen he was back on home turf. He had a photo shoot with his sire, Calido, which was the first and last moment they ever saw each other. A short while later, Cero passed away.

At the university clinic in Hannover they will now run a post morten to discover the cause of his death.

Stamm 3615

Cero’s motherline became famous thanks to the mare Cera (Cor de la Bryère - Mandalayn x Capitano, bred by Harm Thormählen) who jumped at 1m60 under the saddle of Paul Darragh and Otto Becker. Before she started her sporting career, however, she gave birth to her only foal, Fein Cera (Landadel), who was the best jumping horse at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, Sunder the saddle of Peter Wylde.

Cera’s grandmother, Sarbit (Galvani I - Vorr x Heiden- stamm, bred by Klaus Emil Peters), became famous under the name Gera. Rheder Thormählen discovered and purchased Gera, who went on to win and place in showjumping competitions, starting at the age of six all the way up to Grand Prix, ridden by his son, Harm Thormählen. With Kurt Jarasinski, the wiry bay who only measured 160cms, became one of the most successful Holstein sho jumpers of her day, including gold on the German team in the Madrid Nations’ Cup.

Gera is the dam of Larsa – who is the mother of Lacapo (Landgraf I), who was approved in Holstein in 1982. Lacapo is warmly praised for his movement in the Stallion Book of the Holsteiner Breed, by Dr Dietrich Rossow: “Medium sized stallion with good expression and beautiful neck carriage. The shoulder could be more sloping. Small dip in the back. Short hip. Adequate bone with faults in the hocks and pasterns behind. Very good mover. Good jumper despite some difficulties with use of the back. Produce: Offspring of medium frame with beautiful faces and lots of appeal. Very good movers.”

This very good movement can be found with the Holsteiner-bred stallion Flem- mingh (Lacapo - Texas x Carneval, Stamm 3558, bred by Heinz Christ. Albertsen) who became a foundation stallion for the KWPN for producing dressage horses.

Larsa is also mother of Gera VI (Calando I), who started in Germany at 1m40 level under Philipp Baumgart, and continued in the USA with Michael Morrisey. The Morrisey-Gera partnership formed when Morrissey was still a junior rider. This partnership successfully com- peted in numerous Grand Prix classes in the United States and Europe. Morrissey recalls: “She is the most favorite animal I have ever been involved with. I had her at a very young stage in my career. She was the kick-start for me at the junior amateur level, and the first horse to get me into the international divisions. She was a true winner and true competitor. She was a smaller mare but her heart and competitiveness set her apart from others. She was the ultimate confidence builder because, no matter what, I knew she would give 110% every time. I am very lucky to have had her and also ver y lucky to have bred her after her career because I see those same traits passed along to her off-spring that we have in our stable.”

Cero

Gera VI is grandmother to the approved Holsteiner bred stallion Cero (Calido I), who jumped at 1m60 under the saddle of Francois Mathy Jnr. He has six approved son’s, including Cero Michel (out of Sigrid x Capo, Stamm 104A, bred by Laura Ma- gens) who did his perform- ance test this year and received an 8.15 for jumping . Cero Michel is named for Michel Magens, Laura Ma- gens’ grandfather, who passed away last year at the age of 94. He lived for his whole life next door to Harm Thormählen and played an important role in the life of Cero I’s breeder...

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