By Christopher Hector
Photography: FEI/Dirk Caremans
Vivaldi is a shooting star on the 2019 WBFSH rankings, coming in at number nine, up from 18th last year. The chestnut is currently one of the hottest stallions on the scene in both Germany and Holland, and Paul Schockemöhle’s Gestüt Lewitz stallion station is rightly proud of one of the stars of their roster.
According to Schockemöhle’s website: “2018 year was once again a real festival for Vivaldi. Vivaldi produced the €2 million market sensation in Verden, our premium stallion Vivino. Vanity Fair won the Herwart von der Decken Show, the annual Hanoverian mare championship in Verden. And Vivaldi’s licensed son Veneziano/Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN) won the Louisdor Prize for the best young Grand Prix horse in Frankfurt. He has produced a total of 35 licensed stallions. During his breeding career in the Netherlands, Vivaldi produced, amongst others: Cennin/Madeleine Witte-Vrees (NED), who came fifth in the World Cup; Desperado/ Emmelie Scholtens (NED), who is successful at Grand Prix level; Eye Catcher, double bronze medallist at the World Championships and victorious in Small Tour; Dancer, 2014 World Champion [with Kirsten Brouwer (NED)]; and Vitalis/Isabel Freese, Burg Cup winner. He also produced the Westphalian Reserve Champion Van Vivaldi, the Oldenburg Reserve Champion Versace, the second Oldenburg Reserve Champion Veneziano, and the Hanoverian premium stallion Livaldon. Felix won double gold at the Pavo Cup in 2015 and 2016 in the Netherlands.”
Vivaldi was also in evidence at the 2019 dressage World Championship for Young Horses (WBCYH) in Ermelo, siring one representative, while his son, Vitalis was responsible for four. Vitalis, Vivaldi's first licensed stallion, has had quite a dramatic career. Bred by Toon de Crom and W. Verbakel, he was presented at the Westfalian stallion licensing in 2009, where he was crowned reserve champion. Leased to the Westfalian State Stud, he stood for three years, and during that time he was presented at the KWPN stallion licensing, but was not accepted.
Vitalis competed in the 2012 WBCYB to finish sixth in the consolation finals. He was sold to the American-based Danish rider, Charlotte Jorst in September 2012. Jorst and Vitalis competed in the 2013 WBCYH six-year-old class to finish 13th. He went on to win the US Young Horse Championships that same year. In 2014, the pair competed in Small Tour classes and were 11th in the Inter I Freestyle at the US dressage championships. Vitalis disappeared from competition in 2015 before being sold in September of that year to Paul Schockemöhle and Lone Boegh Henriksen and brought home to Germany.
Ridden by Schockemöhle stable rider, Isabel Freese, Vitalis won the 2016 Nürnberger Burg-Pokal, and since then seems to have concentrated on his breeding duties – with success.
Vivaldi was also the buzz stallion at the 2018 Hanoverian licensing, mainly through his son, Vitalis. Hanvoerian breeding expert, Ludwig Christman thought it was Vivaldi rather than Vitalis that attracted the breeders. “It is not only Vitalis, it is Vivaldi in general. When you look at the sons and grandsons of Vivaldi, you can see his qualities.”
So you think it is Vivaldi more than Vitalis? Certainly in Holland they think Vivaldi is the most exciting younger stallion…
“I remember when he first started as a stallion there was a question mark behind him, it was felt that Vivaldi would not be a Grand Prix producer, but now we see his offspring competing in Grand Prix. At our licensing, Vivaldi was the most influential stallion, I think he had 16 stallions with his blood at the licensing. The riders like the mix of traditional Hanoverian blood, particularly from the ‘D’ line, and some Dutch blood.”
Interesting then that Vivaldi's two most successful Grand Prix horses, Cenin, and the emerging Blue Hors Venezio are both out of Donnerhall mares.
Vivaldi was reserve champion of his stallion performance test in the Netherlands and won the Pavo Cup for five-year-old dressage horses in 2007. In 2008 and 2009, ridden by Hans Peter Minderhoud, he won the KNHS/KWPN stallion competition, where he was awarded 10.0 for his trot. He was then internationally successful up to Prix St. Georges. In 2013, he won the VHO trophy at the KWPN licensing. He was another of the modern stallions that made it to Prix St Georges, but then failed to make the leap to Grand Prix... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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