Okay so I know this has been done before, and I have read the other threads, but I’d love to see your Sir Donnerhalls.
Brag about them, tell me about them. What makes them fabulous? What would you improve? Temperament, trainability, movement, conformation?
What would you breed them to? What mares work best with Sir D … would love to hear personal experiences.
Thanks!
I worked with one last year that I absolutely adored even though her mentality wasn’t what one would wish for in any horse… But she was a great mover and full of mischief 
and last but not least an authorized bucking bronco 
I have had 3 Sir Donnerhalls from my Contendro / Eiger / Wenzel mare. Only 2 went to their inspections, and were rated “Top Filly” and “Overall Champion” from fields of 20 or more foals.
All 3 have had bouncy gaits, great elasticity, very good type. All (especially 1st 2) have been quite leggy - an area I wanted to improve on from the dam. All have had great big butts (but I think that might be from the damline), and were very well under and active behind.
All 3 have been very sociable, confident, easy in every way. The 1st 2 had major Joue de vivre (mom does too).
Colourwise, I’ve had blcck/brown, bay with lots of bling, and liver chestnut with lots of bling.
You can see pictures, ands there may be videolinks, on my website.
Only the 1st is undersaddle, and her undersaddle gaits are very expressive and energetic.
I don’t know what mares work best. Mine worked very well. He added legs. Both contributed to movement and type and temperament. (Tess is a very round, bouncy mover, with great confidence and charm)
That’s really good to hear … though not about the bronco one!
I’ve always liked him, though come to understand he is an inappropriate cross for my own mare. So I am very excited that it’s looking like I may be able to secure a ready made product on the ground … a very pretty bay filly.
Just wanting to hear as much as possible about him and his babies. It’s a very exciting prospect for me. Particularly to be able to acquire a filly with a strong damline (Weltmeyer) something I am very picky about and something that many breeders in Australia don’t put enough emphasis on!
I have heard he doesn’t have a great hind leg the Sandro Hit thing … though Sunnydays, it sounds like your babies do … so I was thinking a good cross would be something like Don Frederico who does is quick and active behind, and would mean doubling up on the Donnerhall for substance and rideability. Or perhaps Lord Sinclair … love to hear everyone’s opinions and thoughts 
Sunnydays, I just looked at your babies. WOW. Could you please express mail me the bay colt … pleeeease … and the chestnut one actually … and the Hotline filly …
Congratulations on breeding such lovely babies
madamlb-I have wondered the same thing w Don Fred-I have a smaller one that could have a longer leg, but some have said not to double up on D due to a longer back. My mare has a very short back… Anyone else have thoughts on Sir D w DF?
There was a very typey Sir Donnerhall colt/stallion at the American stallion approvals this year, Sir James.
I have had two Sir Donnerhalls out of my Feiner Stern mare. Wonderful horses and athletic. I had one mare and one colt. The colt was more laid back and he sold as a weanling so I cannot give you first hand on riding him but I have been told by his owner that he is quite easy. The mare has a bit more “spice” to her and she knows she is something special - no bronc rides but, you can certainly tell there is a lot of horse under the engine. She was a bit more reactive than most as a young horse but once she got started under saddle she settled in quite a bit. Both have very nice jumps. I decided to keep and breed the mare as she is exceptional and have her infoal to Wild Dance for 2012.
Here is an album for the mare
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1441314508982&set=a.1441313628960.2062013.1116654383&type=3&theater
and the gelding with his new owner
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2467220315986&set=a.2416540889032.2139013.1116654383&type=3&theater
I don’t think I would breed him to a very hot mare from what I have seen in the few that I have seen I do think that they are horses that tend to have big egos
I have one from my Rosentau/A line mare, she is two now. I just did a video of her about a month ago, she was getting fuzzy already and was just pulled from pasture without any beautifying, but gives you an idea of the movement ect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE_UJ6N11-U
Her dam is a nice mover as well, but the canter needed improving, which Sir Donnerhall definately did! The video above doesn’t show her canter, but it is her nicest gait. She is SO balanced and elastic, everything is easy, she can canter on the spot going into a turn and then do a line of ones out in the field without even looking like she is having to try.
The mare has also had foals by Londonderry and Wolkentanz II and none of them have the canter the Sir D filly does. On the other hand, the Sir D is definately spicier than the other offspring of this mare and the mare herself. She can throw temper tantrums and is a true Diva lol. But she learns well and loves people so it’s not anything that particularly concerns me (plus I like a hotter type and she is for me to ride).
I am lucky as my filly got his dam’s hind end. That is the one thing I don’t like about Sir D…the lack of carrying power and “sit”. He is active enough, that’s forsure, but he and many of his offspring have hind ends that look to me like they won’t be able to handle FEI level collection. Some also don’t have very good walks.
Overall though the stallion’s record speaks for himself. He is a super sire and brings alot of positives to the equation.
Great thread, and nice horses! SD is a very appealing choice for my coming 3 year old filly. My filly is very elastic herself and has 3 very good gaits, along with a great temperament, but is a bit short legged.
I am also considering Sir Donnerhall for a 2012 breeding to an Elite Welser mare. (Welser / Achenbach which goes back to Weltmeyer on topline and Abajo on bottomline.) This mare consistently produces youngters with exceptional walk gaits (9 walks), nice uphill conformation and excellent temperament/trainability. The improvement areas for this mare are longer legs, more extravagant movement in the natural trot gait and improved canter gait. She has crossed very well with Rotspon, Hotline, Rousseau and Don Principe.
From the thread, it appears that the Sir Donnerhalls are a bit on the spicy side and produce tall youngsters with good canters. Can anyone comment on crossing Sir Donnerhall with W-line mares? What about the trot gait on Sir Donnerhall offspring?
Thanks for your comments.
Annette, here is some trot from one of mine - and look at Donella’s youtube link above from her 2 yo. (Yum yum)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tx8VuElm6g
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAVygNse76A&feature=related
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m7gb5xGc4Y
All 3 of my Sir D’s have been very elastic, very athletic.
I’d agree with Donella’s suggestion that a good strong butt on the dam, is good insurance for breeding to Sir D.
All three have been extremely easy to handle, great for farrier, vet, quick to learn.
If you google Sir Donnerhall foals on youtube, you should find lots to observe.
Wowza, those are some nice Sir Donnerhall babies! I am getting very excited for the arrival of my Sir Donnerhall baby out of EM Diotima (Donnerschlag/Matrose) , due in about 5 months!
I have one Sir Donnerhal gelding, Bolero NSN, shown below as a 5 year-old. He was easy to handle as a youngster and back under saddle. He is sensitive, however, soft in the contact, and not as naturally forward, although the forwardness is now good after correct training. I would say Sir Donnerhall definitely adds elasticity and to the gaits, improves the trot and canter with better self-carriage. Conformationally, Sir D’s tend to have beautiful fronts, refinement, longer necks. My guy is bold and very affectionate. I agree with others about breeding to a mare with a strong hindquarters, which is what I did. IMO, from what I have seen, Sir D’s are not as amateur-friendly as other lines, because of the sensitivity to the aids and reactiveness. But in the right hands, they are awesome!! My guess is they are slower to mature mentally, if not physically, and should not be rushed. I have not seen many Sir D’s in person, but I have studied many videos. My guy has consistently been a “Top Five” KWPN-NA horse in the keurings in the under-saddle classes. He would have been top gelding/stallion in North America at his studbook inspection as a 3 year-old had he already had his radiographs, to allow him to move into the main studbook.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l98/mhaley1010/2011%20KWPN-NA%20Keuring/Bolerotr.jpg
Dreamscape Farm’s young stallion, Sir Gregory, dam-sire Don Gregory, is an excellent example of what Sir Donnerhall can throw. He also has a very good hindquarters and improved rideability, from the Don Gregory line, most likely. He is now in training with Shannon Peters.
For comparison’s sake, below is a picture of this year’s foal, Gauguin NSN, by Sir Gregory out of the same dam as my Bolero gelding:
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l98/mhaley1010/Gauguin%20NSN/Gauguin4mths.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l98/mhaley1010/Gauguin%20NSN/DSC_0059.jpg
i’ve bred sirD twice to my fidermark x frühlingsball mare.
first foal was a colt bought by PS and when he turned two he became licensed right away - my biggest breeding success so far.
http://www.hippologi.com/Sansibarengl.htm
second was a chestnust filly and one of the most eyecatching foals i have seen in a long time. this is her: http://www.hippologi.com/sawadeeengl.htm
she was sold as a weanling to a dressage barn in the netherlands and i am hoping to hear from her once she is under saddle.
while both foals turned out different as can be (despite being full siblings!), both can be considered sucessful breedings.
yet, i wouldn’t breed to sirD again.
my goal is to breed “complete” horses and these include THREE complete gaites. lack of walk, however, has meanwhile turned out to be an obstacle in sirD’s kids under saddle. his sire’s heritage, i guess, and often a dominant feature regardless to how rock-solid the mare’s walk might be.
this year i started to ride another 4yr old sirD gelding, very much stamped by the sire’s typical shape/long lined exterieur features (neck, straight topline) and a pleasure to ride with respect to ridability and “swing” feeling. dynamic!
he can be slightly “bold” at times but never in a way he would make the rider feel uncertain. i enjoy his moments of “boldness” as a sign of liveness and challenge to resemble his energy in the right way.
as sirD’s are ridable.
slight and easy in front of my leg.
however, walk tends to be an issue here, too.
reason i chose sarkozy for my other fidermark mare last year and her filly this year turned out to be yet another eyecatcher: http://www.hippologi.com/sabaryengl.htm (there seems to be something about these chestnut fillies…)
she also sold as a weanling to a dressage barn up north.
i will have to wait and see how she (and all other sarkozy kids) turn out under saddle.
reason i am staying away from any further sandro hit related breeding so far. breeding the “complete” horse always takes a few years to prove right from wrong.
my goal is to breed “complete” horses and these include THREE complete gaites. lack of walk, however, has meanwhile turned out to be an obstacle in sirD’s kids under saddle. his sire’s heritage, i guess, and often a dominant feature regardless to how rock-solid the mare’s walk might be
Really good point. They do tend to lack in the walk, in general ( I am very lucky my filly has a walk that is good enough). That would be a real bummer to have a superstar type horse with a very bad walk.
Is Sir Donnerhall considered a ‘walk killer’? I would breed him to a mare who has consistently produced offspring with a “9” walk, but have room for improvement in the natural trot and canter. I would not want to breed to Sir Donnerhall if the breeding would diminish the good walk of the produce of this dam. Thoughts?
I’m light on photos and video of mine, but here’s a video of my now 5-year-old gelding (out of a Silvermoon mare) as a four-year-old. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRg_AtPBDrU
Walk is definitely a weakness. I don’t know what his mother’s walk looked like, so I’m of no help on that. I can tell you that it’s gotten better with time, and while it will never be a 10, I think it will be a solid 7.
The trot and especially the canter, however, are INCREDIBLY special. He learned the changes, no joke, in two days. He is a little (and I do mean LITTLE) tough in the collection in the trot at the moment, but he’s getting better and better, and has this wonderful energy without being a nut. And the canter is just unreal, the best I’ve ever sat on. And in the canter he thinks collection is easy-peasy.
He’s a bit of a goon, but I’ve been told his mother was also a bit of a goon, so apparently that’s genetic He’s a good natured goofball! But definitely thinks he belongs in your pocket, all the time.
Whole bunch of photos here: http://www.laurensprieser.com/horses/stratocaster/
I think with Sir Donnerhall, as with other stallions, the mother has a big stake in the outcome of the foal…
Having only bred one of my mares to Sir Donnerhall, I’m not sure that I can speak in general terms, but since this mare is my second generation, I believe I know what the mare line contributes to the equation…
Having said that, I have a yearling Sir Donnerhall out of my Florencio x Gelderlander (Natuur) mare and he finished 4th in the country for Dutch foals. As a long yearling he is pretty spectacular in all three gaits, but since he’s also quite growthy it remains to be seen if he can keep this ability as a mature horse. At this point I am in no hurry to sell him since I tend to believe that he will be quite spectacular (but then I’m biased!). Ask me this question again in another year and a half and I will be able to tell you a lot more!
Here’s mom…
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee243/sbelz/JamesandBardot1.jpg
And here’s the son at 3 days old…
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee243/sbelz/3-dayoldflash03.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee243/sbelz/3-dayoldflash01.jpg
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee243/sbelz/3-dayoldflash04.jpg
Enjoy!
Wow, you all have some beautiful babies. So let’s see- expect tall horses (leggy) with great trot and even better canter, the mares are hotter in temperament and the walk (like most Sandro Hits) is the area of concern.
The filly I have a good chance to buy is out of a very sweet Weltmeyer/tb mare and so far (only 4 weeks old!) is like a refined version of her mother, very elegant, a bit more reserved but very sweet. The dam has a good walk from her TB blood because Weltmeyer doesn’t pass on the greatest walk, so I’m hoping the filly has a reasonable walk, if not an 8 walk. It is strange these horses who have superior canters and lack a good walk … one would think the two would be connected or am I just naive?
I’m very excited at the prospect of her joining my herd, as a friend for my little gelding who will be my next dressage horse, and also as a breeding prospect along with my other mare who is heavier R/D lines. I think 2nd or 3rd gen there is a good place for the Sandro Hit blood when breeding it back to the older fashioned boys who are very correct with temperament, walk and rideability as these seem to be the issues that hold the Sandro Hits back from serious FEI potential. I like the idea of the Sir Donnerhall blood being crossed with stallions like Dancier, Don Frederico, Floriscount etc … in case you couldn’t tell that I’m a Donnerhall lover 
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
