Holsteiner Verband announces the death of stallion Uriko
KWPN stallion Uriko ceded by the Holsteiner Verband
from Dominique Wehrmann 
Uriko, one of Untouchable's most successful sons. Photo: Holsteiner Verband/Janne Bugtrup “Today is a difficult day for the entire Holsteiner Verband stallion husbandry team,” commented Managing Director Felix Flinzer. “After careful consideration, we had to let Uriko go.”
The stallion had an orthopaedic condition that could not be treated.
Uriko’s origin
Although Uriko was registered as a KWPN stallion, he mainly carried Holstein blood through his Lavito-Corrado-Ronald-Fasolt dam Wizzard, who represented the Holstein line 4172. The Dutch breeding association Aaldering Welheim had selected the KWPN stallion Untouchable as a partner for Wizzard, who is also the grandfather of Richard Vogel’s Aachen winner United Touch S via Untouched. Uriko has helped to consolidate Untouchable’s U-line.
Offspring
Uriko quickly made a name for himself as a sire. The best known is probably Harrie Smolders’ Olympic stallion Uricas by Kattevennen, himself a licensed stallion. But horses such as Bull Run’s Jireh by Kristen Vanderveen (USA) or Charisma HS, formerly Bundeschampionesse with Richard Vogel and now active in international sport, are also among Uriko’s figureheads.
18 licensed sons will carry on his legacy. In addition to Uricas, there is also the Holsteiner Verband stallion United Way, active with Lukas Wenz up to 1.55 meters, the champion stallion of the 2016 Holsteiner licensing, Unlimited, and the reserve champion of 2017, Uno I.
Sporting career
Uriko was not only used at stud, but also has a remarkable personal performance to show. With Thomas Konle, Maximilian Gräfe and Ebba Johansson, he can point to successes in advanced (S) level show jumping competitions up to 1.50 meters.
His last season was in 2019, when an injury put an end to his sporting career. Now the Holsteiner Verband had to make the decision to euthanize Uriko in consultation with the veterinarians looking after him.
“With Uriko, breeding has not only lost an outstanding sire, but also a stallion who was a beacon of hope, figurehead and trailblazer at the same time. Uriko leaves a mark that will remain,” says the Verband.
