He
is one of those who is never overlooked, who is never passed by, who attracts
attention … like no other: Argentinus.
Argentinus
was born at Jacob Büther's farm in Hollern, Stade county in Lower Saxony
located just a few miles from the dikes along the Elbe River on February 15, 1980.
His dam, Dorle, was 15 years old when this bay stallion with the characteristic
flowing star and snip was born. "Dorle had a very sweet disposition and was
a loyal mare with a wonderful personality" remembers the breeder's daughter,
Jutta Hagner, who describes the State Premium mare as "a work horse, a bit
on the heavy side - the way all Hanoverians were in those days."
Large-boned, narrow and elegant but a bit skinny was the way Argentinus looked at two and a half when he moved to Zuchthof Klatte in Klein Roscharden. His stable - the first one on the left side of the stallion stables - became his permanent residence. Argentinus has become a member of the family like no other horse. "You can buy practically anything here", Heinrich Klatte senior once said, "but not my wife, my children, Grannus or Argentinus". At the approval, the two and a half year old Argentinus presented himself so impressively that even Uwe Heckmann, an approval commissioner, got carried away with praise. However, the Waldlöwe son, Waldstern, became Champions Stallion and the new boy in Klein Roscharden received the Ib Premium. Two years later, based on Argentinus' stallion performance test and the evaluation of his first crop, he left all of his competitors far behind, ending on first place and thereby receiving the Main Premium. Unfortunately, his breeder, Jacob Büther, did not live to see Argentinus' glorious day. He died in 1984 at the age of 77, the year Argentinus' first crop was born. Argentinus proved his versatility at the stallion performance test in 1983 in Adelheidsdorf. With a score of 126 points, he finished third out of a group of 54 stallions. The bay stallion entered his first show as a four year old - a novice level jumping test. Argentinus and his rider, Andreas Nienaber, sovereignly finished the course, taking first place. In those days, it was not common at all to enter breeding stallions in shows. A year later, the Hanoverian collected blue ribbons in elementary level jumping tests. His first entry with Heinrich's brother, Guido Klatte, who owns a worldwide shipping agency for transporting horses, was also a complete success. In the meanwhile, Argentinus was collecting ribbons in medium level. In 1987, Alexandra Klatte, who now lives in Australia, sat in Argentinus' saddle and the pair were also successful in fault and style and time score jumping. Whether with Alexandra, Guido, or later with Henrik, Argentinus proved his potential at shows until he was 11 years old, collecting around 4,000 Euros in prize money.
His willingness to perform - that is probably the most significant trait of this impressive sire. There really are stallions that radiate their exceptional potential, and without a doubt, Argentinus is one of these. With a proudly curved crest, Argentinus prances on the hand of his long time groom and insemination technician, Werner Venekamp, on his way to the breeding station. Majestic whinnying, excited tail swishing, veins that stand out plastically under his skin. "A stallion of excellent character" says Venekamp proudly. It's very rare that Argentinus brings pearls of sweat on Venekamp's forehead - usually only when Argentinus knows he has an audience. "A trot is no longer possible then - it's cantering on the spot, prancing, piaffing, whinnying, snorting - you know, the way we are all used to seeing Argentinus when he is presented at the Oldenburg approval, especially when he's marching in the Old Stallion Parade. Then he acts like a three year old who hasn't been outside for a year, forgets himself completely and does as he pleases." But at home, whether he's being groomed or ridden, and even when he's breeding, he's like a lamb. "Argentinus is always very gentle at home", says Venekamp. But he does have a quirk that he will probably always have: just as if he had a thermometer to read, Argentinus takes his blanket off - by himself, or course - as soon as the temperature reaches 15°C (60°F). It's amazing: "In the morning, the blanket lies in the corner, not torn or damaged, just neatly left there. We've never been able to catch him when he does this, and he does it so carefully and neatly, at first we thought someone had forgotten to but his blanket on", grins Ingrid Menne, Heinrich Klatte's life partner.
Character and charisma - Argentinus has more than his share of both. "He jumped out of his paddock into the neighbor's pasture once and the gate to the pasture was open. He just stayed put and started to graze. Any other stallion would have taken advantage of his freedom, but not Argentinus", remembers junior boss, Heinrich Klatte. In spite of his gentleness, there is one thing he absolutely insists on: being the number one in Klatte's manège. When visitors arrive at the farm and the door to the stallion stable is opened, if steps go past his stable without opening his door or, God forbid, they continue to another stable instead, his majesty is insulted and sulks with his head down in a far corner - his backside facing the door. If that isn't the airs of a star!
Argentinus has classic Hanoverian performance lines pulsing through his veins. Longevity must have also put into his cradle: the sire, Argentan I, who was a sire in the State of Lower Saxony's State Stud Celle at the traditional Bargstedt Station all of his life, died at the age of 29. Argentinus' dam's sire, Duden II, even lived to celebrate his 30th birthday.
Argentan I sired 18 approved stallions aside from his most famous son, Argentinus, and a total of 119 State Premium mares. Known as a classic "mare-maker", he also produced a number of really great sport horses such as Aramis, who won a World Cup in jumping with the American rider, Mario Deslauries. Argentan I, who also has a gray, approved full-brother, Argentan II - a private stallion in Bavaria - passed on these double talents in the best way. Argentinus also carries the genes of the legendary Absatz, a "type-making" sire who passed on a predominate trait that remained predominate throughout generations - the unmistakable "face" of his sire, the Trakehner, Abglanz. Argentan I managed a masterpiece: for three years in a row, his daughters won at the DLG shows. Two of these, Aragonia and Arabella became German Champion Mare in 1979 and 1983 respectively. Dynamic movements and impulsion were passed down to Argentinus' dam's sire, Duden II, from his sire, the great Duellant. And a dash of Thoroughbred from the steel-hard Der Löwe rounds off his pedigree. In other words: the very best of Hanoverian performance lines of that day are consolidated in Argentinus. If it says Argentinus on it, it is Argentinus - you don't find too many stallions whose off-spring can be identified at a glance without looking at their papers. But Klein Roscharden's top sire is certainly one of those. His
first crop
produced the approved stallion, Azarro, who was an active sire in Australia from
1987 to 1992 at Heinrich Klatte's brother's - Ulrich Klatte's - stud farm. This
chestnut stallion was successful in the dressage ring up to St. Georg and left
a number of successful off-spring in Australia before he returned to Germany.
Back in Germany, Holger Wulschner, a show jumping rider from Mecklenburg, purchased
Azarro for his new breeding station. "A stallion with unlimited possibilities,
enormous talent and very careful", is the way Wulschner describes the stallion
who became successful under a jumping saddle. In 1995 the two of them took eighth
place at the German Championships, won many advanced level jumping tests, even
placed up front in puissance and in 1996 also placed at the biggest show in the
world, the CHIO in Aachen.
After his career in international jumping, his saddle was again exchanged for a dressage saddle and he now collects ribbons in dressage with Wulschner's wife, Iris. Definite proof of the double talent passed on by his sire, Argentinus. Azarro also plays an important role as a sire: his son, Astello, won the 1997 approval in Mecklenburg and a year later he participated in the Bundeschampionat for riding horses. Several of Azarro's off-spring have already placed in advanced level, including the mare, Amber, who was sold to Canada after taking place in the Bundeschampionat finals for six year old jumpers. Azarro's off-spring have earned more than 30,000 Euros so far, a sum Azarro has nearly earned himself.
Argentinus' second crop, which were born in 1985, produced an exceptional horse: Autogramm, a mare out of a Grannus dam, who advanced to become one of the most successful international jumpers with Thomas Mühlbauer. With her, this 22 year old young man from Bavaria won the Nation Cups in Prag and Sopot, the 1994 Volvo Cup finals in Dortmund, and a year later the Grand Prix in San Sebastian. "Autogramm was the horse who brought me to the top and we've been through good times and bad times. She was very difficult at home - everyone around here called her "the lunatic" but at shows she behaved herself and fought with everything she had", remembers Mühlbauer. Autogramm won nearly 300,000 DM during her career. She is still at the Mühlbauer farm where she had a foal by Rasso in 2002. Just
the names of all the riders who have an Argentinus off-spring under saddle reads
like Who is Who of elite German riders: Olympic gold medal winner, Marcus Ehning,
has the Argentinus daughter, Anka, his next best horse after his exceptional jumper,
For Pleasure. This chestnut mare was Vice Champion of six year old mares at the
1997 Bundeschampionat and has qualified for the 2002 World Cup finals in Leipzig.
Ehning describes her as "very well balanced, nice to ride and very able".
Two-time Olympic winner, Lars Nieberg, also has an international horse under saddle, Adlantus As, who was born in 1993. The approved stallion has already earned more than 43,000 Euros in jumping. Another of the first highly successful sport horses by Argentinus was Aramis, born 1984 and bred by Heinrich Klatte himself, who won eleven advanced level jumping tests under Hans-Günther Gleis. Gerd Wiltfang's Argentario, born 1987, has not less than 46 first and other high places on his record.
The world's most successful rider today, Ludger Beerbaum, also has an Argentinus daughter in his stables named Grace Argentina, who is a winner internationally.
And Elmar Gundel's Furiosa, was well known for her fast rounds, winning many time score jumping tests.
But it hasn't been just the international courses the world over where Argentinus has proved his consistency. His off-spring stand out in the dressage ring as well. Amaretto, who had a Westphalian brand and is out of an Ehrenfried dam, was supposed to take the place of Isabell Werth's exceptional horse, Gigolo. Unfortunately, the brown's career ended abruptly in 1998 when he had to be put down because of colic.
Isabell Werth describes the day of his death as the blackest day in her life. This young lawyer had collected 34 first places in Grand Prix with Amaretto, who was purchased from the PSI auction in Ankum for about 75,000 Euros. "A horse with unbelievable elasticity, an excellent piaffe and passage as well as extraordinary movement quality - in short, an absolutely world class horse" is how Dr. Uwe Schulten-Baumer summarized this Argentinus son. Isabell Werth has another Argentinus under saddle, the colorful chestnut, Aleppo S, who is now being shown by Ellen Schulten-Baumer. Aleppo S, who is out of a Figaro dam, was the highest winning former Vechta auction horse in 2001, winning around 21,000 Euros. "My little airplane" is how Isabell Werth described him once - because of his tremendous movements.
Heike Kemmer can thank her jump to the international top, to the Olympic team and the 2001 European Championship team to her Oldenburg Argentinus son, Albano. Heike Kemmer won silver at the 2000 German Championships and team gold at the European Championships as well as bronze at the German Championships in 2001. "Albano - he's always ready and willing, in a good mood every day and always tries to do his best. His ambition to be perfect makes him hurried sometimes, but that's his only "problem", if you want to call that a problem", says Heike Kemmer.
Another horse ready for the leap to Grand Prix level is the stallion, August der Starke. He was already a sensation at the age of four: in 1999 at the drop of the hammer, he brought 667,000 DM, or roughly 334,000 Euros, becoming the most expensive horse ever sold at a Verband auction to date. Sissy Max-Theuer from Austria bought him for her dressage stables in Rohr. With scores higher than 9.0, this Oldenburg out of a Landadel dam has already won a series of dressage horse tests up to medium level.
Another significant Argentinus son is the impressive stallion, A Jungle Prince, who won the 1993 Bundeschampionat for six year old dressage horses with Thomas Schmitz who lives in Rhineland. Out of a Pik König dam, this chestnut stallion bred mares for four years at the Pape stallion station until he started winning in advanced level under Susan Draper and is now shown internationally at Grand Prix level by Thomas Schmitz. Avantgarde, another A Jungle Prince son, was awarded the Ic Premium at the 1998 approval in Oldenburg and now breeds in Sachsen-Anhalt at the State Stud in Radegast-Prussendorf. Another A Jungle Prince son, Aldebaran, purchased at the 2000 Vechta Spring Auction by " Isabell Werth's long time trainer, Dr. Uwe Schulten-Baumer, is described as "A wonderful horse with every possibility". This Oldenburg qualified as a five year old already for the Bundeschampionat and is Ellen Schulten-Baumer's hope for the future.
Argentinus'
sons breed in practically all breeding areas. In Rhineland there is Aquilino,
a performance test winner who has won numerous jumping horse tests with the Nation
Cup rider, Peter Weinberg. This Oldenburg out of the elite mare, Journesse, has
already sired two approved sons: Aquilino Son and Acido. In Bavaria, at the State
Stud in Schwaiganger, you find Asti Spumante, everyone's darling at the 1997 approval
in Oldenburg who is now seven years old and already successful in advanced level
jumping.
But it is not just his sons that make Argentinus so precious. Having an Argentinus broodmare in their stables has been the source of successful off-spring for many breeders. The Rubinstein son, Ruiz Soler, has been bred according to this recipe. Born in 1996, this Oldenburg stallion was awarded the Ic Premium at the 2000 approval, the same year that his black full-brother, Rubinstolz, was approved in Baden-Württemberg. Another stallion with an Argentinus dam is the Celle State Stud stallion, San Brasil, who had the second highest index for jumping at the stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf in 2000. But
this is not the end of the list of Argentinus off-spring. Every year a few more
outstanding horses are added. Horses that you usually see right away who their
sire is. Argentinus: a stallion following his destiny. That's how the story of
this exceptional sire started in Klein Roscharden as he stepped out into the big
world of equestrian sport. Story by Julia Wentscher |
