Birkhof Stud Farm: Stallion Acordelli Dies at Age 26

The Württemberg premium stallion Acordelli has died, according to a report from the Birkhof Stud. The bay lived to be 26 years old. The son of Acord II, bred by Walter Frank, had a fan base unlike any other. At stallion shows, the very first notes of “his” music (composed by John Philip Sousa) were enough to bring a wave of applause from the fan section. Well into his old age, the stallion—with his large, alert eye and well-formed neck, which he owed to his Holsteiner lineage—would trot into the arena in the pose of an athletic king.

Acordelli – 24 Years at Home at the Birkhof

But when he was let out to roam freely, “His Majesty” first settled down contentedly in the wood shavings. No amount of frantic whip-cracking could stop him from rolling around. Only then did he gallop happily through the arena with long strides.

The dark bay’s career began at the licensing in Marbach in 2002. At that time, Acordelli left the licensing grounds with the premium and, as the top-priced horse, ended up at the Birkhof Stud, which would be his home for the next 24 years.

Michael Jung in the saddle

As a young horse, he was trained by, among others, Michael Jung rode. Acordelli, whose mother was also a direct daughter of the Sire Cor de la Bryère was, and passed on those traits just as he was. Beautiful, easy to ride, with potential for show jumping and dressage. Even though none of his offspring have become major advertising stars, his progeny nonetheless exhibit all the traits generally considered indicators of quality in breeding: 511 offspring were registered as competition horses, including winners in S-level dressage and S-level show jumping. International eventing horses also trace their lineage back to the Birkhof stallion. After all, he has six licensed sons registered in Stallion Book I to his credit. And he also has a daughter who was honored as a champion mare.

‘s Comeback After an Injury

: After suffering an injury at a young age, it seemed he would never be able to ride again. But after a long recovery, he regained his fitness and carried Lisa Casper—the daughter of owner Thomas Casper, who was twelve years old at the time—through A-level show jumping.

For stallion owner Casper, Acordelli has always been one of his favorite stallions: “I was able to sell Acordellis without ever having ridden them. Anyone who’s ever owned an Acordelli didn’t want anything else afterward.” “Beautiful, sweet, easy to ride”—those were the qualities that defined them. “These are all things we should be paying more attention to again in breeding.”