First Looks: Oldenburg Stallion Days 2025

The Oldenburg Verband kicks off the European stallion licensing season next month with a group of 56 selected dressage colts that seem to offer a little bit of everything: a handful with undeniable stallion expression, another handful that look like convincing future sporthorses, and damlines that speak to success in the biggest international performance rings — including a direct son of an Olympic Gold medal winning mare.

Below, my own quick highlight list and a few notes of interest. Who are your favorites?

My Highlight List

Nr. 42 Bonds x Diamond Hit x Florencio - stallion expression, nice power off the ground with good mechanics. At this time, the hind leg is more pushing than carrying. From the damline of Fackese. The mother was a Brilliantring mare and has already produced 3 S-level horses, she is also a half-sister to the international Grand Prix horse Damon's Design. This colt sold for 22.5k euro in the June 2023 Oldenburg Elite Foal Auction under the name "Belafonte."

Nr. 45 Despacito x Sezuan x Fürst Romancier - very influenced by 3x World Champion damsire Sezuan. Dam is a half-sister to international GP horse Harmony's V-Plus.

Nr. 58 Energy x Rousseau x Vivaldi - every step is off of the ground with cadence, nice natural tendency to pick up the wither and come uphill. Collects and extends. The walk is limited. Sire Energy was Premium at the Hanoverian licensing in 2021, selling to Glock for 700k euro. Glock announced their plans to close down operations of their performance center almost a year ago, so a question mark to Energy's future in both breeding and sport but he presents two convincing sons in Vechta. From the damline of Grand Prix stallions Bojengel and Gambol.

Nr. 67 Feliciano x Quaterback x Dressage Royal - nice model with an appealing front end, nice mechanics and good jump from the hind leg. The walk rhythm is okay. The first sons of Feliciano look to be promising. The mother is a full sister to the approved Grand Prix stallion Quat-Royal.

Nr. 71 Asgard's Ibiza x Grey Flanell x Fidertanz - this is stallion type! A nice blend of sire, damsire, and grand damsire. Damline of international Grand Prix horse Daytona Platinum and the approved stallions First Final and Fürst Grandios.

Nr. 82 Secret x Grey Flanell x Desperados - a purposeful mover with Secret mechanics/long lines and Grey Flanell type. The hind leg is long.

Nr. 84 So Perfect x Santo Domingo x Quaterhall - the type is unmatched here. Wow cadence and energy off of the ground, the hind leg has a lot of activity and mechanic but could come more under the body. Santo Domingo Junior.

Nr. 88 Taminiau x Apache x Vivaldi - quite developed for age but good stallion presence, Apache in chestnut. Looks like a sport horse, walk rhythm is better than most.

Nr. 93 Viva Gold x Christ x Samarant - youthful model, easy power off of the ground and supple through the body. Good walk.

Other Points of Interest

Nr. 52 Dynamic Dream x Vitalis x Don Frederic - none of the Dynamic Dream sons made my highlight list, but regardless he is the most well represented sire in Vechta this year with 7 selected. For me, Nr. 52 is the most interesting with good movement qualities and from the solid performance damline of Silberranke. There could be more stallion type.

Nr. 56 Dynamic Dream x Sezuan x Soprano - direct son of Olympic Gold and Silver medal winning mare Wendy de Fontaine.

Nr. 66 Feinstar x Fidertanz x Alabaster - the sire was named Premium in Vechta in 2021 and is now gelded and showing in the US under Elizabeth Bortuzzo. The dam is a full-sister to the international Grand Prix stallion Franziskus FRH.

The Oldenburg Stallion Days take place from November 13 to 15 in Vechta, Germany. The full catalog of licensing candidates can be found here.