SIR OLDENBURG PASSES AWAY IN SWEDEN

By Georgia Harley

Sir Oldenburg has passed away aged 24 in Sweden.

Performance

Sir Oldenburg wowed as a young stallion. He was a crowd-favourite when he completed his 30-day stallion performance test in Neustadt-Dosse, and had only been backed for four weeks when he walked away with a very impressive 9.0 for rideability. He continued to impress and in 2001 this striking black stallion was the State Champion at the Oldenburg Young Horse Championships as a three-year-old. The following year he was Reserve Champion as a four-year-old at the same Young Horse Championship. In 2002, just two months after the Young Horse Championship Heiko Klausing and the young stallion were the silver medalists at the Bundeschampionate in Warendorf.

In 2003, Katrin Burger took over the reins of this promising youngster. The pair competed to medium level and returned to the Bundeschampionate. And in 2004, the two were 12th in the six-year-old major final.

Breeding

Sir Oldenburg is the son of Sion. Sion was a Dutch Warmblood but was German Studbook approved. However, unlike his son, he would never be approved by the KWPN. The Oldenburg society was Sion’s claim to fame.

This black stallion’s mother was the daughter of none other than Contender. Having Contender on the dam line, it is no wonder Sir Oldenburg scored not only a 7.9 for dressage but also a 7.74 for showjumping at his 30-day stallion performance test in 2001. Contender was the winner of his stallion test in 1987. Contender’s son, Contendro, is on the WBFSH Sire Ranking for all three disciplines. This goes to prove the versatility and mindset Contender imbues in his youngsters.

Breeding life

Sir Oldenburg was well-traveled. Born in Germany, he was sold as a seven-year-old to the Netherlands and moved to Team Nijhof. While standing in the Netherlands, he was KWPN approved after a five-day character test in 2008. Following his approval, Sir Oldenburg fathered 250 KWPN registered foals.

In 2010 the stallion was sold to Lena and Benny Zeiloth and moved to Sweden. With the Zeiloths, he would go on to live out the rest of his days. During his 12 years in Sweden, he would sire 482 offspring.

Offspring

Sir Oldenburg lives on through his offspring. His most famous offspring on the competition circuit is the Australian World Championship team horse, Eros. He has also fathered ten licensed sons. It is clear why this stallion is in the top 100 WBFSH Sire Rankings for Dressage.