First Looks: 2025 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing

The Hanoverian Verband presents a whopping 87 dressage colts as licensing candidates next month in Verden, an increase from last year's total of 76. In comparison, Oldenburg only offers 56! This a diverse group with many colts that stand out with very good basic gaits, including the walk. I was thankful when I finally finished the 87th preselection video as it was almost too much to digest in one sitting. I salute the stallion judges as I ponder the task they have before them.

Below, my impressions of the collection and notes of interest. Who are your favorites?

My Impressions

Nr. 1 Opoque x Bon Bravour x Show Star - a banger to start us off! This is a charmer with lots of expression, a supple, elastic trot in a natural uphill balance, good activity in the canter, good rhythm and use of the topline in the walk. The dam has already produced a licensed son by Escamillo. Bred by Christina Beuke.

Nr. 3 Opoque x De Niro x Prince Thatch xx - I am most impressed with the Opoque sons as a group in Verden. They all move with purpose, the hind legs are functional and carry the energy from back to front, the walks have good to very good rhythm. The types are pleasing, they look correct. This colt is from the same dam as Premium stallion and auction price highlight Glock's Energy who is presenting his first crop of sons this year, including one of my highlights in the Oldenburg main licensing.

Nr. 9 Secret x Vitalis x Quattro B - power! I don't think he looks much like what his pedigree would indicate (which I think is important in terms of how a horse can or will produce), but I love his reflexes off of the ground. An athlete with a lot of mechanics. I have a question mark on the correctness of the front leg.

Nr. 20 Vaderland x Sir Donnerhall x Argentinus - long-lined with lots of elegance, nice uphill profile in trot. The canter and walk could be more supple. A full brother was licensed in DSP last year. Damline of Weissena.

Nr. 22 Valdiviani x Feinrich x Sir Donnerhall - typical Valdiviani mechanics. The dam has two crosses to Sir Donnerhall up close in the pedigree, which could explain the walk. Feinrich was also damsire for one of my standouts from last licensing season with the Debutant PS son Dynamite. Maybe there is something there?

Nr. 26 Vitalis x Sir Donnerhall II x Milan - Vitalis ties for the most represented sire in Verden with 6 sons selected. As a group, I could wish for more scope in the canter based on their preselection videos. This one comes from a maternal half-sister to the well-known breeding stallion and Grand Prix horse Hesselhøj Donkey Boy.

Nr. 28 Vitalis x Toto Jr. x Ferro - this one reminds me of a young Vaderland. Dam successful to PSG level and further horses from the damline to Grand Prix level.

Nr. 34 Vivaldos x Revolution x Ferro - in my opinion, the most complete from preselection videos. Dynamic expression, super cadence and elasticity in both trot and canter, power from the hind leg, good walk. Here is hoping he can convince on the lunge. Colt of the year in Denmark as a foal.

Nr. 55 Escaneno x Livaldon x Desperados - Escaneno presents his first crop of sons this year and like Vitalis has 6 selected for Verden. Among them, this colt stands out for me with longer lines and a very appealing type. The hocks could come more under the body and the walk could be more supple. Interesting concentration of Vivaldi blood in the pedigree by way of Livaldon and Veneno/Vitalis.

Nr. 62 Extreme U.S. x Dancier x Lauries Crusador xx - interesting colt from 2x Pavo Cup winner Extreme U.S. by Escamillo. A trot with lots of swing and elasticity. You could wish for the walk to cover more ground.

Nr. 66 Feliciano x Fürst Romancier x Competent - stallion expression, lots of mechanic in the front leg, I would like to see how the hind leg functions on the lunge. The mother has a full sibling at S level.

Nr. 67 Feliciano x Zack x Don Frederico - dancing trot, nice activity of the hind leg. The granddam and great granddam have both produced Grand Prix horses.

Nr. 85 Livaldon x Diamond Hit x Fidertanz - charming model with a performance pedigree. Granddam is a full-sister to international Grand Prix stallion Franziskus FRH.

Nr. 87 McLaren x Desperado x Florencio - modern type with nice uphill balance. We saw McLaren in 2019 when he was originally presented for licensing in Oldenburg. I remember being surprised that he did not receive the "gekört" designation, but the horse has more than proven his worth: accepted by the KWPN studbook after a strong performance test in 2020 and twice winner at the KWPN Stallion Competition Finals at L- and M-levels. He is one of the most interesting young breeding stallions in the Netherlands with 4 out of 4 sons invited for the performance test at the 2025 KWPN Stallion Licensing and daughter McMary winner of the 4-year-old division at this year's Pavo Cup Finals. McLaren is now successful to PSG level and carries the N.O.P.T. title as recognition by the Dutch Olympic Horse Program as a future international talent hopeful.

The 2025 Hanoverian Licensing takes place from November 20 to 22 in Verden, Germany. The full catalog of licensing candidates can be found here.