Mare family ofEA13A Cresta Star xx (Maracke-Pohlsee)

Two Imperio sons were presented in NMS this year, and both were approved with a premium. Both were light, elegant models and black. And both had very good movement in their trot and canter. The first was Schwarzgold, who comes from an interesting, TB-based mare family and had many fans this year. He could have shown a much more supple walk, but was overall a very elegant, modern stallion. Bred by Sabine Oberdieck, he was already owned by a syndicate before the auction and hence, was not for sale. He began his breeding career at Gestüt Hörem.

Mare family ofT14O2 Herbstgold (Gestüt Schmoel/Panker)

The other Imperio son was Hancock. Bred by Kristine Gehrmann-Arp, the wife of breed director Lars Gehrmann (who left the area everytime the stallion made an appearance), he was also not for sale, but already owned by Gestüt Hörem, where he too began his career as a breeding stallion right after NMS. The stallion was in many way a splitting image of his paternal half brother, premium Schwargold, but with a very different mare line. His dam was a high price auction mare in NMS several years ago, and had a very brief under saddle career that took her to the Bundeschampionat of the German Riding Horse.

Mare family of O102A Flamme (Schlacht-Holm)

If there was such a thing as "best canter prize", it would have to go to Fairmont Hill this year. Bred by Karl Skupin, this black stallion was also already pre-owned by a stallion station, and was not for sale. He will begin his career with Joop van Uytert in the Netherlands, and is co-owned by Hans-Peter Kleinfeld. The stallion had a magnificient canter with tremendous uphill lift and reach (although very loud!). He was avery nice dressage model overall and was a clear crowd's favorite from day 1.

Mare family ofE14 The Oldfield Mare

United Nations xx was the first full TB approved in NMS - as both dam and sire are approved by the Stud Book. This exciting stallion was a versatile athlete with a good jump, lovely uphill movement, great cadence in his front arm and despite a not very correct foundation, a very welcome addition to the gene pool. He was bred by Marion Essing and sold at auction to the eventing barn and breeding stable of the Lehnhard family at gestüt Söderhof in Lower Saxony.

Mare family of E3 Byerly Turk Mare (Dam of Two True Blues)

Another great blood alternative was Touch my Heart, maybe the last Herzruf son and out of a fantstic dam. Two maternal half sister compete internationally in eventing, and one maternal half brother is an upper level show jumper. Touch my Heart was a substantial and very tall stallion (already 3yr old) and showed a great temperament throughout the days, paired with good ground covering movement. he is of great riding type and was sold at auction to Gestüt Drei Kronen in Kiel.

Mare family ofT6A1 Blinklicht (Gestüt Schmoel/Panker)

The great mare Bandera presented her last son (she died due to colic earlier this year), and Berlusconi did not disapoint. The stallion was still imature and lacked tyoe, but made up for it easily by his great athleticism and versatile abilities. The stallion was bred by Horst Ebert from the same family as Buddenbrock, and was presented in NMS by the breeder and Heinrich Ramsbrock. At auction, he sold to an East German State Stud.

Mare family of T1C Polarfahrt (Hauptgestüt Trakehnen)

Polarzar was bred by Trakehner Gestüt Lindenhof am Berg and presented in NMS by the Swiss Grand Prix rider Andrea Wicki-Mäder, who competes sire Distelzar very successfully and at international level. Hence, Polarzar was not for sale either - he will hopefully one day fill his sire's footsteps. The stallion was a true highlight over jumps with catlike technique and formidable scope. He was also a very good and balanced mover, which highlighted his versatility and sport horse potential.

Mare family ofT6A1 Blinklicht (Gestüt Schmoel/Panker)

The best show jumper of the event was the chestnut Glücksruf who is another example of the great sport horses Gestüt Ganschow breeds on a regular basis. The stallion was an exceptional mover with balance and great elasticity, had probably the best walk of the crop and jumped far above average with tremendous power and scope. The lack of a premium title is something most didn't understand. It hardly comes any better than this in type and athleticism. The stallion was originally bought back at auction by Gestüt Ganschow, but still in NMS found a new owner in American Timothy Holekamp of New Spring Farm in Columbia, MO. Glücksruf will begin his riding and breeding career at Gestüt Majenfelderhof in Germany.

Mare family of A3A3 Donaufürstin (Wahler-Klosterhof Medingen)

Dow Jones was a very pleasant stallion of medium frame with very engaged hind quarters and a wonderful disposition. He was very harmonious overall and a balanced, supple mover that would make dressage rider happy. The stallion was bred by Gestüt Elmarshausen in Hessia and sold at auction to the family of Anna Lena Kracht, who had been so very successful at FEI levels with the sire Kasimir TSF. Since Kasimir was sold to france this year, Anna Lena now has a youngster to look forward to!

Mare family of O388A Hulla (Hundsdörfer-Meckelstedt)

High Hopes is the first approved son of Krokant, who was sold as a riding horse and no longer stands at stud. The inbreeding part to Caprimond in this pedigree really shows in this stallion with a beautiful face, harmonious, yet somewhat soft top line, and the very pleasant temperament. Bred by Anja Soujon, he was presented by the Gierke family and is still owned by them. The stallion is currently only a riding horse, not up for stud.

Mare family of E1A Irka xx (Gestüt Webelsgrund)

It is interesting to note that all previous Schiffon sons, and now his grand sons, show great potential over jumps despite their farily dressage-oriented genetic background. Iceman was no exception to that observation and was one of the best jumpers of the NMS approvals this year. The stallion was bred and presented by Reiner Kasch of Gestüt Heitholm.

Mare family of O102A Flamme (Schlacht-Holm)

Freischütz was a very impressive dressage model from a very successful family. He already has a sibling competing at S level in dressage. The stallion was bred by Hildegard Schuster and sold at auction to Gestüt Drei Kronen. He moved with a lot of power and was overall a more solid, substantial model with a very good foundation. Since his sire left Germany a while ago this is a welcome addition to the stud book.