Donnerhall

Donnerhall has enjoyed enormous competition success, although he has yet to sire a horse that has really made its mark in the competition arena at an international level. It must be admitted that Donnerhall hardly comes from a ‘good family’. Admittedly his sire, Donnerwetter disappeared into the wilds of the United States over a decade ago, but while there are a couple of Donnerwetters ‘gracing’ the German dressage arenas, they are pretty ugly, untalented creatures. Even Donnerhall’s famous rider, Karin Rehbein notes that despite the large number of foals Donnerhall has sired, she has yet to find one that matches up to the stallion.

"There are a lot of Donnerhalls who have a little similarity to him but it is difficult to get another just like him," says Karin, "Look at Donnerhall’s full-brothers, you couldn’t compare any of them to him. In appearance, in everything about him, the full brothers don’t come anywhere near Donnerhall. There were even two brothers who competed Grand Prix, but they were nothing compared to Donnerhall. They don’t even look the same, don’t move one little bit the same." Mrs Rehbein started riding the liver chestnut stallion when he was four years old. When she first got on the youngster she thought ‘this horse could be something’. "He was always a good horse to train. Good in the head, he was always straightforward and learnt everything really quickly. He is still fantastic, he could still go out and win right now." To see Donnerhall compete was to marvel at the imposing power of the big stallion, but surprisingly, even though Mrs Rehbein is not very tall, and certainly not very big, the ride he gave her was ‘very good’. "He was very soft. Sometimes you had to hold him a little bit through, but you have to do that with every horse." Donnerhall’s talent was apparent right from the start, and he scored 131.92 to be second in his performance test at Adelheidsdorf in 1984. Donnerhall’s competition career is the stuff of legend. He won many Grand Prix, Grand Prix Specials and Freestyles for Mrs Rehbein. In 1994, Donnerhall was individual bronze medallist {and team gold medallist} at the 1994 World Championships at The Hague. Donnerhall won the European World Cup Freestyle League final standings twice, in 1997 and 1998. He retired from competition in 1998.

Certainly that is what Donnerhall seems to give to his offspring, a trainability and a strength to handle the more collected work, even if their natural paces are not so spectacular. It would seem more likely that the mix of Donnerhall and a large drop of ‘blood’ (Thoroughbred that is} in the sire is more likely to produce competition horses. Donnerhall’s son Davignon (out of a Pik Bube mare} is the sire of the very exciting youngster Duvalier who is already looking good at FEI level, and even those direct Donnerhall progeny that are going well at FEI level - like the mare, Dona Castania - are out of Pik Bube mares. The other son consistently producing exciting looking youngsters is Don Primero, again out of a Pik Bube mother.

Don Primero was the five year old dressage champion of the 1990 Bundeschampionate, and went on to be a winner at Grand Prix level. His full-brother, Don Schufro has been exported to Sweden. At the 1992 Bundeschampionate, Davignon won the 4 year old riding horse title, with a record points score of 9.36. 1997 saw the first of the Donnerhall grandsons to star at the Bundeschampionate, with the gelding Duvalier (out of a Bolero mare - pictured left} winning the 5 year old dressage title - while the following year, this class was won by the black Donnerhall son, Del Piero (out of a Matcho AA mare}. The Donnerhall son, De Niro (out of a Akzent II mare} started competing at Grand Prix level at the tender age of seven. It’s not what you would call great Grand Prix at this stage, but it is still Grand Prix. De Niro’s foals look great - better than their dad. Another Donnerhall son to impress is Dream of Glory who sired the 1998 three year old stallion winner, Dreamy’s Dream, and had a number of representatives in the finals at the 2000 Bundeschampionate, and they all looked sweet rideable horses. Once again, Dream of Glory is out of a Pik Bube/Romadour II mare}. Unfortunately Donnerhall is not available through frozen semen. One Donnerhall son, came to Australia, Donnerheist (out of a Belgian mare by a Belgian born son of Wendekreis}. Donnerheist had a very successful competition career up to Medium level, but died before reaching FEI level. De Niro semen has been used successfully in Australia, as has semen from Don Schufro.

The Don Primero stallion, Donario (out of a Pik Bube mare} was imported in 2000. The Donnerhall son, Duntroon (bred by Australian, Ed Richards, and again out of a Pik Bube mare} has been competing in Germany with Australian Olympic Team member, Kristy Oatley-Nist, and he has sired a number of foals in Australia already, using frozen semen. A Donnerhall daughter, Dona Carrera was imported to Australia, and has won several young horse titles. In Europe, Donnerhall’s most successful progeny in terms of money won, is the wonderful Grand Prix level mare, High Noon who has won nearly DM50,000 in competition. Donnerhall is the sire of 22 licensed sons and his heritage is sure to be carried on for many many years.