The Holsteiner studbook is one of the smallest studbooks in
Europe-approx. 6% of the total population. However, it has consistently
produced some of the world's most successful international horses in
all disciplines. At the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Holsteiners
dominated the proceedings. In Dressage Granat won the individual Gold
Medal and Madrigal the Silver. Albrant won the Silver Medal in Three
Day Eventing, and Torphy earned a Silver in Show Jumping. The same
year, Emil Jung won the World Championship in Combined Driving with a
team of four Holsteiners.
That high performance quality has carried on into the present era.
Since 1996, Calvaro 5, an eighteen hand gray gelding, has won the
individual silver medal in show jumping at the Atlanta Olympics, and
was voted Best Horse at the World Equestrian Games in 1998. Despite her
Hanoverian brand, Olympic Gold Medallist Ratina Z is by the Holsteiner
stallion Ramiro and her second dam, or grandmother, is a Holsteiner
mare who won the prestigious Grand Prix of Aachen, Germany. Just
recently, Landlady, an American bred mare, was short listed for the
USET three day event team for the 1999 Pan American Games with veteran
event rider Kerry Millikin aboard.
In North America, most of America's top show jumping riders have had at
least one Holsteiner in the barn, including Anne Kursinski (Indeed,
Canyon), Margie Goldstein Engle (Hidden Creek Alvaretto, Hidden Creek
Christo), Hap Hansen (Roxett 7), Tim Grubb (Elan Coriana, Elan Lorestan), Susie Hutchison (America I), Nona Garson (Capital S), and
Leslie Howard (Concerto).
Holsteiner stallions continue to produce some of America's top dressage
horses, including Lifetime, United States Dressage Federation Horse of
the Year at Second Level. In the Adult Amateur divisions where good
temperament is of the utmost importance, both Contango, USDF Horse of
the Year at Grand Prix, and Jagger, USDF Fourth Level Horse of the Year
are by Holsteiner stallions.
In North America, the American Holsteiner Horse Association is
dedicated to carrying out the breeding practices of the German
Holsteiner Verband. The AHHA functions as an independent organization
while maintaining an informal working relationship with the Verband.
The Association conducts annual breeding stock inspections and only
those horses which are of sufficient quality are eligible to produce
registered offspring. In addition, the AHHA publishes an annual
Stallion Roster, the Impulsion newsletter and manages the Holsteiner
Awards Program.
