Noblesse Oblige… Der Graf offers American breeders a special
opportunity to breed to the very best bloodlines Europe has to offer. From the celebrated Donnerhall x Pik Koenig
cross, with the powerful heritage of Graphit as well on his mother's line, Der Graf offers his own brand of royalty for American breeders.
Der Graf's foals have been topping the ranks of the nationwide RPSI keurings year after year. Der Graf has produced a higher percentage of Gold Premium foals
per foal crop than any other Zweibrucken stallion that we know of in America. In 2007 SIX of his foals scored Gold Premium, with FIVE of those scoring 8.2 or above!
In 2005, 100% of the Der Graf foals presented for scores earned Gold Premiums!
Now his foals are entering the show ring as well --
and with superior results! Der Graf sired both the Reserve Champion Great American Insurance/USDF Breeders Series colt (Dionysis) and mature mare (Die Finesse) in 2008. Der Graf's two-year-old son Dante Alligheri won the year-end title of Reserve Champion West Central Breeder's Series Colt in 2007, and Der Graf's yearling colt Dublin was the Great American Insurance/USDF Breeders Series Champion colt in 2006, while his 2004 filly
Dolce Vita finished the same season as Reserve Champion filly!
Modern in type, leggy and elegant, Der Graf promises to follow in his famous sire's footsteps in the dressage ring. Imported from Germany in the fall of 2000, Der Graf was the sale topping foal, sought after by all, at the 2000 Rheinland Pfalz-Saar Elite Foal Auction in Zweibrucken, Germany.
Der Graf's pedigree reads like a who's who of the sporthorse world. His sire, Donnerhall, could be the most successful dressage
stallion of all time. Not only was he a many time champion at the Grand Prix level, but he was German National Champion in 1994,
a World Cup champion, a member of the Gold medal German team in two World Championships, as well as the bronze medal winner individually. He
retired sound and strong at 17 years of age, and his recent death was mourned by the worldwide dressage community. Donnerhall's breeding career, like his show career, is too long for me to list
fully, but he has produced more than 50 approved sons in Europe, and many
States Premium daughters, as well as numerous successful offspring in sport.
Der Graf's dam's sire Pik Koenig is a foundation sire for the Hanoverian breed, producing the world famous Pik Bube, among many other highly successful offspring. Graphit, too, is a legend in his own right, siring a long line of horses successful in sport.
Der Graf lives up to his heritage in his movement, temperament and athletic ability. His gaits are powerful and swinging, his talent for dressage
evident in every step he takes, and his conformation as well is elegant and correct. Standing over 17.1 hands, Der Graf offers size as well as
substance for American breeders.
Der Graf is showing great potential for the upper levels of dressage, and also shows great scope and power free jumping. Coming off of an injury in summer of 2008, Der Graf is back to work and preparing to show 3rd Level in the spring of 2009. He placed first or second every time out in 2007, with scores from 66-68%, under trainer Missy Fladland of LaRiata Ranch of Council Bluffs, IA. Under his former trainer Jim Eldridge of
Noble Champion Sporthorses, Der Graf was Reserve Champion stallion in-hand with a score of 72.5% and won his materiale class at the Texas Dressage Classic held
April 15th and 16th, 2005.
Der Graf is approved for breeding and licensed to Stud Book I by the Rheinland Pfalz-Saar International. He successfully completed his 30-day performance test at the first annual
RPSI stallion testing in December 2005 at Kasson Ridge Farm in Bethlehem, CT. He has had excellent conception rates both by fresh and fresh cooled shipped semen. If you are looking for unparalleled
foundation performance bloodlines from Germany and spectacular movement, keep Der Graf in your breeding plans for 2009. His foals are consistently impressive!
Approved Stud book I by the RPSI. Standing to a limited book of approved mares.
2009 Breeding Fee: $1,500, includes $250 booking fee.
See Photos from Der Graf's 30-Day Test
See Photos of Der Graf's Foals
Download/Play a video clip of Der Graf under trainer Missy Fladland
