Holme Park Legend makes Trakehner History!
The 3rd generation British Bred Holme Trakehner Stallion, Holme Park Legend made history on 19th April 2007 after becoming the first ever British Bred Trakehner to be graded in Germany as a young stallion before the grading commission as a Breeding Stallion by the Trakehner Verband following his 30 day performance test.
Holme Park Legend is a 4 year old Trakehner by the TBF Graded and German 100 day performance tested Stallion Holme Park Krug out of Premium Mare Holme Park Liaison by Elite Hohenstein. Holme Park Krug is a son of Holme Grove Solomon who was the first foal born at Holme Grove Farm, 21 years ago and approved by the TBF in 1988.
Holme Park Legend was in Germany to do his 30 day Stallion Performance Test at Stall Bescht, Schlieckau along with 26 other Warmblood stallions and finished the highest placed Trakehner Stallion of the test scoring an overall index of 80.6%. As well as scoring well in his dressage, one of the judges awarded him a 10 for his jumping ability and he got a round of applause from the audience of mainly Holsteiner breeders that a Trakehner could jump so well! The intention had been to return him to the UK and present him for grading at the TBF Grading in September however after such an outstanding Performance Test he was invited to take part in a grading to be held by the German Trakehner Verband near Hannover. In the Trakehner breed less than 5% of all colts born worldwide are ever successfully approved therefore we knew it was going to be difficult and even more so that he was a British Bred Stallion being presented alongside German Bred horses. We were overwhelmed when the word “Gekört” (approved) was announced after his name at the end of the grading and was one of only two Trakehners approved! This was a great day for Trakehners and British Breeding and of course the pinnacle of over 20 years selective breeding for Holme Trakehners – we are still on ‘cloud 9’. To make the day even more memorable we had a phone call while waiting for our flight home at Hannover airport to say that 21 year old Elite mare Holme Park Kalahari had just given birth to a stunning bay colt by Holme Park Krug at 6.15pm in the afternoon!
This result also means that Holme Park Krug already has 5 premium daughters and a graded son! The dam SPS Holme Park Liaison was purchased from Germany as a 3 year old to further develop the breeding herd at Holme Park Stud. Her 2006 foal, Holme Park Lennon by Anglo Arab, Fairlyn Gemini won at the TBF Show last year and was Reserve Champion and looks likely to be another stallion prospect from this outstanding mare.
Holme Trakehners have sold progeny worldwide and have Graded stallions in UK, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand and numerous successful competition progeny including the Grandprix Dressage horse, Holme Grove Merlin by Holme Grove Solomon who was in the final of the Dressage Sunshine Tour in Spain this year.
Holme Grove Solomon at 21 years old is fit and well. He was awarded the TBF Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 as well as the BHF Top British Bred Dressage Sire in 1998 & 2000.
Holme Park Legend now has to complete another 70 day Stallion Performance Test in order to receive his permanent breeding license therefore he will remain in Germany to complete this and then return to England in August 2007 when he will start his competition career.
Trakehners are still very much a passion for the Attew/Watkiss/Wetton family who hold an Annual Open Day each year to show off their new arrivals as well as Stallions and Youngstock. This years Open Day will be held on Sunday 1st July 2007 at Holme Park Stud, Bedfordshire. Photos and details of all new arrivals are added immediately they arrive to our website to share the fun of our breeding with all our Trakehner friends worldwide– further details on our website at www.holmetrakehners.com.
Susan Attew/20th April 2007
Subnote:
We would like to acknowledge that there is another British Bred Stallion approved for breeding by the Trakehner Verband through his outstanding Performance achievements - that is Godington Hannibal who stands at Godington Stud.