|
Hardly
a surprising result as the worlds dressage heart throb "Moorlands
Totilas" (Gribaldi x Glendale (Nimmerdor) ridden by
Dutchman Edward Gal wins the FEI WORLD CUP DRESSAGE Grand
Prix Freestyle to Music with
yet another fabulous performance scoring an outstanding
92.3 points at Olympia in 2009. (Photo: Edward Gal winning
at Olympia 2009 on Moorland's Totilas)
This outstanding
black Stallion was approved in 2009 by the KWPN based on the
stallions unquestionable success. Before he came to world
wide fame there were whispers around the Internet of this
incredible black beauty and sure enough as the videos started
to appear on You Tube amongst other resources he gained almost
over night popularity, it can be said that Totilas is very
much the "Susan Boyle" of the dressage world.
 So
just what has contributed to his outstanding ability to perform?
Undeniably his sire the black Trakener stallion Gribaldi approved
by the KWPN in 1996 has most definitely added refinement and
elegance to the mix, however he himself only finished 11th
at his stallion test in Ermello, with his stallion test comments
stating "Gribaldi is an honest, reliable, steady
stallion. He is more than sufficiently willing to work and
lets himself to be worked well. The walk is big and active.
In the trot the stallion should bring the hind leg underneath
more actively. The canter has good scope and power and he
carries himself well. In dressage the stallion carries himself
well and works well. As a dressage horse Gribaldi has a lot
of talent and gives his rider a good feeling. His scores
were modest with only a 7.5 for his trot and an 8 for walk
and canter.
From his first foal crop the KWPN reported, This stallion
showed a uniform collection of more than sufficient to well
developed foals. They show a lot of breeding and expression
and are in sufficient rectangular model. The foals are of
the riding type and have remarkable forehands. In movement
the foals have flat use of the foreleg, the hind leg should
be brought under the body more. The scope and suppleness are
sufficient. The head is very pretty. The foals have a lot
of poll. The neck has good form and muscling but should sometimes
be more developed. The average shoulder is good in regards
to length and placement; the muscling is also good. The back
is well muscled but some foals should have more reach. The
loins are sufficiently connected. The foreleg is generally
correct. In a few cases the foreleg is a little fragile and
tight. The hind leg is correct and the gaskin is sufficiently
muscled. The trot is big and has sufficient suppleness. The
foals trot with sufficient scope and suppleness. They should
push off better, the hind leg should be brought underneath
more and the foreleg is flat. The foals should also push off
better in the canter and the foreleg stays flat.
Photo "Brazilian Lambada" - Gribaldi x Goodtimes
(Nimmerdor) Courtesy of Solaris
Sport Horses
Gribaldi
received criticism from some breeders world wide who appeared
to home in on the observations of a poor use of the hind
leg as was reported in both his stallion test and his foal
report yet others placed their faith in this incredible
stallion and bred him to their powerful moving mares frequently
mares with strong jumping bloodlines to aid with maintaining
loss of the canter, as is very much the case of Totilas.
 If
we look at his pedigree we find that he was born out of
the Elite mare "Lominka" by another of the KWPN's
stallions, "Nimmerdor"
(Farn x Korridon) son Glendale (Nimmerdor x Marco Polo -
yet another Trakehner approved Thoroughbred, tracing back
to the ster preferent prestatie mare "Viola" who
when line bred produced us the International showjumping
stallion "Okidoki" by Jodokus x Topas.
The first of her sons "Platini" by Balzflug has
competed successfully to ZZ-L (Advanced Four-tempi changes,
¼ canter pirouette) and her second son by TCN Partout
competed up to ZZ-Z (Advanced Three-tempi changes)
However
in 2000 "Moorland's Totilas" was born and subsequently
"Lominka" has produced the full sister "Uusminka"
granted "Ster" status and a further three full
brothers, Buzzard, Creon and Danzig. It is perhaps the outstanding
combination of this mare line that holds no less than three
Prestatie mares, maternal grand dam "Elza" (Akteur
x Pericles xx) herself a successful dressage mare, Wuminka
and Viola.
Another
intersting observation of this super stars pedigree is the
influence of the Holstein stallion "Akteur" (Amor
x Sineada) approved into the Gelders book in stallion 1964
 Gribaldi
is very much a sire of sires, with over a dozen approved sons,
Anky Van Grunsven's mount "Painted Black" (Gribaldi
x Ferro) who was initially failed by the KWPN at his first
stallion inspection based primarily on the consensus of the
jury that the use of his hind limbs was "insufficient"
"Game Boy" and Painted Black II Approved by the
NRPS out of yet another exceptionally powerful mare by Pion
x G Ramiro Z, and to-date the five Trakehner Approved stallions
Hoffrat, Diztelzar Hoftanzer and Easy Game. Elite stallion
Gribaldi is also sire of two Trakehner reserve champions,
full brothers EH Hofrat sire of the Verden champion stallion
Hotline (De Niro), who sold at auction for the record-breaking
price of 800,000 euros. In 2009 the black stallion
Bodyguard Gribaldi x Negro x Ulft was the latest addition
to the KWPN's list of approved Gribaldi sons. (Photo Anky
Van Grunsven riding Painted Black Las Vegas 2009) courtesy
of Ree Photographics
Of
his own merit Gribaldi won the 1995 Top Stallion Trakehner
Stallion in Neumunster. Champion of the 1996 KWPN stallions
in `s-Hertogenbosch. 1997 Winner of the 4 year old stallion
competition in 's-Hertogenbosch Pavo Cup Reserve Champion
of the 4 year old dressage horses and the 1999 Winner preliminary
AMEV / Hippo Cup.
 His
sire, Kostolany, celebrating his 25th Birthday this year
is the top Trakehner progenitor who also performed at Grand
Prix level. In 1995 Kostolany who made history by siring
both the Sieger (Champion) stallion and the Sieger mare.
Alongside Gribaldi, Kostolany is the sire of many approved
stallions including; Bertone, Showmaster, Silvermoon, Tolstoi,
Sans Souci and Polansky. The famous mare Kasette, from “Hauptgestüt
Trakehner” forms the basis of Kostolany’s dam
line and products of this line include the Olympic Dressage
Horse Immanuel (Munich 1972) as well as the Trakehner progenitors
Kapitan and Kassius. In 1995, Gribaldi’s full sister
Georgina was the best three year-old mare at the Central
Mare Inspections in Hessen. Gribaldi’s dam, Gondola
II became an Elite mare in 1995 on the basis of her offspring.
Additionally Gondola II is the dam of the approved stallion
Goldino who was performing at Prix St. George level at the
age of seven years-old. Born in 1984 at Gestut Hamelschenburg
in Emmerthal, Kostolany (Enrico Caruso - Kapstadt x Falke)
was licensed in Neumunster in 1987, champion of his performance
test in Medingen in 1989 he has been based his home farm
his breeder Otto Langels’ family ever since. He is
one of the most influential Trakehner stallions of the past
and has had significant impact on other warmblood breeding
providing the KWPN.
It
has to be said that the genetic foundations of his predecessors
are very much what makes Moorland's Totlias the worlds hottest
stallion. On the 1st of February 2010 it was announced that
Moorlands Totilas would be made available to breeders with
a stud fee of between 5000 amd 5500 euros. His first foals
are due 2011. Moorlands Totilas was pruchased for an undisclosed
figure by Paul Shockemohle in 2010 the news shocked the
world and was considered a great loss to the Netherlands.
In the meantime Gribaldi will remain very much at the tip
of every ones tongues for some time yet.
Rosalyn Serex Dec 2009
|
![]](/img/right_shadow.gif){kind=small}
