From Denmark came the next premium stallion, the bay Syriano, who combined international performance lines in his pedigree and displayed great body harmony, long lines, a good frame and light-footed movement, but could have been a bit more supple. The stallion had excellent manners and was a pleasure to see from day to day. He was bred by Lena Erichsen in Fredensborg and shown by owner Hubertus Poll of the Hörem Stud in Germany. At auction, this elegant stallion was bought for 55,000€ by Karl-heinz Schulenburg, who will lease the stallion to the East German State Stud Neustadt/Dosse for the 2009 breeding season. Syriano's mare family is O170A1 Sternblume, that is especially succcessful in Denmark.

Premium: Syriano (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+2) and Janne Bugtrup (3))

EH Gribaldi Kostolany Enrico Caruso *Ps*E* by Mahagoni Kapstadt by Falke ESt Gondola II Ibikus by Hertilas Gloria VI by Flugsand PS Samarkant Schwadroneur EH Arogno by Flaneur SPS,PS+ES Schwalbenburg by Ibikus Serikit Märchenprinz by Ecuador xx Sunday Night by Deadly Nightshade xx Mare family of O170A1 Sternblume

The last premium in the ring was the black Düsterberg (ex Donaustolz), a full brother to the 2007 approved Donauklang. Like his brother, he was a very good all around athlete with excellent jumping ability and three high quality basic paces. The stallion displayed excellent manners and was very rythmical and balanced in his movement, yet sometimes could have used his back with more elasticity. This noble black was sold at auction to Gestüt Wiesenhof, already home of an impressive array of stallions, for 34,000€. Bred by Johann A. Timmermann from Schenefeld, he comes from the outstanding A3A Donna family that goes straight back to the main stud Trakehnen, and his future as a dressage horse should be exciting, given he was sold to a stud that takes special pride in the performance career of its stallions.

Premium: Düsterberg (ex Donaustolz (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+2) and Tammo Ernst (3))

Distelzar EH Gribaldi Kostolany by Enrico Caruso *Ps*E* ESt Gondola II by Ibikus Distelgold EH Arogno by Flaneur Distelfee by Matador SPS+PS Donaubirke EH Herzzauber EH Marduc by Halali SPS Herzminze by Radom Donauliebe II Mahon by Mahagoni Doretta II by Schwarzwälder Mare family of A3A Donna (Hauptgestüt Trakehnen)

The first of two Anglo Trakehner colts approved was the elegant bay Immens, like Iskander, a foal from the 2006 NMS Foal Auction. Immens was bred by Karl-Heinz Schulenburg from Kasseedorf in Germany and bought at the foal auction in 2006 by Danish breeder Joergen Retoft from Skibby, who did not offer Immens for sal, but will stand him in Denmark himself. Immens displayed outstanding Trakehner type and is a well-balanced stallion with a good top line. His movement is very light and has excellent rhythm with good elasticity over the back - only his front arm could have had more expression. His mare family of T15B Isola Longa goes straight back to the main stud Trakehnen and was represented by such stallions as Isegrimm, Impressionist (by Herzbube), Indra, Immer Voran, Index, the full brothers Indigo I and II, Isotop, Isländer, Infant, Intimus, Isolan (UK) and of course, the great Ibikus.

Approved: Immens (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+3) and Tammo Ernst (2))

Lauries Crusador xx Welsh Pageant xx Tudor Melody xx by Tudor Minstrel xx Picture Light xx by Court Martial xx Square Note xx High Top xx by Derring-Do xx Piazza del Grillo xx by Le Levanstell xx SPS+PS Ilexis EH Caprimond Karon by EH Arogno ES Capri V by EH Mackensen SPS,PS+ES Ilexa III EH Parforce by Habicht PS Immortelle by Herzbube Mare family of T15B Isola Longa (Hauptgestüt Trakehnen)

The second approved Anglo Trakehner colt was Cristobal. He was also awarded the prize for the highest TB/Arab content in his pedigree and came to Neumünster again from a Danish breeding program, this time from Ann Thomasen & Kit Rønnebech, Jaegerspris. Bought as a wenaling by Hubertus Poll, he is yet another highly athletic son of the great EH Buddenbrock. Cristobal still has a lot to grow into, but was the stallion with the highest canter score of all stallions in Neumünster this year, jumped very well, and moved with good impulsion. Cristoale was acquired at auction by an international trio consiting of Bernadette O'Sullivan from Woodcroft Sutud, fellow UK-breeder Sian Read of Bluewood Trakehners and US Olympian Darren Chiacchia. Cristobal's dam brings new TB genes to the breed and the stallion will begin his breeding career at Gestüt Majenfelderhof in Schleswig-Holstein.

Approved: Cristobal (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+3) and Tammo Ernst (2))

EH Buddenbrock EH Sixtus Habicht by Burnus AAH Stradelle by Ibikus SPS+ES Ballerina XXV Diamant by Erzsand ES Blitzlicht by Burnus AAH Lions Catch xx Catanzaro xx Clever Tell xx by Tell xx Tonie Doll xx by Roman Line xx Konnych xx Sea Catch xx by Sea Hawk xx Gala Galore xx by Gala Performance xx

A crowd's favorite was the dark bay Schwalbenglanz. Bred by Bernd Schubert from Wolfsburg, he was reared and prepared at Gestüt Webelsgrund, where his sire Checkpoint stands at stud. Schwalbenglanz is a very elegant and noble stallion with great manners and a well-balanced way of moving. he is a maternal half brother to the approved San Krotenbach and comes from a branch of the big Schwarze Schwalbe family that has ruled at Germany's auction places in the fall of 2008 with a high selling Hanoverian elite auction foal by Dancier (75,000€), the top selling Klosterhof Medingen auction horse by Depardieu (320,000€) and more auction highlights, all from this combination of Sixtus, Arogno and the Schwarze Schwalbe line. Schwalbenglanz sold at auction for 70,000€ to Gestüt Hohenschmark in Holstein.

Approved: Schwalbenglanz (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+3) and Janne Bugtrup(2))

Checkpoint Polarpunkt EH Arogno by Flaneur Polarreise II by Habicht ESt Corna Illuster by Osterglanz xx ESt Cornau by Lothar Schwarze Schwalbe II EH Arogno Flaneur by Maharadscha ESt Arcticonius xx by Apollonius xx Schwalbenglück Istanbul by Flaneur ES Schwarze Schwalbe by Traumgeist xx Mare family of O35A1a Schwarze Schwalbe (Gestüt Webelsgrund)

Also approved was the black Redecker, who was bred by Gisela Gunia at her Eichenhof Stud, a farm that has a long track record for highly versatile athletes, and Redecker was no exception. This noble black stallion is a classic son of the great Kasparow and it seemed all tasks were easy for him. Light-footed, with excellent self-carriage and impulsion in his trot, he also convinced with a good ground covering canter and above average free jumping. This highly versatile stallion from a family of many great performance horses and the stallions Rubin, Rheingold, Rheinklang and Raubritter, sold at auction for 33,000€ and will also debut at Gestüt Hohenschmark in Holstein.

Approved: Redecker (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1), Peter Richterich (2) and Janne Bugtrup (3))

Kasparow EH Sixtus Habicht by Burnus AAH Stradelle by Ibikus SPS,PS+ES Kandra Kostolany by Enrico Caruso *Ps*E* ESt Kanessa by Schwalbenherbst Ragnit VII Couleur-Fürst Sir Shostakovich xx by Rheingold xx ESt Couleur by Kassiber Rhapsodie V Kopernikus by Tornado I Region by Hessenstein Mare family of O98A Rieta (Mack - Althof)

Next in line was the black colt How Ever, most likely Kostolany's most true-to-type son we have seen so far. The stallion stands over much ground with a good top line and exceptional Trakehner type. While his hock angles are very open, he moved with good mechanics and action and also jumped well. he seemed like a great future dressage star, which was reflected by the fact that he was bought by Finish sponsors for 33,000€ and will remain in training with Terhi Stegars, who is already riding the Trakehner stallion Axis at FEI levels in dressage. How Ever was bred by Horst Briel, Hazfeld-Eifa and was presented in Neumünster by Hans Peter Kleinfeld from Selent. Though his dam, he carries excellent dressage blood and comes from the smaller O44A Horsa family that already produced the dressage sire Hemmingway, Canada's Heling, the young premium stallion Herzog von Heidenroth (NMS 2007) and the UK-stationed international eventing stallion Hannibal.

Approved: How Ever (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+2) and Tammo Ernst (3))

Kostolany Enrico Caruso *Ps*E* Mahagoni by Pasteur xx Elchniederung by Amagun Kapstadt Falke by Grimsel ES Karben by Ibikus SPS+PS Hillery EH Münchhausen TSF EH Hohenstein by EH Caprimond ES Mohnblüte by Königstein SPS+PS Heronja Upan la Jarthe AA by Pancho II AA ES Hera XVI by Memphis Mare family of O44A Horsa (Bosel - Altenrade)

The 2004 Champion stallion Le Rouge had a total of 7 sons accepted for NMS this year - more than any other stallion. Of these 7, three were approved, among them the already mentioned Champion Iskander. Störtebeker was bred by the same breeder as Le Rouge and his approved maternal half brother Latin King, Geert Brenninkmeyer from Hamburg. This bay stallion impressed with his type and outstanding canter work during his at liberty phase, as well as good manners. This direct branch of the big Schwarze Schwalbe line also produced the approved Seewind by Pasteur xx. Störtebeker sold at auction for 45,000€ to Klosterhof Medingen, where he will stand next to his sire.

Approved: Störtebeker (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+2) and Tammo Ernst (3))

Le Rouge Pret a Porter Ivernel by EH Arogno Pontresina by EH Sokrates SPS+PS Lantana Tycoon by Donaumonarch Louisiana by EH Michelangelo Seeschwalbe EH Caprimond Karon by EH Arogno ES Capri V by EH Mackensen Seeschwalbe IV Memelstolz by Amagun Seeschwalbe by Impuls Mare family of O35A1a Schwarze Schwalbe (Gestüt Webelsgrund)

Lichtenfels, a radiant chestnut, was the third approved Le Rouge son this year. One may question the fact that all three approved Le Rouge offspring are out of Caprimond and Hohenstein dams, respectively, and other stallion froom the same sire line may have added more genetic diversity through their dams, but the overall quality of this particular group of horses was very high and hence, pedigree considerations rest. Like most of the Le Rouge offspring, Lichtenberg's movement was powerful from a well-developed back end and showed excellent self-carriage, cadence and elevation in the front. Dam Lena II is a contributor to many auctions in Germany, and also had the riding horse Lemberg in this year's collection. The close maternal relation to the S-level show jumper Lücke makes this pedigree very interesting.

Approved: Lichtenfels (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+2) and Peter Richterich (3))

Le Rouge Pret a Porter Ivernel by EH Arogno Pontresina by EH Sokrates SPS+PS Lantana Tycoon by Donaumonarch Louisiana by EH Michelangelo Lena II EH Caprimond Karon by EH Arogno ES Capri V by EH Mackensen Luci Falke by Grimsel Luca by Ostwind Mare family of O388 Lottka

The black/brown Amadelio was another popular stallion in Neumünster 2008. Impeccably bred with three major dressage sires in a row and from a most valuable sport horse family that originates at Gestüt Webelsgrund, this stallion impressed with dynamic movement and his large, substantial frame. His breeder, Peter Oellrich, is the former stud manager of Webelsgrund and long retired. All the more was it a great achievement for him to breed this stu7nning dressage stallion, who was reared and prepared at Webelsgrund of course. Amadelio was sold at auction for 30,000€ and is now co-owned by the Kordts family from Hamburg and Gestüt Hohenschmark, where he will debut in the 2009 breeding season.

Approved: Amadelio (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+2) and Tammo Ernst (3))

EH Lehndorffs EH Marduc Halali by Gabriel Madeira by Ferlin Legende IX Lucado by Donauwind *E* Lucky by Gunnar PS Amadelia Lauries Crusador xx Welsh Pegeant xx by Tudor Melody xx Square Note xx by High Top xx ES Amazonia Polargeist by Dämon ox Amazonka by EH Tenor Mare family of T20F1 Arcona (Gestüt Webelsgrund)

The first approved son of the Russian show jumper Long Deal was approved with Imago. This energetic black stallion comes from the breeding program of the Ernst family in Altenrade, and true to their highly succcessful sport horse lines, displayed excellent jumping potential, a great work ethic and powerful movement especially in his trot. This medium-framed stallioin was spotted and acquired at auction for 17,000 € by US Trakehner breeders David Beattie and Kevin O'Meara for their KD Trakehner Farm in Wisconsin.

Approved: Imago (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+2) and Janne Bugtrup (3))

Long Deal Alarm III Neujahr by Neumond ES Almut by Klingsor Prjacha Hockey by Pomerantes ox Prichot by Piligrim SPS +PS Idemara Giorgio Armani EH Arogno by Flaneur Geisha V by Sleipnir SPS+ES Iris XII Lucado by Donauwind *E* ESt Interesse by Karwendelstein Mare family of O451 Ilonka (Bongardt-Gr.Buchwald)

Hämelschenburg's sire Summertime presented two sons in Neumünster this year, of which Everio was approved. Bred by Björn Hanke in Hameln and presented in Neumünster by Gestüt Hämelschenburg, this colt impressed with his outstanding Trakehner type, correct foundation and substance in his conformation. His dam line is also represented by Enrico Caruso *Ps*E*, the international eventing stallion El Greco TSF, Eisenerz, Egmont and the newly ATA approved Eisenherz. At auction, Everio sold for 26,000€ to private breeders in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Approved: Everio (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1), Peter Richterich (2) and Janne Bugtrup (3))

Summertime EH Michelangelo Pasteur xx by Bürgermeister xx SPS,PS+ES Miami by Matador PS Sarogna EH Arogno by Flaneur Saskia VII by Valerian Erina II EH Caprimond Karon by EH Arogno ES Capri V by EH Mackensen SPS,PS+ES Etana Falke by Grimsel Eileen II by Magnet *E* Mare family of O76A1 Ethies (Gehlhaar-Ditterke)

The last stallion of the lot was also one of its most interesting: Lombardi, conceived via frozen semen 6 years after his sire passed away at age 26 (!), he represented the modern Trakehner sport horse like no other. Lombardi's dam line has produced several international eventers, among them Olympian Longchamps, and with a pedigree like this, the prize for "best jumper 2008" almost seemed a given. Lombardi, who was bred by Gestüt Vogelsangshof where his sire used to stand, was not for sale and will debut at Vogelsangshof as the latest addition to the Trakehner stallion line up for 2009.

Approved: Lombardi (photos by Jutta Bauernschmitt (1+2) and Janne Bugtrup (3))

Zauberklang *E* Prince Conde Prince Rouge xx by Red Prince xx Korviglia by Hansakapitän PS+ES Zauberspiel Impuls by Humboldt Zauberlied by Lateran Louisville Sir Chamberlain Sir Shostakovich xx by Rheingold xx Syoni by Padparadscha Louisiana II Tizian by Harnisch Lantana by Patron Mare family of O388 Lottka

The stallion lines split up as follows: