Premium Valdiviani Son Sold to USA at 2025 Hanoverian Licensing

Premium Stallion Nr. 22 Valdiviani x Feinrich on the lunge, video credit: Caro Heinze

Valdiviani x Feinrich

The most interesting news to come out of Verden last week, at least for us enthusiasts here in North America, was the sale of the Premium Valdiviani x Feinrich colt to Washington-based international Grand Prix rider Aaron Janicki. We included the colt on our First Looks list and in my opinion he was even better during the licensing. Mega uphill with every step, super elastic, and the walk had better clarity and rhythm compared to the preselection video. On the lunge he was well connected with a nice natural frame and good cadence, although the canter to the right was unbalanced. I have a feeling the canter will be more than fine once under saddle.

Valdiviani under Isabell Werth, 2023

The sire Valdiviani (Veneno x Fidertanz) was himself a Premium stallion in Verden in 2018, placed 5th in the Seven-Year-Old final at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in 2023, and is well on his way to Grand Prix with good placings this year at the S*** level under both Isabell Werth and her assistant trainer Niklaas Feilzer. I originally bought Valdiviani frozen this year with the intention of using it on one of our mares, but there was an inventory mistake and I ended up needing to replace it with a different stallion. Maybe good news for myself and other breeders, I have heard through the grapevine the son will be brought over to be developed here in the US.

Onatopp On Top

Premium Stallion Onatopp (Opoque x Bon Bravour) on the lunge, video credit: Christina Beuke

Easily the overall standout in Verden was the very complete Onatopp, by the Premium KWPN stallion and WYHC Four-Year-Old Challenge winner Opoque (All at Once x Davino VOD) and out of Hann. Pr. St. Bona Dea (Bon Bravour x Show Star). The dam has also produced the licensed Escamillo son Elementum who is successful to M level. This colt exudes presence with a super type, lots of expression, and he had good quality in conformation. On the lunge he was well balanced and supple with a hind leg that was always engaged. The front leg was expressive with good scope through the shoulder. He is owned by the Oatley family and will stand at Deckstation Kandziora in 2026.

The Oatleys also own the sire Opoque who debuted his first year of sons in Verden. Out of 4 sons presented, 3 were licensed. The Nr. 3 Opoque x De Niro, included on our First Looks list, was also named Premium and sold for 135k euro to Celle. The licensed Nr. 2 Opoque x Christ goes to Landgestüt Warendorf for 60k euro.

Vivaldos: 2 for 2 Premium

Hof Sosath's Vivaldos (Vivaldi x Desperados) was a Premium Stallion at the 2018 Hanoverian Licensing and then Main Premium winner in Oldenburg for 2020. While he finished a solid stallion performance test and had good placings in young horse classes, he has been mostly absent from competition until recently (M level in Ankum just this month). He was represented by 2 sons in Verden — both licensed, both Premium.

The Danish-bred TH Vivaldo (Vivaldos x Revolution) was included on our First Looks list and was really impressive both in hand and in free movement. Total stallion type with long lines and especially convincing mechanics in the trot. He was built so naturally uphill — which might have worked against him on the lunge as the balance wasn't quite there and he could have used his topline in a better way. He was the price highlight of the auction selling for 500k euro and ended up exactly where I expected: Helgstrand.

Premium Stallion TH Vivaldo (Vivaldos x Revolution), video credit: Jan Philipp Greve

Nr. 32 Vivaldos x De Niro was also named Premium. Both in freedom and on the lunge the colt moved with a lot of power and was always balanced, the hind leg nicely engaged and active. He could have had more stallion expression for me. He sold as a foal under the name Vendetta RB in the August 2023 Verden Elite Foal Auction for 11.5k euro. He now joins his sire at Sosath for 90k euro.

Feliciano

Feliciano (Floricello x Boston) and his sons continue to make my First Looks lists, and here in Verden all three of his selected sons were licensed. The best without a doubt was the Premium designated Fenomenal, out of a Fürst Romancier x Competent dam. He was really quite beautiful, elegant in the way he carried himself, but what I really appreciated was that the character seems unbeatable. He was impressive on the lunge as well with a lovely front. The hing leg could have a bit more angle but it operated in a functional way. The dam has a full sibling successful to S* level and also from this damline comes the approved stallion La Vie who is currently competing at PSG/I1 level. Fenomenal will join Onatopp at Kandziora next season.

Premium Stallion Fenomenal (Feliciano x Fürst Romancier)

All About Vivaldi

The Preferent KWPN breeding stallion and international Small Tour level successful Vivaldi (Krack C x Jazz) passed away last month, but his influence was still apparent in Verden. Out of 8 Premium stallions in Verden, 5 of them were from the Vivaldi sire line — 3 by direct sons of Vivaldi (Vivaldos, Livaldon). 33 colts from the entire collection of 87 had Vivaldi somewhere in the pedigree, almost 38%! To put my own appreciation for V blood into perspective, I have been trying to use it within my program for years with no pregnancies to Vitalis (x2), Vaderland, Viva Gold, Vivino, or Ibiza (x2). I am thankful to have Special Premium Shurreal in foal to V-Power for 2026. Finally!

2025 Bundeschampion of the 6-year-olds, Viva Vitalis OLD (Vitalis x Fürst Romancier)

Viva Vitalis OLD (Vitalis x a full sister to For Romance OLD) for my money is the next "in" V line stallion. He won the 6-year-old Final at the Bundes this year with a 9.5 on canter and general impression, a 9.3 on trot, and a 9 on submission. He was also Oldenburg State Champion in Rastede. I was disappointed when he was absent from the final selection trials for the German WYHC team because he looked like a medal contender during the first. The strong moving Premium Nr. 29 Viva Vitalis x Dante's Junior sold at auction for 350k euro to Helgstrand, a good start to this young stallion's production career given that he seems to have been used less than others his age.

Premium Stallion Nr. 29 Viva Vitalis x Dante's Junior

One of my favorites was Louisdoro (Livaldon x Diamond Hit x full sister to Franziskus), a real charmer that I was convinced by in the preselection video and during every component of the licensing. This was just a really enjoyable horse that moved with the same rhythm and elasticity on the lunge as he did free and in hand. The gaits still look like they will be rideable for a variety of different rider levels. He was deservedly named as a Premium. I think he will do really well for Celle.

Premium Stallion Louisdoro (Livaldon x Diamond Hit)

Sky FRH

I have kept an eye on Gut Schönweide's Sky (Sezuan x Sir Donnerhall) after he finished in the top ten of last year's 6-year-old Final at the Bundes. He seems to have found his "sweet spot" this season, being named Bundeschampion of the 7-year-olds in Warendorf with a quality mark of 89.6% (9.5 on canter, 9.3 on overall impression, 9.2 on trot, 9.0 on submission, 7.8 on walk) and a technical mark of 77.272%, final score of 83.436%. I also think he deserved to be selected on the German team for the WYHC. This is a really interesting young sporthorse that seems to have high rideability and talent for collection, going forward he will carry the FRH suffix.

Sky started his career as a Premium stallion at the 2020 Hanoverian licensing where he subsequently sold for the price highlight of 490k euro. He comes from the same damline as the approved stallions Freestyle and Flammengold, the Grand Prix horse Flashback, and the mare Vanity Fair who was Champion of the 2018 Herwart von ver Decken Show.

2025 Bundeschampion of the 7-year-olds, Sky FRH (Sezuan x Sir Donnerhall)

Hanoverian Stallion

of the Year: Benicio

The now 20-year-old Benicio (Belissimo M x Velten Third) was named Hanoverian Stallion of the Year, a salute to his accomplishments both in sport and breeding over the years. Benicio became a household name when he was Bundeschampion of the Six-year-olds in 2011 under Anna Sophie Fiebelkorn, scoring 10s on trot and walk, a 9.5 on general impression, a 9 on canter, and an 8.5 on submission for a final score of 9.4. He also won the 30-day stallion performance test in Schlieckau later that year with 10s on walk, trot, canter and willingness to work, averaging a final dressage score of 9.88 which I believe still stands as the highest ever achieved by a stallion. He further proved his abilities with wins up to the national Grand Prix level. Benicio remains active in breeding himself, as well as through popular sons like Bonds, Blue Hors Baron, Bon Vivaldi and Bundeschampion Be Sure FRH who is qualified for this year's Nürnberger Burg-Pokal Finals in Frankfurt next month.

Our own Special Premium/Elite Stute Rhosemary is out of the maternal half-sister to Benicio. Rhosemary is now retired from breeding, but her daughter Frida Kahlo QC (by Franklin) was tied for highest scoring mare in the country for AHS last year and is now in foal to the Grand Prix stallion Revolution for her new owners.

2025 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year Benicio

Hanoverian Mare of

the Year: St. Pr. St. Dorina

St. Pr. St. Dorina (De Niro x Weltmeyer) was named Hanoverian Mare of the Year in Verden. Dorina herself is the dam of the international Grand Prix horses Facilone FRH (by Fürstenball) and For Sure (by Finest), who was also a Premium stallion in Verden in 2017. Dorina's influence in breeding continues to the third generation with Celle stallion and PSG/I1 successful Rock Springs (Rock Forever x Fidertanz x St. Pr. St. Dorina) and the mare Han. Pr. A. Vision L (Vitalis x Fürstenball x St. Pr. St. Dorina), Champion of the 2024 Herwart von der Decken Show.

Han. Pr. A. Vision L (Vitalis x Fürstenball), Champion Mare of the 2024 Herwart von der Decken Show