Germany...with Friends and Horses!

There really is nothing like it.  It is exciting, suspenseful, emotional and thrilling! I look forward to this trip every year and now that I am leading a tour for the experience I find the trip even more rewarding.  Sharing it with friends (and strangers that become fast friends) makes the trip even more memorable. Whether you are in the market for a horse or you just love the idea of going on a horsey adventure, the trip to Germany to experience the Hengstmarkt (stallion market) should be on your bucket list.  The culture, the food, the shopping, the people and ahhhh the HORSES!  We visited the farm where Silvermoon stands (the sire to the great Blu Hors Matinee) and he looked AMAZING!  Even at his age he floats around the arena and has legs as tight as any four year old! We got a chance to see Susan Mahoney's youngster's.  Her coming two year old black gelding, Lestat by Hofrat (by Gribaldi) looked fantastic as he trotted around his field with his band of two year old colts. I am looking forward to his arrival in the US!

 The Gala show (watch the link)

is absolutely incredible.
This year was a little tame compared to some years past but still made me fall madly in love with the Trakehner horse all over again!

They awarded the Trakehner Stallion of the year to Connery! This award is highly coveted and prestigious.  It often predicts the future world beaters. Gribaldi (Totilas's sire) was the 2008 Trakehner Stallion of the year just before Totilas took the world by storm!

This year was particularly interesting because the German Verband inspection committee went out on a limb and picked the PINK stallion as the Grand Champion! His name, Donauruf. He of course was stunning....but he really did look pink! He is by E.H. Herzruf out of a mare by the Thoroughbred stallion Exobitant xx.  It was nice to see the German Verband selecting for horses with some blood! He sold at the auction for 300.000 euro (which is $390,780 US dollars).  That is a large chunk of change for a two year old unbroke colt!  His owner (pictured here) has had several champion stallions over the years and she has managed to do it with only maintaining a herd of 4 mares!  I guess she has figured out how to make money in the breeding business!

I am already starting to plan next year's trip.  We will be visiting three stud Farms as well as the Trakehner stallion market in Neumunster.  It is a great opportunity to have someone else worry about all the details (rental car, hotels, food), meet new people, and have friends to travel with! If you are interested in joining us on this tour please let me know so I can update you throughout the year on plans for the 2013 Germany trip. For more information about this trip visit: http://www.fourstarfarm.com/trakehner_verband.shtml
and if you would like updates or to register to join us next year please email Natalie