What do you think of their temperaments? What about rideability under saddle (if they are of age)? I have one and really like her but am wondering what the general concensus is?
a bit more flighty than average as babies, coming around by 1-2.
Under saddle WOW!
Give them a chance to mature as they tend to be late bloomers and worth the wait.
I have bred to SD twice - the first one is under saddle and sold pretty quickly. He’s a WOW mover with a very good temperament.
The second one is a rising yearling (Flash Gordon S. E.) and you couldn’t ask for a better temperament or better movement for that matter. He was 3rd in the country as a foal last year and he is everything I look for in a dressage horse!
We bought a licensed stallion at the Oldenburg stallion licensing last Nov. by Sir Donnerhall. He is going walk, trot and canter under saddle now. He has been super to break- very intelligent and engaged with people in a cooperative way. He is long legged and shows an uphill balance. We have named him Sir James. Video from a few weeks ago is on my website. The goal this year is to get him ready for the Hanoverian stallion licensing and then the 70 day test in the fall. So far, we are really impressed with him.
What types of mares cross best with SD? How about tb mares?
I consider SD a refining stallion and so I’m not sure how that would work with a TB mare… I think he can lengthen a shorter front leg and add some elasticity, but would still look for power in the hing leg from the mare.
I have a SD offspring and though he has taken a lot longer than others his age, I would not trade him for anything. He really bloomed once he hit 7, until then he was pretty rattled easily. He still is what I call insecure (nervous / unsure with new things) but his personality - no one can top him.
It would not be my instinct to cross Sir D with a TB mare. He is leggy, and not too heavy - and I think a mare with more frame might be best. That said, I’ve used him twice with my Contendro / SPS Eiger / Wenzel mare - who is not tall, barely 16h, and not big boned, but great feet, very correct, some substance of body (a power-packed back end), and had good results. The 2 foals have both been leggy, and will be tall (my #1 reason for using Sir D - though there are many good reasons). They’ve both been very people focused, easy, easy in every way, and beautiful, with movement ranging from Wow to Spectacular.
Both from the get-go were sparklers.
Their dam is also an extravagent, powerful mover, but Sir D did not take anything away.
I’d worry that a TB might give too spindly an offspring — but I do believe he has been bred to some German TB crosses, with good results. So, Look to the mare, and her production record. There are many more-substantial stallions that also throw movement and temperament, that you can look at.
Good luck!
Everything I have heard about Sir D indicates he tends to throw very much to the Sandro Hit side of his pedigree - leggy, elegant, fancy foals with flashy gaits but not necessarily a tremendous amount of carrying power in the hind end, and often with a fairly sensitive and somewhat reactive temperament. As with any stallion, there are of course exceptions to the above, but in general, I would agree the mare needs to bring in power in the engine and a solid, calm temperament.
I have a coming 4 year old mare. She was VERY insecure and shy when I got her as a two year old, but now is very sweet and friendly. She has been under saddle for about 6 months and is very quiet (for a 3yr old) and brave. She is super smart, but has a sensitive side and can be opinionated. She likes to test the rider if she thinks she can get away with it, so she probably would not be a great choice for your average amateur rider. She has three really good gaits and is a lot of fun to ride. From what I have heard about Sir D offspring, it sounds like he often adds height, but my mare is barely 15.2 (her mom was 16.2). So either she has a lot of growing to do or is just not the norm. Luckily I am not very big.
Thank you all for the responses. Did any of you that used him use him on a hotter type mare??
Mine luckily got the hind end of her dam, which is ideal, but the looonng legs and lovely movement/athleticism of her sire. Mine was shy at birth which was different from the other foals from this mare (Londonderrys) but came around quickly. Mine can throw “temper tantrums” 
but overall is quite nice temperament wise. Very people oriented.
I used Sir Donnerhall on an Espri/Lemon xx mare that is very sweet but very sensitive. The filly is a 2008 model and has just been backed in Germany. Have heard she is very sweet and uncomplicated but sensitive. I would expect nothing else. The Espri mare has the power of a freight train (-: Excellent hind leg, and very elastic. It was a stellar cross, but not for an amateur rider. The gaits are just too big and the horse too electric. But in the right hands, not the least bit of a problem.
I do not have a mare yet, but I was hoping to find one to breed to sir d in 2012. That is why I was asking what type he crosses best with. I may be doing this a little backwards, but since I like him so much I would rather find a mare to suit him, instead of finding a stallion to fit the mare.
I have a 2008 Sir Donnerhall/Rohdiamant filly that is lungeing but not started under saddle yet. She had the winter off to fill out and mature and I expect she will be backed in a few weeks as she is just getting started again lungeing this week. She is very smart and people oriented and hopefully she will not be over-sensitive under saddle as I’m an AA rider as well as a Para rider and I would like to take over the ride on her someday soon. Her mom is 16.2H and the filly is approaching 16.1H now so I expect she will also end up around the same height as her dam. She is refined and leggy but still immature looking.
Here is a video taken three months ago of her lungeing at the walk and trot. The hind end is very active–her dam puts an active hind end on every foal. I have another dose of Sir Donnerhall and I am planning on repeating this cross in 2011 hopefully for a 2012 foal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-3kQDlM6_E
Mo, Nancy, Siegi, Kathleen–your young horses by Sir Donnerhall are all amazingl!!
OP: While the mares are all exceptional from these phenomenal breeders, I do think Sir Donnerhall is also a really good producing stallion.
I have a 2006 gelding by Sir D. out of a Ster mare by Idocus.
She is on the hot side, but quite rideable - very forward. My guy is not for aa riders at this point - too smart, too athletic, sensitive, and a bit reactive under saddle. You have to think ahead of him and ride with a lot of tact. I credit some of this to mental maturity (or lack of). He is not the type of horse to be bullied or rushed in his training. After the winter off to mature a bit, he’s on his way shortly to a great trainer, so we’ll see how it goes. He has really filled out over the winter. He is super affectionate, watchful but bold, and has excellent stall manners. He enjoys hacking out on trails and is now turned out in my herd of mares.
Sir Donnerhall seems to be fairly consistent in producing typey uphill offspring with great fronts. The mare should be strong and quick behind. He is a refining stallion IMO, so I wouldn’t breed him to a lighter mare. He added height in my case and longer legs, especially in front.
LOVE the temperment
I know this is an older thread, but I was searching through and saw it. I bought a coming 2 year old in 2012 (june 2010 baby) and she has been incredible!! The dam is about grey 16H, powerful KWPN/Trak/TB cross, great feet. I wanted a lighter, sensitive type, since I had been riding arabians for my clients and liked that. I don’t have the physical strength to ride a pushy powerful horse. I am glad that I sold my former Irish Sporthorse since he could overpower me in some situations. I was seeking a light sensitive , sane ride, and I think I have found my dreamhorse!!
I actually knew her since she was a weanling, and I noticed that she got along with everyone and didn’t engage in fights that went on horse to horse. She has always LOVED people and would gravitate to human attention whenever possible . . .
She is self assured, not at ALL spooky, has a metronome-like, floaty trot, great natural balance and is an overall love. I have ponyed her on trails and I have backed and ridden her lightly at the walk and trot at 2 1/2 yrs. What a joy!!
i would recommend Sir Donnerhall as a stallion if you wanted to add some sensitivity and lightness to a heavier-type mare.
[QUOTE=siegi b.;5465413]
I have bred to SD twice - the first one is under saddle and sold pretty quickly. He’s a WOW mover with a very good temperament.
The second one is a rising yearling (Flash Gordon S. E.) and you couldn’t ask for a better temperament or better movement for that matter. He was 3rd in the country as a foal last year and he is everything I look for in a dressage horse![/QUOTE]
Just curious…were they from the same mare ?
It’s weird because I absolutely love Sir Donnerhall I and what he produces so far, and even more Sir Gregory wich I find is a stunning young sire, but I came across one mare by Sir Donnerhall recently, who is lovely in her type, although smaller in size (light frame, 16.1hhish) who has left me cold a little. She is not a wow mover, and she had some boxstall anxiety issues. She was not very respectfull neither, but I am sure it has improved as she is with a lovely owner who is wonderfull with her horses. I was just not very impressed. Well, my expectations were perhaps too high lol!! I have seen her at her MPT couple of months later and same thing. She did not stood out from the crowd. And her damline was good, all dressage, big names, good mare family.
I was looking to maybe one day breed my De Niro mare to Sir Donnerhall, but I has slowed my excitation about this stallion somehow. Ok you will tell it’s only ONE mare. I know. I just have to think about all the other wonderful, stunning, jawdropping offspring he sired. 
It’s weird because I absolutely love Sir Donnerhall I and what he produces so far, and even more Sir Gregory wich I find is a stunning young sire, but I came across one mare by Sir Donnerhall recently, who is lovely in her type, although smaller in size (light frame, 16.1hhish) who has left me cold a little. She is not a wow mover, and she had some boxstall anxiety issues. She was not very respectfull neither, but I am sure it has improved as she is with a lovely owner who is wonderfull with her horses. I was just not very impressed. Well, my expectations were perhaps too high lol!! I have seen her at her MPT couple of months later and same thing. She did not stood out from the crowd. And her damline was good, all dressage, big names, good mare family.
I was looking to maybe one day breed my De Niro mare to Sir Donnerhall, but I has slowed my excitation about this stallion somehow. Ok you will tell it’s only ONE mare. I know. I just have to think about all the other wonderful, stunning, jawdropping offspring he sired.
