Projekt Nurmi e.V.

This project was founded by a group of dedicated German breeders over the course of several years and is dedicated to promote the Trakehner horse where historically it alway excelled the most: eventing. The name is the program: it remembers the most successful Trakehner in eventing, the gelding Nurmi, who won the team and individual Gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

The origin of the sport of eventing is closely related to the origin of the Trakehner breed. First and foremost, the East Prussian horse was a war remount and bred to excel as an endurance horse with the ability to travel long distances, overcome obstacles and during the course of this, stay sound and viable with a minimum of care and food. To achieve these goals, the breed was heavily infused with thouroughbred blood, both from English as well as Oriental sources. The influential sires of that time can be found in the History section of this web page. Unlike any of the other modern German warmbloods, the Trakehner has a foundation in TB breeds and has always been a strong contestant in the sport of eventing. Although the impact and influence of TBs in the breed has declined over the past 25 years, new and successful efforts are undertaken to bring this positive influence back. And Projekt Nurmi's founders and members are working hard at achieving this goal.

One of the first action of the group was the establishment of a mare performance test that would test a horse's ability to excel in eventing. This MPT was designed for 3 and 4 year old mares. Additionally, geldings can participate as well and get an objective evaluation of their talents and possibilities. The test was fully acknowledged by the German Trakehner Verband as well as the federal institutions of each State and is fully equivalent to the regular MPT performed these days. Premium titles can be given based on this test. Another prime interest of the PN people is to help and actively promote the breeding of event horses, a business still rarely pursued around the globe. A list of selected stallions is being formed right now, stallions that have 1) excelled in eventing themselves, 2) produced a number of exceptional eventers or 3) that are still young, but carry a high percentage of TB, AA or OX blood and due to their ancestor's performances can be expected to pass one positive trademarks for successful eventers.

A major "problem" for breeders that specialize in high degree "blood" horses is marketability. Often, these horses represent the late-maturing group of horses and usually also do not attract big groups of buyers at weanling age due to their lack of modern day trots. PN helps in several ways. Already the decision for breeding two individual horses can be guided by PN officials, the foal can be promoted through the Projekt's own web page, the young 3 year old will be put into training with known professionals in the field and once an active career is launched, the MPT and Remount test, specially designed sales shows like the recent one in Hamburg and other marketing tools are avaiable.

Trakehners International is proud to introduce a few of the selected PN event horses that were selected by an expert committee recently for the first Projekt Nurmi Sales Show, an event staged during the prestigious Hamburg Eventing Derby in early August 2004. For our clients, we offer the same high quality sales service for these pre-selected, highly accomlished and already vet checked event horses. And for the members of Projekt Nurmi e.V., we hope to provide a decent platfrom to inform the interested public about the project's new ideas and shows and hopefully a good way to promote their horses in the riding community.

 

The Projekt Nurmi horses:

2000 dark bay premium mare Ascara by Lafayette out of Arielle by Kostolany

Sire Lafayette placed 6th in his 100 day test dressage index in Neustadt/Dosse and has been promoted as a dressage horse by his owners, the Diehm family of the Hörstein stud. He has won up to 4th level and easily schools PSG and more. He is a son of the prominent show jumper and eventer sire EH Sixtus, and through his dam, carries the valuable blood of Patricius xx, who founded the Van Deyk stallion line with the Bundeschampions Kaiserkult TSF and Kaiserdom TSF, as well as the Bundeschampionat and FEI World Champion Eventer Grafenstolz TSF. The mare line has further produced the top show jumpers Lessen and Lossow.

In 2003, Ascara won the Projekt Nurmi test with 8.45 overall, and 9.5 and 9 for her jumping. She won young dressage horse, show jumper, and eventer classes, and is in the Trakehner Verband show jumper program. She is now a brood mare and had her first foal in 2006, a colt by the show jumper Caruso Nero.

 

2001 bay stallion Brioni by EH Friedensfürst out of Bagheera ox by Bagdad ox-Almaz ox

Sire is the famous Grand Prix stallion Friedensfürst, who revitalized a stallion line that was almost gone in Europe. The Rondo-branch of the Schabernack line has always produced excellent performance horses at the highest levels. Rondo was an influential sire in Hanover and won advanced level show jumping himself. The line was also carried to Denmark through Arthus. In North America, the Schabernack line was very prominent because of Graditz, who sired many approved sons (e.g. Grand Prix show jumper Advocate, Grand Prix dressage stallion Ibsen or the younger Tzigane) and is known as an excellent brood mare sire. The dam Bagheera ox is one of the highest decorated Arabian mares in the Trakehner stud book. Today, she is a very valuable brood mare in the herd of Ted Wezel at Schralling stud, where she is primarily bred to Russian Trakehners stallions and impresses with outstanding, athletic offspring (like her 2005 foal by Acartenango). Bagheera ox is an inbred to Naftalin ox by Topol ox, a stallion very well known in the Arab race world who also produced the late, Trakehner approved Kosmonaut ox for the Hoogen Stud.

Brioni is an approved Trakehner stallion, 30 and 70 day tested, won his Nurmi Show in 2005, and is now accomplished in show jumping and eventing at preminary level, with a qualification for the Bundeschampionat in 2006. A video of Brioni is available in our video database.

 

1998 bay mare Cerasus Colline by Odeur xx out of Cocette II by Polargeist--Kampfgeist

Sire Odeur xx was a son of the highly acclaimed German rac horse Athenagoras xx, a stallion who was the champion of his time. He did have significant influence on the warmblood breeds too, with 5 approved sons in the Trakehner breed alone. Dam sire Polargeist is also the dam sire of the international Grand Prix dressage stallion Solero RBS and combines outstanding Arab blood through Gharib ox with the world's most successful current Trakehner eventing blood: Habicht. Kampfgeist was a son of the influential Traumgeist xx and a decendant of the legendary Kassette mare family, one that produced, among others, the 1985 National EVenting Champion of Australia, Kassiber.

In 2003, as a 5 year old, Cerasus Colline qualified for the National Event Horse Championships in Germany. Her performance record includes wins and placings up to preliminary level.

   

1997 black mare Fleur Noir by Koenigstraum xx out of Fleur Rouge by Mumpitz-Dynamit.

Sire Koenigstraum xx had only limited influence in the local warmblood breeds in Europe but sired, among several successful dressage horses and show jumpers the CCI*** eventer Dame Edna. Dam sire Mumpitz was highly acclaimed as a producer of very ridable and cooperative dressage horses, until his value for the show jumper ring was recognized as well. Already his sire Postmeister sired several successful jumpers. Last but not least, Dynamit, who was an accomlished FEI dressage horse (like his sire Elfenglanz), left a postitve mark on several outstanding brood mares. his fully brother Dynamit was an international FEI dressage horse and line continues down via the legendary Flaneur, a stallion equally important in producing dressage mounts as well as athletic show jumpers.

Fleur Noir had time to mature and was originally planned to replace her mother at the farm. Brought to one of the PN inspections out of curiosity, she impressed both the audience as well as the commission with her exceptional talent for eventing.

   

1999 bay gelding Henry by EH Beg xx out of Halifax by EH Lehndorffs-Insterruf

Sire Beg xx is a Russian bred TB stallion of great importance for the Trakehner breed. Several approved sons, among them the extremely talented full brothers Sky Dancer (FEI show jumper) and Sky Walker as well as the dressage stallion Kantadou and the British owned Prokofiev are examples of his outstanding contribution. Dam sire is the elite stallion Lehndorffs, who produces outstanding dressage horses and brood mares in rows, but who also left his mark on versatility and general athleticism. A nice example is his approved son Pepper&Salt, who won his 70 day test with the amazing scores of 134 (dressage) and 137 (jumping). Finally, Insterruf, who comes from the same family as Insterfeuer, sire of the accomplished CCI** eventer Bukephalos.

Due to his very young age, Henry is starting with the professional rider Beeke Kaack now. Beeke, who has an excellent record as the trainer of young event horses and has herself guided the former National Vice Champion Karama M, is full of praise for this youngster.

   

1999 bay mare Kosmotess by Matador xx out of Kastanie by Honeur-Arthus

Sire Matador xx was a state stud stallion in Redefin/East Germany and has a known production record of outstanding show jumpers. The dam line is once more the Kassette line, and the dam here comes from the same branch as the highly successful event horses Kunta Kinte TSF, Karama M and Kaiserwalzer, all successful internationally. The dam's sire Honeur is a son of the legendary show jumper producer and elite stallion Leonardo, who, among others, sired the Grand Prix show jumper Kairos/Holger Hetzel and the US stationed FEI dressage stallion Herzberg/Jennifer Hoffman. The second dam's sire Arthus decends from the same stallion line as the late elite stallion and GP dressage horse Friedensfürst and the important ATA stallion Graditz, whose ATA approved son Tzigane was a top young eventer in the US and is now on his way to a Grand prix show jumping career.

Kosmotess was tested in the unique Projekt Nurmi MPT as a three year old in 2002 and finished 2nd out of 10 with a score of 79%. She has achieved places and wins in young horse cross country tests with scores up to 87%.

   

1998 bay gelding Monte Royal FR by Artistic-Rock out of Martinique by Santiago-Gift Card xx

Sire Artistic Rock is a proven and successful FEI dressage horse. He is a descendant of the Swazi xx-EH Consul stallion line, which makes him a close relative to the CCI*** eventer and Olympic short list candidate Grand Prix/ Ingrid Klime, the National Event Horse Championship competitor Houston/Marina Koehncke and the outstanding CCI** eventer anf former champion stallion Fontainbleau/Andreas Dibowski, who is the sire of several outstanding event horses himself (Kunta Kinte TSF, Karama M, El Greco). Furthermore, the line also produced the WEG Jerez German Eventing Team member Vilano/Peter Thompson.

The list of achievemnets for this youngster is quite impressive: wins and placings at training level horse trials and scores up to 85% in xc tests for young horses have been topped in 2004 by his qualification for the prestigious National Event Horse Championships in Warendorf.

   

1999 bay mare Palame by Guter Planet out of Pattaya xx by Solo xx

Sire Guter Planet is one of the breed's most versatile producers. Among his offspring you will find the former National Show Jumper Champion Merlin, who is now a FEI dressage horse for Belgium, or the CCI** eventer Herbstplanet R. Again, a descendant of the already mentioned Swazi xx-EH Consul line, Guter Planet's dam also produced the champion stallion Guter Stern as well as the National Champion mare Gute Welt. The dam's sire Mahagoni brings in more TB influence and is one of the breed's most successful producer of international Grand Prix dressage horses (e.g. Olympic Bronze Medalist Peron TSF).

Palame has won and placed in materiale classes, young show jumper tests (3'9'') and basic cross country tests. She was the highest placed Trakehner at the 2005 Bundeschampionat in eventing and in 2006, had a solid preliminary/intermediate season.

 

1999 black mare True Love by EH Sixtus out of Temple Touch xx by Touching Wood xx-Northfields xx

The elite stallion Sixtus is the breed's currently most successful show jumper and event horse producer. As a son of the CCI*** winner and major sport horse sire Habicht, EH Sixtus is exspecially successful when crossed with TB mares. His son Altefeld's Rob Roy, whose dam is also a full TB mare, won the National Event Horse Championships in 2002. Another known eventer and approved son of Sixtus, Skatman, reflects the high expectations one can have when seeing Sixtus crossed with TB blood. The combination of Sixtus's sire Habicht with a full TB mare also produced the current Olympic eventer Windfall. A full brother to this mare was preselected for the Trakehner stallion approvals in 2003.

True Love is only now in constant training under saddle, after she had her time to mature and grow up. She impresses with excellent work ethics and the will to please.

 

2000 grey gelding Unfug by Bazar ShA out of Utrecht by Vers I-Blaubart xx

Sire Bazar ShA is a descendant of the higly important Shagya Arabian stallion Bajar ShA, who evenb today, years after his passing, has a high index for show jumping and eventing among his offspring. International event horses like White Girl (Olympic Games Atlanta 1996) or Baccara reflect his positive influence just as much as the Grand Prix show jumper Balzac. Bajar was also approved for the Holsteiner breed, where he had some influence too. His son Bazar ShA was leased to the state stud in Neustadt/Dosse and his oldest kids are now entering the world of upper level sports. On the dam side we find old East German Trakehner blood as well as highly proven TB. Dam's sire Vers I established one of the East's most prominent stallion lines via Altan-Lamarc, a line that has produced endless competitiors both for dressage as well as show jumping. Finally, the TB Bluabart xx, is the sire of the elite stallion Grossist, himself sire of the 2003 National Event Horse Champion Nagano/Christina Korte. In addition, the sire of Blaubart xx, Bürgermeister xx, is also the sire of the influential TB Pasteur xx (as in Mahagoni).

Unfug is only now being shown publicly, so has no performance record yet. However, he impressed the selection committee with his excellent scope in jumping and his eager and willing attitude.

 

1999 bay mare Flight Control by Noble Roi xx out of Fliederknospe by Steuben-Wie Ibikus

Sire Noble Roi xx holds one of the highest overall breeding indeces for TB sires in the German warmblood breeds and together with his brother Nouveau Roi xx has achieved an imeccable standing among German breeders. his offspring excel in show jumping (e.g. the now US based Noble Champion, a former international GP show jumper). Close relation exists furthermore to such excellent sport horse producers as Sevillano xx, Heraldik xx and Elan xx. The dam is a daughter of the former Hanoverian Celle State Stud stallion Steuben, son of the highly accomplished Gelria out of the Irish TB mare Sloppy Lady xx. Among Steuben's kids we find the eventer Medinilla/Adam Liedermann, at national level and the international Grand Prix show jumper Rosegarden/Rodrigo Pessoa. The line further continues with the excellent producer Wie Ibikus, who only bred for 2 seasons, but left 4 approved sons: the champion stallion Santiago, the elite stallion and GP dressage mount Vatout, the top dressage producer Ferrum and the chestnut Kiebitz, sire of the 100 day test winner and elite stallion Banditentraum.

Flight Control finished the PN mare performance test in 2003 as a 4 year old with an overall score of 78% and received her premium score. Her mind and temper can only be described as exceptional, as she is also ridden by juniors, even in shows, and always stays focused and calm.

 

1998 bay gelding Rising in Space by Noible Roi xx out of Radschendra by Mohammed-Tango

Sire Noble Roi xx holds one of the highest overall breeding indeces for TB sires in the German warmblood breeds and together with his brother Nouveau Roi xx has achieved an imeccable standing among German breeders. his offspring excel in show jumping (e.g. the now US based Noble Champion, a former international GP show jumper). Close relation exists furthermore to such excellent sport horse producers as Sevillano xx, Heraldik xx and Elan xx. The dam is the elite mare Radschendra, who earned her elite title due to her own outstanding success in upper level eventing. Her sire Mohammed is a descendant of the famous Donauwind stallion line, a line that among others produced the Olympic Goold medalist and World Cup winner Abdullah/Conrad Homefeld. Mohammed furthermore has a dam by Habicht, which means that he combines two of the ultimate Trakehner sport horse lines. Mohammed himself was an accomplished FEI dressage stallion.

Rising in Space finished the 2002 PN MPT in Valluhn with a premium score of 79% and has since then only been trained occasionally due to several changes in his trainer's schedule.

We would like to thank the photographers Ronald Hogrebe, Michael Sauter, Carsten Roehnert, Margarete Malten, and Bjoern Schroeder for the photos.