2026 Hanoverian Licensing Analysis: 68 dressage stallions approved for Verden; Ferro, Vitalis, and Bolero are prominently represented; V-Power has four sons.

In total, the 68 dressage stallions approved for the Hanoverian licensing have 49 different sires. These trace back to 13 different stallion lines. Furioso xx is the progenitor of three different lines. He is represented in the group of dressage stallions for the Hanoverian licensing, on the one hand, through Ferro (Zack, Negro, Secret …) with Mexico. Mexico is the full brother of Furioso II—nine years his senior—and is represented by his great-grandson Fidermark (with five offspring) and Jazz (with one offspring). Thus, a total of 23 young stallions—whose exhibitors are hoping for a positive licensing decision on November 20 and 21—trace their lineage back to Furioso xx.

Ferro Has 17 Offspring

The Dutch horse Ferro, an Olympic finalist at Sydney 2000, has 17 offspring. Three of them are by Dorothee Schneider’s recently gelded World Championship finalist Segantini FRH. Sir Gribaldi, ridden by Beatrice Arturi and third at the World Championships for six-year-old dressage horses, has two sons from his first crop up for licensing.

Secret is represented in the Körlot by one son and ten other descendants. The others are descended from Pride, Santos, Sebastino PS, Secret Escape, and Secret Game.

Viva Vivaldi!

The Vivaldi stallion line has become one of the leading sources of dressage horses in the Netherlands. Ultimately, it traces back to the Holsteiner Lacapo, who was exported to the neighboring country. Strictly speaking, this would make Ladykiller xx the founding sire. However, since the lines have branched out, Vivaldi is the current head of the line. He is represented primarily through his son Vitalis—who himself sired two sons—with 15 young stallions competing at the Niedersachsenhalle.

Vivaldi’s sire, Krack C, is responsible for the still-young L’Avenir, who is sending two sons to Verden. And speaking of Ladykiller xx: the former and current dressage world champion Glamourdale—who also traces his lineage back to this Irish Thoroughbred that made a big name for himself in Holstein—is sending two sons into the race.

V-Power with a quartet

The stallion with the most offspring in the running for breeding approval is the Westphalian champion stallion V-Power. Four of his sons have been approved, and two others are sired by his sire, Viva Gold. The Celle state stud stallion Von und Zu has three sons in the running. The lineup of “V-horses” is rounded out by offspring of Iowa Gold, Venturo, Viconte, and V-Plus.

Third place: Bolero

Bolero, the “original Hanoverian” (who actually shouldn’t have been born at all—here’s his life story), is sending nine potential sires to Verden. Barbarossa, a son of Bonds and a state-owned stallion at the Lower Saxony State Stud in Celle, is listed with two sons, as is Bon Courage. Bon Amour, Bon Bolero, Bon Esprit, Bonds, and Bonhoeffer are the other representatives of the Bolero line at Verden on the last weekend in November.

Escolar (7), Fidermark (5), and Donnerhall (4) are the other stallion lines. But the R line, originally traceable to Ramzes AA, is also represented by three young stallions. Escaneno (3), Despacito (2), and Escanto PS (2) each have more than one son in the dressage stallion licensing group at the Hanoverian licensing.

Where do the dressage stallions at the Hanoverian licensing come from?

53 of the 68 young stallions—about 78 percent—are registered with the Hanoverian Association. Two of them, sons of Viconte and So Perfect, come from the British subsidiary association. Six are Oldenburgs, five are Westphalians, three have pedigrees from the Dutch KWPN, and one stallion comes from Denmark.

Young Pedigrees

Many younger stallions, often with successes at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, are represented in Verden by their offspring. Among them are several who are presenting their first crop of foals. One example is the black stallion Most Wanted Nero by Bellin, who is sending two sons to the runway.

The collection is online

Statistics on sire lines of dressage stallions at the Hanoverian licensing

Ferro (17): Ampere , Jagger, Juwel, Kjento, Opoque, Pride, Santos, Sebastino PS, Secret, Secret Escape, Secret Game, Segantini (3), Sir Gribaldi (2), So Perfect

Vivaldi (15): Iowa Gold, Venturo, Viconte, Vitalis (2), Viva Gold (2), Von und Zu (3), V-Plus, V-Power (4)

Bolero (9): Barbarossa (2), Bon Amour, Bon Bolero, Bon Courage (2), Bon Esprit, Bonds, Bonhoeffer,

Escolar (7): Escamillo , Escaneno (3), Escanto PS (2), Extra Gold

Fidermark (5): Franco Nero, Follow Up, Freigeist, Fürst Romancier, Fynch Hatton

Donnerhall (4): Despacito (2) Diamantenglanz (Diamond Hit), Donkey Boy

Gribaldi (2): Most Wanted Nero von Bellin (2)

Ladykiller (2): Glamourdale (2)

Krack C (2): L’Avenir (2)

Ramiro (2): Rockdale , SolutionUnik

Diarado (1): Diathletico

Jazz (1): Highfive Fuglsang

Rubinstein (1): Red Viper

Schedule

Friday, November 20,

Presentation of the stallions on the triangular course

Lunging of the dressage stallions

followed by the licensing meeting

Saturday, November 21,

Free-running of the stallions with licensing and award ceremony

Show program featuring a presentation of the award-winning stallions

OnLive auction of the stallions (hybrid auction)—first the award-winning stallions; followed by the remaining stallions in catalog order

For more information, contact the Hanoverian Association.