Before the award ceremony, licensing board member Dr. Hans-Peter Karp summed up his impressions by saying; “On the hard ground we saw many outstanding types with super riding-horse qualities. The loose jumping was also a highlight. We consider that dressage horses must to be able to use their bodies. Trakehners enjoy a good reputation at many international eventing stables. Therefore, they need a good canter. Many stallions from this year’s crop showed an excellent canter with balance, power and a good hind-leg action. Occasionally, we could have wished for more suppleness and relaxation in walk. For that reason, let me appeal to the stallion trainers; ‘Less is sometimes more’.”

The career of the champion stallion Ferrari Forever began at the foal auction at the Trakehner state championships in Hanover. On the recommendation of customer consultant Erhard Schulte, Austrian horseman Hans-Jörg Gasser placed the highest bid on the colt. His dam, the state premium mare For ever (by elite stallion Impetus) was herself the winner of the central mare registration in Wickrath.

Breeding director Lars Gehrmann was complimentary about the typey grey stallion: “Ferrari Forever was the best stallion of the crop. He presented himself with a lovely silhouette, nobility, expression, cleverness, and a 100-percent safe pedigree for breeding.”

Dagobert Vester, who has been breeding for around 40 years, has five or six active Trakehner mares that he calls his own. His son, Tim, received the award on his father’s behalf, and was completely overwhelmed: “We never thought that our stallion would become the number one of the entire crop.” Ferrari Forever was not offered for sale and so will stay with his owner Hans-Jörg Gasser, who also bought the 2018 Trakehner champion stallion Kattenau at the auction in Neumünster.

Reserve champion stallion and audience favorite was Taryk (Luecke xHirtentanz), bred and owned by Gisela Gunia from Uslar. Taryk advanced as the best jumping stallion. According to Lars Gehrmann, “The stallion carries great sympathy and has a beautiful face. At the fences he showed his outstanding quality with scope, great style, and carefulness.” Taryk is a full brother to Trakehner jumping cham-pion Tecumseh, and the handsome young man changed hands for €78,000 and traveled to his joint owners Elmarshausen Stud and Panker Stud. In future he will be trained for competitive sport by Harm Sievers...To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber