Oldenburg Champion Stallion Fürstenball Has Died

On July 10, 2026, Fürstenball passed away, according to the Schockemöhle Stud Farm. “It is with great sadness that we must announce that our exceptional stallion Fürstenball passed away yesterday at the age of 20. He was a true icon—a horse of incomparable appearance and presence.”

A standout even as a foal

Even as a foal, Fürstenball—a son of Fürst Heinrich bred by Georg Sieverding out of the Elite and State Premium mare Maradonna by Donnerhall-Classiker—already captivated audiences. Lone Boegh Henriksen from Denmark purchased him for the sensational price of 110,000 euros.

Two years later, she entered him in the Oldenburg licensing, where he impressed the judges with his suppleness and phenomenal gait. He was named the champion stallion, and Paul Schockemöhle secured half ownership of the promising young stallion. That proved to be a worthwhile investment.

National Champion

The stallion’s own competitive career was rather short. After an outstanding performance test, he competed twice in the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses with Ines Westendarp in the saddle, placing 13th in the final as a five-year-old and 12th as a six-year-old. In both years, he also competed at the Bundeschampionat, winning the title with ease at age five. At age six, he placed twelfth.

Fürstenball was trained up to Class S and even competed in a tournament here at the age of seven. However, that marked the end of his competitive career.

Phenomenal Offspring

Fürstenball passed on his qualities—he sired 44 international Grand Prix horses alone. The best known of these is likely the Danish Olympic, World Championship, and European Championship mare Heiline’s Danciera. In 2023, he sired Fürstin Bea OLD, the winner of the Louisdor Prize final, who is now a broodmare. Other well-known names include Facilone, also a Louisdor Prize winner; Friesen Ball, ridden by Andrea Timpe; Force Majeure, ridden by Yara Reichert; First Class, ridden by Ingrid Klimke; Full Moon II, ridden by Laura Tomlinson; Filigrano Marone, ridden by Thomas Wagner; and many more.

He sired successful young horse champions such as the National Riding Horse Champion Feingefühl—who is now highly successful in junior competition under Alix von Borries—and Fürsten-Look, who was both a National Champion and a bronze medalist at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, as well as many others.

Fürsten-Look is likely one of the better-known sires among the 105 licensed sons. Others include the champion stallion Follow Me OLD, who is now also competing in junior competitions, and Feinrich, sire of, among others, Tobias Nabbens’ Shooting Star Forster and Borja Carrascosa’s Frizzantino, as well as many others.