In 1980 a fine young stallion was standing on the Grönwohldhof, a Hanoveranian, black as the ace of spades - this already aroused Gärtner's interest, but when the stallion went through his motions, all remaining doubts disappeared: "Donnerwetter!" This exclamation which literally translated means Thunderweather actually means more or less "by jove" In the literal translation we can certainly speak about "Nomen est Omen".

Ninettes partner, Donnerwetter derives from Disput. Otto Schulte-Frohlind purchased the stallion at the Verden stallion market from Günter Pape from Hemmoor. Ninette became pregnant and gave birth to a colt, her first son. On the 30th of May 1981, the foal was born that would become DLG champion stallion, German champion and team world champion one day. The breeder was however initially shocked: A white nose appeared, but once the foal lay in the straw it soon became apparent - a chestnut. Black horse here, black horse there and then a chestnut! Nevertheless, a dark chestnut - a liver chestnut. Otto Gärtner was dismayed. He had Ninette covered once more, and again it was a chestnut. Discovery was meanwhile successful in advanced dressage. Yet Otto Gärtner decided to change sires. Wanderfalk was black, but the colt which was born in 1984 was also a chestnut. It was hardly six months old, when his older brother made the headlines for the first time. At the stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf, Donnerhall achieved the second best result - vice-champion, unbeatable in rideability, with a score of 9.5.

The path from the pastures of Otto Gärtner in Travenhorst via the Grönwohldhof to the stallion performance test is however everything else but stringent. Donnerhall only reached the Grönwohldhof by roundabout ways. Gärtner fondly remembers the devotedness of this conspicuous colt, which characterised Donnerhall from the very beginning, but nevertheless he decided to sell him. A prominent interested customer was soon found: Bernhard Huslage from Brokstreek in the South Oldenburg region came to Holstein as part of his duties as approvals commissioner, to inspect foals reared in the exclave. The liver chestnut with the big dark eyes caught his attention right away. Huslage and Gärtner made a deal: the stallion was to cost DM 5.000. When it came to branding him, the stallion winced so strongly when the branding iron neared him, that the crowned O was from thereon resplendent on his hindquarter at a significant angle. According to the agreement, all further formalities were to be completed via the head breeding official of the Oldenburg Horse Breeding Association of that time, Dr. Roland Ramsauer a very busy man who could at times forget one thing or the other: bureaucratic stress! Otto Gärtner rang up in Oldenburg a number of times and each time Dr. Ramsauer forgot to pass on the information entrusted to him. Gärtner thus had to assume that Huslage had backed out of the bargain and that his interest in the Donnerwetter foal had lapsed. That was a blessing in disguise: Otto Schulte-Frohlinde wanted to buy the liver chestnut foal. Donnerhall then went to the Grönwohldhof where he was reared as a stallion. That autumn, Bernhard Huslage and Otto Gärtner met. The breeder wanted to know why the approvals commissioner had lost interest in owning the stallion.

That was the first time that Bernhard Huslage heard about the telephone calls and the neglect of Dr. Roland Ramsauer. He confronted the head breeding official. Still, his summary today is that it was actually fortunate that the Grönwohldhof got the stallion in the long run, because "if I had had him, Donnerhall would not have become what he is today". The potential of the horse that caught everyone's eye, especially because of its very dark coat, the deep red bay chestnut colouring was something that the approvals commissioners of the 1983 approval were not yet aware of. Even though they go off into raptures about him today, the judgement at his approval was no more than simply "approved", nothing more. He was not considered for a premium, that was reserved for others. The names of the radiant horses of the 1983 young stallion approval, Welttraum and Fernblick are hardly known by anyone today. But they were mature and proper whilst the little Donnerhall on the other hand was still quite slender, the neck not so developed yet and the top line, that was an issue that the fanatics of correctness liked to address. Forget such trivialities - what genius is recognised from the beginnings? Child prodigies are in the limelight from early on. A title like that was granted to Donnerhall belatedly as a three-and a half-year old ! In the heath landscape outside the gates of Celle the stud grooms were fond of the liver chestnut who was slowly but surely growing up and taking shape. After 90 days it was clear: Donnerhall would most certainly absolve one of the best performance tests of the 1984 Adelheidsdorf age class. But how well would he do? Full of suspense, Otto Gärtner watched the rounds of "his" stallion on the course. No-one doubted that he would sovereignly be in the lead in dressage. But what about the coloured poles? Gerd Folkers a member of the approvals commission had his doubts, which were not however shared by Otto Gärtner, "he won't throw down any poles, he is related to Deister".

Whether it was luck or breeding efforts - Donnerhall remained faultless becoming vice-champion of the stallion performance test. What great joy! Not only the breeder was happy, the owner, too. Otto Schulte-Frohlinde had a soft spot for him in his heart. A liking that Otto Gärtner would also profit from: Since then, the man from Travenhorst has always been invited to the annual duck shoot.

Donnerhall prospered well. He changed over to the dressage stables and quickly developed to the darling of the Stallgasse scene under Karin and Herbert Rehbein with the nickname "Donni". A personality from the very start. Easy to work with and eager to learn. In breeding terms his career also constantly improved. 1986 was a milestone, not only in Donnerhall's career, but also in the chronicles of the Oldenburg Horse Breeding Association. The DLG is held in Hanover. Traditionally the state stallions from Celle and Warendorf decide events there. The representatives of other breeding regions usually only have a minor role to play there. This seemed to be the case at first in 1986 too, when Hanover unleashed its "secret weapon" World Cup I, hoping that the chestnut would win the sought after trophy in the second round. But then there was Donnerhall and he was really well-liked, especially by the audience, which celebrated him frenetically: Ingo Pape led the five-year old and he left quite a few kilometres behind that weekend. "The people just wanted him" remembers approvals commissioner Bernhard Huslage. And his colleague Folkers adds "There was a fantastic hullaballoo each time that Donnerhall entered the hall". It did not take long for the feeling of the audience to jump over to the jury, too. Whilst the German representatives tended to fault the top line of the stallion somewhat and constantly looked in the direction of World Cup I, there was no doubt about it for the Dutchman Van der Veen: The Oldenburger deserved the crown!

The decision was felled for Donnerhall. Indescribable jubilation in the hall. Ingo and Donnerhall took deep breaths and sprinted as best they could. Otto Schulte-Frohlinde let the marionettes dance per telephone, it was not possible for him to be present. He gave his orders: "Irrespective of what it costs - I'll pay for it" The Oldenburgers did not have to be told this twice... Karin Rehbein, who afterwards also presented Donnerhall under the saddle remembers as if the show had been decided yesterday. "He is a showman, he loves the big stage. When the people participate then he really gets going". That was already the case then, even when Donnerhall was not yet such a widely-travelled jetsetter.

And he's certainly got strong nerves. When the Equitana, the World Equestrian Fair calls, Donnerhall comes, with the champion's ribbon. Things really got going at the Hop Top Show. Bright lights, glaring spotlights, loud music. Behind the scenes: ponies, torches, coaches. "Still Donnerhall remained cool and that at his - oh so young age". At the latest at that moment, it was clear for Karin Rehbein that Donnerhall was an exceptional horse. Donnerhall was a quick learner. Flying changes being no problem for him, a characteristic that is just as true for his progeny. After two years of training, the stallion mastered the Grand Prix programme. Before Herbert and Karin Rehbein decided to utilise him in the most difficult class of the dressage sport however, they first of all let "Donnie" gain experience in intermediate class dressage and Prix St. George tournaments. During the first start it was impossible not to take notice of the stallion, as he neighed from the beginning of the first greeting parade to the end. On the next day it functioned more smoothly. He boldly announced himself when he stopped at X, but then concentrated himself fully on his task.

It did not take long for Donnerhall to start in Grand Prix. He received placements from the outset and the first win was soon forthcoming. Highlights of the programme included extended trots, the magnificent gallopade, passage and piaffes.

The first Donnerhall progeny were now coming under the saddle. During the first few years only few mares were led to Donnerhall, as the Grönwohldhof is too far away from the core Oldenburg breeding region between the Weser and Ems rivers. Nevertheless one stallion from the first age class which was bred at the Grönwohldhof was approved: Don Primero. As a five-year-old he became federal champion 5-year old German dressage horse in Verden with a points score of 9.3. Today he is successful up to grand Prix Special. Like his sire before him, the performance class I tested stallion has also presented horses for the Vechta auction, which were sold for six figure sums.