Donnerhall, the world's most successful dressage stallion has passed away!

When a colt by Donnerwetter out of Ninette by Markus-Carnot was born at Otto Gärtner's stud farm in Wenstein, Holstein on the 30th of May 1981, no-one could have imagined that the dark chestnut who was later christened Donnerhall, would one day stage a triumphant march through the equestrian world like no stallion before him. What's more, no other stallion has ever come close to achieving what the chocolate coloured chestnut Donnerhall managed in such a convincing manner, namely, the symbiosis of the dual qualities of being a successful competition sports horse and on the other hand being a top grade breeding horse.
It was undoubtedly an encounter determined by destiny, that Donnerhall grew up on the memorable Otto Schulte-Frohlinde's Grönwoldhof studfarm.

On the occasion of the 1983 Oldenburg approval, the then still somewhat lean chestnut with the handsome blaze made a relatively unspectacular appearance. It did not take long however, until he had his first triumph. One year later, Donnerhall absolved his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf as vice-champion with a score of in excess of 130 points, exceeding all fellow contenders in the field of rideability. From that time onwards, Herbert and Karin Rehbein took over the training of Donnerhall, who proved to be a model student. Everything fitted together perfectly: Donnerhall's preparedness to perform, his rideability and first class basic gaits virtually predestined him for an international career in the dressage arena. In 1986 he was again in the limelight, becoming champion stallion of the DLG show in Hanover.

His following appearance under Karin Rehbein, who danced through the arena with him remains unforgotten until this day.
In next to no time, Donnerhall and Karin Rehbein established themselves in the upper echelons of the dressage sport, easily managing the jump into the difficult advanced class. This was followed by high placements and wins in Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and optional Grand Prix events.
In 1994, Donnerhall had not only already gained an outstanding reputation for himself as an exceptional sire through his approved sons, highly decorated daughters and numerous competition sports horses, but also returned home from the World Championships in the Hague with team gold and individual bronze medals, which he secured for himself following a fascinating freestyle performance. Then at the 1997 European Championship in Verden, Karin Rehbein and Donnerhall once again belonged to the golden team and won an additional individual bronze medal.

At the 1998 World Championships in Rome, Karin Rehbein and the meanwhile 17-year old stallion were once more part of the German gold medal team and gained an excellent fourth place in the individual rating.
His sporting successes, substantiated by his life winnings of around DM 640,000 are no less significant than his importance as a hereditary transmitter. His breeding tally includes 77 approved sons, while of the more than 450 registered mares, 84 were awarded the state premium, including the champion mares Primavera and Hallo. In excess of 300 progeny have moreover been registered as sports horses.
Donnerhall's last public appearance under his rider Karin Rehbein at the gala evening of the 1998 Oldenburg approval, where children with lanterns formed a narrow passage through which Donnerhall strode magnificently, remains a warm and unforgettable memory.

From that time onwards, he only fulfilled his duties as a sire at the Grönwohldhof, where his remarkable career had begun.

On the 14Th of January 2002, Donnerhall perished from acute intestinal toxicopathy. Donnerhall, who was already a legend during his own lifetime has passed away but his memory lingers on.