Holsteiner Horse - Breed History - Influential Sires

Influential Sires

Warmblood breeds, including the Holsteiner, are modeled to meet the demands of the market, and are never stagnant. When agile cavalry horses were required, Baroque horses from Spain and Naples were used; when flashier coach horses were in demand, the Yorkshire Coach horse contributed its genes. Following World War II, the farm horse gave way to the leisure riding horse and sport horse. Holstein breeders have achieved their aims in the past century with the use of Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arab, and Anglo-Norman sires. The mare base with which breeders were working was of heavy warmblood type. They were calm and sensible, with great depth and breadth but also with elegance, quality and active gaits suitable for coaching. Holsteiners of this era lacked elasticity and athleticism for dressage, and were heavy and slow off the ground over fences. Therefore, the influences due to selection for pulling power had to be systematically eliminated.

• Ramzes AA (1937–1965) gray Anglo-Arabian, 166 cm (Rittersporn xx - Shagya X-3 - Bakszysz ox)

Bred in Poland. This homozygous gray stallion, with a Thoroughbred sire and Shagya Arabian dam, was among the three most important German sires in the early years. He was leased to the state stud of Neuendorf for the 1951, 1952, 1959 and 1960 breeding seasons. Intermittently, he was sent to Westphalia, where he founded the male line that lead to the influential dressage sire, Rubinstein. In Holstein, though, Ramzes AA produced international caliber jumpers Retina, Ramona and Romanus. A full sister to Romanus, Vase produced fourteen foals for Holstein including the top stallions Maurus and Montreal. Most importantly for Holstein, Ramzes AA sired Raimond, the sire of Ramiro, the "Stallion of the Century".

• Anblick xx (1938–1964) dark bay or brown Thoroughbred, 161 cm (Ferro xx - Herold xx - Nuage xx)

Bred at Graditz State Stud. Anblick xx was the first post-World War II refining sire. In comparison to their dams, his offspring were lighter-boned, exceptionally good movers, game and bold over fences. Anblick xx left 14 approved sons and 49 broodmares. His best son was Aldato, maternal grandsire of Landgraf. He also sired the horses Antoinette and Venetia, who competed at the Olympics.

• Cottage Son xx (1944–1964) black or brown Thoroughbred, 164 cm (Young Lover xx - Cottage xx - Speed xx)

Bred in England. Cottage Romance represented both Great Britain and his sire, Cottage Son xx, in eventing at the 1960 Rome Olympics. The year before, Cottage Son xx had been sent to Elmshorn to cross on heavier Holsteiner mares. The State Stud of Traventhal was being dissolved, as horse breeding had stagnated. As an upgrader, Cottage Son xx produced good riding horses with willing, honest temperaments. His daughters were exceptional, producing the likes of Lord and Ramiro. He left 53 broodmares and 14 approved sons, and the best among them was Consul. However, this Thoroughbred's lasting influence is felt primarily through his great-grandson Capitol I and through female families today.

• Marlon xx (1958–1981) dark buckskin Thoroughbred, 164 cm (Tamerlane xx - Fairford xx - Knight of the Garter xx)

Bred in Ireland. Marlon xx sired horses that were structurally correct with great gaits, with tough, competitive characters and mental endurance. He was an especially good sire of Eventing horses, including Madrigal, who at the Montreal Olympics garnered an individual bronze medal and team silver medal. His grandsire Persian Gulf xx is half-brother to Precipitation xx, the sire of Furioso xx. His son Montevideo was a member of the gold medal dressage team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Marlon xx was a very, very dark buckskin, and was known for producing palomino and buckskin offspring. He left 43 States Premium mares among countless broodmares, and 21 approved sons including Dutch sire Kommandeur (formerly Manchester) and Danish model sire Martell.

• Ladykiller xx (1961–1979) bay Thoroughbred, 164 cm (Sailing Light xx - Loaningdale xx - Apron xx)

Bred in England. Ladykiller xx was powerful and masculine, striking, correct and considered very attractive, with a quality head. His type, rather open loins and high-set, crested neck, are all common features of the Holsteiner breed. As a sire, he reproduced not only his handsome looks, but gaits, strong character, kind temperament, and above all, great jumping technique. His best sons, among the many, were Lord and Landgraf I. Ladykiller xx is responsible for the frequency with which warmblood names begin with the letter "L".

• Cor de la Bryére (1968–2000) dark bay Selle Francais, 166 cm (Rantzau xx - Lurioso - Landau)

Bred in France. The importation of Cor de la Bryére, commonly "Corde", was sparked by the success of his two cousins in Oldenburg, Furioso II and Futuro. They shared their sire, Furioso xx, with Lurioso, Corde's maternal grandsire. It is difficult to overstate Corde's influence on the breeding of jumping horses. With sophistication of technique, elasticity and bascule, and an endless spring, Corde brought to Holstein breeders exactly what they needed. His list of descendants in jumping sport is extensive. Additionally, Corde's offspring were easy to ride and kind with well-balanced canters. His sons include Caletto I, Caletto II, Caletto III, Calypso I, Calypso II, Calypso III, Calypso IV, Corrado I,Corde-Star and Cordalmé Z.

Holsteiner breeders today rarely add in foreign blood, and allow upgrading stallions based on their proven ability to contribute to the genepool. Other important sires for the Holsteiner breed include Almé Z, especially through his son Quidam de Revel, and Bachus Z, son of the Shagya Arabian Bajar.