For the Horse Lover
"Donnerhall"
1981 - 2001
Even after his death, he still makes headlines in breeding like no other sire.
His Story :
Donnerhall - a living legend - began his career rather inconspicuously in 1983, the year he was approved. At that time he had not filled out and was a bit immature. But that changed just a short year later at the stallion performance test. Firmly holding the victor's position in dressage in a field of 70 stallions, he was also convincing over the fences and left the performance test in Adelheidsdorf as Reserve Champion. In 1986, with applause that sounded like thunder, he became DLG Champion Stallion in Hanover and it was now obvious that a very special sire was in the making. Sure of his goals, he took first place after first place at every level all the way to international Grand Prix Special at the Olympic Games.
Don Primero, a Donnerhall son born at Grönwohldhof, was approved in Oldenburg in 1987 and set off in the footsteps of his sire. And with great success, as the FN predicted breeding value statistics proves today.
Donnerhall's success in sport in 1990 caught everyone's attention. His 33 first places in difficult tests with his sole rider, Karin Rehbein, speak for itself. But in breeding as well, Donnerhall continuously moved toward center stage. Donnerhall's off-spring were increasingly found in Vechta's foal ring and the name Donnerhall also became a permanent fixture at the PSI auctions. In 1992, his approved son, Donnerschwee, was sold in Vechta for DM 220,000, the highest price ever paid for a horse at a German auction to date. In that same year, the German Championships were written in the annals of history as the Donnerhall Festival: Primavera, out of a Pik König dam, took third place among the three-year olds. In the class for four-year olds, the approved stallion, Davignon, won in front of a Donnerhall daughter, Deutsche Einheit. She is the full sister of Duntroon, a stallion born and stationed at Grönwohldhof, who was sold a short time later in Vechta for the fabulous price of 420,000 DM.
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In 1994, with events following in quick succession, it was a significant year, not just for Donnerhall: He won the German Championships in Mannheim which was followed by winning team gold and individual bronze at the World Equestrian Games in Den Haag/NED – what a triumph for Donnerhall and his rider, Karin Rehbein! His son, Duntroon, became Reserve Champion Stallion of the 1993 approval in Oldenburg and won the stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf. Dream of Glory had the top score for rideability at his stallion performance test in Medingen, after which he was sold at the PSI auction to Alsenhof. In 1995, at the 43rd Elite Auction in Vechta, a Donnerhall colt named Donovan Bailey brought a whopping knockdown price of 130,000 DM. In 1996, another Donnerhall son left the stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf as the winner in rideability - De Niro. Donatello, another Donnerhall son, set a new benchmark for the highest priced auction horse to date. A further highlight in Donnerhall's glorious dressage career came in 1997 when he won team gold at the European Championships in Verden as well as a bronze medal in the individuals.
The year 1998 got off to a good start when he won the Hamburg Derby. In Rome/ITA, he again won team gold and crowned his career with 4th place individually. Donnerhall's fame was further enhanced by winning the World Cup - European League and becoming Oldenburg Dressage Stallion of the Year for the second time in a row. 1998 was to be his last year in sport - and his good byes at the youthful age of 17 years were met by standing ovations and thunderous cheering by his fans. In breeding he continued to set new standards. A Deinhard colt out of a Lemon Tree dam was sold at an auction to the Netherlands for the breathtaking sum of 155,000 DM.
Without doubt, Donnerhall is still modern day's most significant dressage stallion. Through his many off-spring in breeding and sport, he has become the founder of a stallion line par excellence. Donnerhall's sons and daughters are growing up the world over, making sure that the trademarks of German riding horse breeding – rideability and the very best character and temperament – are being passed along to further generations.
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