Diamond Hit, from the Sprehe Stud Farm, has died

In 1997, Loretta—the now-famous daughter of Ramino—gave birth to another Oldenburg colt at Reinhold Hader’s stable. Loretta had already given her breeder a real gem: Sandro Hit by Sandro Song. At the time of the birth of Loretta’s second son, Sandro Hit was already four years old, and it was becoming clear just what a special stallion was growing up there. The breeders’ hopes were likely just as high when yet another fine, dark colt lay in the straw—this time sired by Don Schufro. Hader’s hopes would be fulfilled in every respect in the years to come.

A Sporting Home Run and …

Diamond Hit was named a premium stallion at his licensing and initially stood at the Schockemöhle stud. There, he made a name for himself not only as a sire but also through his own performance. As a four-year-old, he became State Champion and won silver at the National Championships with Miriam Hanschke in the saddle. As a five-year-old, he qualified with Anja Engelbart for the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, where he won the silver medal, just as he did shortly thereafter at the National Championships.

His talent did not go unnoticed. Emma Hindle, a British woman whose Brookhouse Stud was still based in Germany at the time, invested in Diamond Hit. Diamond Hit had not competed for three years when Hindle presented him to the public again in 2005—and immediately entered him in the advanced class. This was where Diamond Hit belonged. That same year, he was named VTV Stallion of the Year.

Hindle continued to train Diamond Hit up to Grand Prix level and won prizes with him in Aachen, Mannheim, and Wiesbaden. In 2012, he was retired from competition during the Oldenburg Retired Stallions Parade. A year later, Gestüt Sprehe acquired the stallion, who was already 16 years old. For reasons.

… a breeding success

Diamond Hits’ performance as a sire far surpasses his achievements as a competitor. He leaves behind 83 licensed sons and 138 offspring who have competed successfully up to the S-level in dressage. Among his most notable sons are Donavan, 2005 National Champion of four-year-old stallions in Warendorf; Don Diamond, South German licensing champion, state champion, South German champion, and National Vice-Champion; who was also named 2012 Masters Stallion of the Year in Stuttgart; Daily Deal, successful in Grand Prix competitions; the premium stallion Diamond First; and Dominy, 2017 National Champion of five-year-old dressage horses.

His daughters and other offspring have also enjoyed international success: Loxana won the Oldenburg Association’s Elite Mare Show in Rastede in 2006 and later achieved Grand Prix success under the Danish flag with Daniel Bachmann Andersen. Diamantenbörse won the bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses. Della Cavalleria OLD helped Victoria Max-Theurer achieve countless successes, including at the Grand Prix level.

Among the most accomplished offspring in dressage are, for example, the Olympic bronze and World Championship silver medalist Goerklintgaards Dublet, ridden by Kasey Perry-Glass (USA), the World Championship silver medalist with Hawtin’s Delicato, who won team bronze with Carl Hester (GBR) at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, Doktor, owned by Shelly Francis of the U.S., Dorincourt, who carried Florine Kienbaum to European Championship gold in the U25 age group; Diamond Girl under Nadine Capellmann; Quadriga’s Don Cismo, who enjoyed success with Dorothee Schneider; Den Haag, who was trained up to Grand Prix level at Isabell Werth’s stable; and many, many more.

The Farewell

Successful even at the Grand Prix level, with 83 licensed sons and 70 Grand Prix horses—Diamond Hit has an incredible lifetime record. He spent the last five years living a quieter life. In 2021, he was retired from stud duty and has since been enjoying his retirement at the Sprehe Stud.

It has now been announced there that the exceptional stallion has passed away at the age of 29.

“Some horses leave their mark. Others make history. Diamond Hit did both. It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to an extraordinary stallion who shaped the world of dressage for decades. At nearly 30 years old, Diamond Hit was far more than a successful athlete and an important sire. He was a personality, an exceptional horse, and, for many people, a very special companion.”