Windfall II

Last updated
Windfall II
Breed Trakehner
DisciplineEventing
SireHabicht
DamWundermaedel xx
Maternal grandsireMadruzzo
Sex Stallion
Foaled1992
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Colour16.3 hh Black
BreederHeinz Lembke
OwnerTimothy Holekamp
Trainer Ingrid Klimke, Darren Chiacchia
Olympic medal record
Equestrian
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2004 Athens Team eventing

Windfall II is a Trakehner stallion that has competed internationally in the equestrian sport of eventing. [1]

Contents

Breeding

Sire's Side

Windfall is registered with the Trakehner Verband, despite only having one grandparent with East Prussian Trakehner bloodlines, his sire's dam, Hallo. Hallo's dam, Handschelle, was part of the elite mare herd at the stud in Trakehnen and tended to produce heavier-boned offspring. Hallo was therefore bred to a lighter stallion, the Anglo-Arabian Burnus AA. Burnus was ridden by the acclaimed Reiner Klimke on the German national team in eventing, before retiring to stand at stud. Burnus and Hallo produced the sire of Windfall, Habicht. [2]

Habicht won his 100-day testing, and went on to be an incredibly successful event horse, winning the CCI*** at Achselschwang and finishing as the best German horse at the Burghley CCI****. His breeding career was equally impressive, producing top horses in not only eventing, but also dressage and show jumping. The stallion is also still used as the standard for a jumper, due to his excellent bascule, the great folding of his front legs, and overall willingness to jump.

Dam's side

Windfall's dam, Wundermaedel xx, was an approved "Elite Mare" in the Trakehner Verband studbook, being one of only three Thoroughbred mares to earn the "elite" status, out of a total of 110. Her lineage includes top European racing bloodlines: her sire Madruzzo xx won St. Legere and finished second in the German Derby, and was a top-ranked steeplechase sire in the 1970s. Wundermaedel raced nine times, winning once and placing five times before she was inspected by the Trakehner Verband (who gave her a "10" for type). She then began her successful eventing career, winning up to the advanced level. As a broodmare, she produced the mare Windspiel, who was named “Trakehner of the Year 1997” and finished seventh at the Luhmuehlen CCI***, and five colts, all of whom were selected for the Neumuenster stallion inspections.

Life in Germany

Windfall was bred by Heinz Lembke, the owner of his dam. Foaled in April 1992, he was purchased after weaning by Gestuet Hoerstein, one of the most well-known breeding stations for Trakehner event horses in the world. As a two-year-old, Windfall was one of 75 colts, out of 1000, to be selected for the Koerung at Neumunster. There he was one of only five colts to be given "premium" status, and was the only one of the five to be half-thoroughbred. Windfall was then sold at auction to Wolfgang and Christa Diehm.

He had a short breeding career early in his life, but this was ended when he began his eventing career, to help reduce the chance of distraction. As a four-year-old, Windfall was sent to German Olympian Ingrid Klimke, the daughter of Reiner Klimke. She rode Windfall for four years, earning 40 wins or placings. These included the German Young Horse Championships, during which Windfall was used for dressage, cross-country, and the showjumping phase; and wins at every 1999 CIC** or CIC*** in Germany. Additionally, he was short-listed for the German Eventing Team at the 2000 Olympics, but did not compete because Klimke was selected to ride a different horse.

Life in the United States

Windfall was sold to Tim Holekamp, owner of New Spring Farm, in 2000, and imported to the US in January 2001. He was purchased not only to continue his successful career as an event horse, but also for breeding purposes, bringing his quality Trakehner blood to the United States.

Windfall and his new rider, Darren Chiacchia, had trust issues early in their partnership. This usually manifested itself on the cross-country course, where trust is essential. Difficulties during their first Advanced-level events resulted in Windfall being dropped to the Preliminary level. Once Windfall gained trust in his rider, however, his performance improved.

Windfall has won several Advanced events in the United States. In August 2006, Windfall became only the fourth horse in US Eventing history to earn 1,000 points, joining Giltedge, Winsome Adante, and Hannigan. He also won the 2003 Pan American Games, won the 2004 Modified Rolex Kentucky Three Day event, and was part of the bronze-medal 2004 US Eventing Team.

Breeding career

Windfall is not only a registered Trakehner but was also approved by the Irish Horse Board, Westphalian Verband, Swedish Warmblood registry, and Hanoverian registry (named an "elite Hanoverian Stallion").

Windfall was bred in Germany prior to his event career. He produced some promising prospects, including his son Hunnenkoenig; daughter Karisma, who was named a Premium mare by the Verband; and son Karambeau M, who was the South German Young Horse Eventing Champion.

During his first year in the United States, Windfall sired 9 foals, and produced 17 foals in 2002, all by artificial insemination.

To date, Windfall's most successful U.S. offspring is Hanno, a 5-year-old gelding who was the 2006 USEA Young Event Horse Champion and is competing consistently well at the Preliminary level. Another offspring is Asterion, a gray gelding who won Canada's young event horse competition, was the 2008 USEA Young Event Horse Champion, and is campaigning at Preliminary. [3]

Windfall was bred in 2006 to Upolu, Jessica Digenova's Young Rider (Intermediate Level) mount. Jessica Digenova is one of Darren Chiacchia's students in Florida, along with Callie Judy (Irish Odyssey, Kilkenny Castle, Sportsfield Rafiki, and Call on Me (08 Double Gold Medalist)), Meaghan Marinovich (Ahlerich, Kosette), Kate Luce (Fulton IV, Beacon Hill, Fox in Flight, Tia Lusso, Gasper, C.T.S. Casey), Missy Miller (Rowdy Boy, Dean Court, Isadore, Amazing Grace), Charlee Marinovich (Rapport), Brett Handy (Promising Sportsfield, Sophie Belle, and Tragumna), Samantha Clark (Asterion), and Jean lady (Hanno). [4]

Competitive career in the United States

Windfall was competitive in the dressage phase of eventing, usually winning or placing in the top three each time. Dressage Olympian Robert Dover believes him to be capable of the Grand Prix level.[ citation needed ] Windfall was competitive in showjumping, competing in Level Five (jumping 3'9-4') classes.

Successful placings

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trakehner</span> Breed of horse

Trakehner is a light warmblood breed of horse, originally developed at the East Prussian state stud farm in the town of Trakehnen from which the breed takes its name. The state stud was established in 1731 and operated until 1944, when the fighting of World War II led to the annexing of East Prussia by Russia, and the town containing the stud renamed as Yasnaya Polyana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byerley Turk</span> 17th- and 18th-century stallion and one of the foundation stallions of the Thoroughbred breed

The Byerley Turk, also spelled Byerly Turk, was the earliest of three stallions that were the founders of the modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanoverian horse</span> German breed of warmblood horse

A Hanoverian is a Warmblood horse breed originating in Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding styles, and has won gold medals in all three equestrian Olympic competitions. It is one of the oldest, most numerous, and most successful of the Warmblood breeds. Originally a cavalry horse, infusions of more Thoroughbred blood lightened it to make it more agile and useful for competition. The Hanoverian is known for a good temperament, athleticism, beauty, and grace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldenburger</span> Horse breed

The Oldenburg or Oldenburger is a warmblood horse from the north-western corner of Lower Saxony, what was formerly the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. The breed was built on a mare base of all-purpose farm and carriage horses, today called the Alt-Oldenburger. The modern Oldenburg is managed by the Association of Breeders of the Oldenburger Horse, which enacts strict selection of breeding stock to ensure that each generation is better than the last. Oldenburgers are tall sport horses with excellent gaits and jumping ability. The breeding of Oldenburg horses is characterized by very liberal pedigree requirements and the exclusive use of privately owned stallions rather than restriction to a state-owned stud farm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holsteiner</span> Breed of horse

The Holsteiner is a breed of horse originating in the Schleswig-Holstein region of northern Germany. It is thought to be the oldest of warmblood breeds, tracing back to the 13th century. Though the population is not large, Holsteiners are a dominant force of international show jumping, and are found at the top levels of dressage, combined driving, show hunters, and eventing.

Heyday was a Thoroughbred gelding that competed in the sport of eventing, ridden by American Bruce Davidson. He was one of the Top Ten All American High Point Horses of the Century in eventing. He stands 16 hands.

Custom Made was an Irish Sport Horse standing 17.1 hands who was ridden by American David O'Connor at the international level in the sport of eventing.

Cor de la Bryère, nicknamed "Corde", is one of the most influential sires in modern warmblood breeding. He is known as the "Reserve Stallion of the Century", second only to Landgraf I. He stood 16.2 hands.

Erin Go Bragh was a Connemara stallion who competed in the sport of eventing at the highest level. Also known as "The Little Horse that Could", Erin Go Bragh stood 14.3 hands.

Eagle Lion 1985-2013 was an event horse that has competed at the highest level of the sport with great success. He stood 16.1 hh (169 cm).

Stephen Shelton Bradley is an internationally successful rider in the equestrian sport of eventing. He has competed internationally since 1989, with great achievements including a place on the US Eventing Team at the 1992 Summer Olympics, and in 1993 he became only the second American to have won the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westphalian horse</span> Breed of horse

The Westphalian or Westfalen is a warmblood horse bred in the Westphalia region of western Germany. The Westphalian is closely affiliated with the state-owned stud farm of Warendorf, which it shares with the Rhinelander. Since World War II, the Westphalian horse has been bred to the same standard as the other German warmbloods, and they are particularly famous as Olympic-level show jumpers and dressage horses. Next to the Hanoverian, the Westphalian studbook has the largest breeding population of any warmblood in Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bavarian Warmblood</span> Breed of horse

The Bavarian Warmblood is a horse breed of southern Germany that developed from an older Bavarian heavy warmblood breed called the Rottaler. Since mechanization in the mid-20th century, the Bavarian Regional Horse Breeders' Society has concentrated on producing a riding horse for the Olympic disciplines and recreational riding based on other European warmblood bloodlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucinda Fredericks</span> Australian equestrian

Lucinda Fredericks is an equestrian athlete who competes in eventing. Having formerly competed for Great Britain, she now represents Australia. Riding Headley Britannia, she has won three CCI 4* events; winning Burghley in 2006, Badminton in 2007 and Rolex Kentucky in 2009. She won an Olympic silver medal in the team event at Beijing 2008, and also competed at the 2012 London Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodore O'Connor</span>

Theodore O'Connor, nicknamed "Teddy," was a 14.1 34 hands pony who competed internationally at the highest level of eventing. Ridden by Olympian Karen O'Connor, he performed exceedingly well at such events as the Rolex Kentucky Three Day and the Pan American Games. His success and small stature earned him the nickname "Super Pony."

An Austrian Warmblood is a warmblood type of horse registered with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Warmblutzucht in Österreich. Although the studbook is made up of jumping and dressage horses from many other countries, the mare base consists of native horses with a long history. The AWÖ keeps an open studbook, in which mares and stallions must pass rigorous inspections before becoming breeding stock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zweibrücker</span> Breed of horse

The Zweibrücker is a type of German warmblood horse bred in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Traditionally, the breeding of Zweibrücken was centered on the onetime Principal Stud of Zweibrücken but since 1977 has been under the jurisdiction of the Horse Breeders' Association of Rhineland-Palatinate-Saar (PRPS). The modern Zweibrücker is an elegant, large-framed, correct sport horse with powerful, elastic gaits suitable for dressage, show jumping, eventing and combined driving.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celle State Stud</span>

Celle State Stud is a state-owned facility for horse breeding in Celle, Germany. The State Stud of Celle, located in what is now known as Lower Saxony, was founded in 1735 by order of George II, King of Great Britain, Elector of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Its purpose was to make high-quality stallions available to local breeders. Several wars affected not only the safety of the horses, but the types of stallions housed there. Celle's history is intertwined with the history of the Hanoverian horse breed, but the breed registry is privately owned and is an entity independent of the stud. Today the state stud is known for its annual stallion parades.

Darren Chiacchia is an American equestrian. He won a bronze medal in team eventing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, together with Kimberly Severson, John Williams, Amy Tryon and Julie Richards. He also competed in individual eventing, placing 12th.

Rafalca is a former dressage horse, co-owned by Ann Romney, that performed in the equestrian competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, with rider Jan Ebeling. She was retired from competitions in 2014, and is now a broodmare.

References

  1. "USEA Horse of the Month: Windfall II". USEA : United States Eventing Association Inc. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  2. "Windfall 2".
  3. "Approved ATA Stallions". americantrakehner.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  4. Spickard, Sally. "Friday Video from World Equestrian Brands: Honoring Windfall - Eventing Nation - Three-Day Eventing News, Results, Videos, and Commentary". eventingnation.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.