A new award was presented for the first time at the Hanoverian stallion licensing: the Madeleine Winter-Schulze Prize. This prize honours Hanoverian breeders of particularly successful sport horses from the past competition season. It replaces the Fritz von der Decken Prize, which was traditionally awarded to the most successful stallion breeder of the past ten years.
The Madeleine Winter-Schulze Prize for show jumping horse breeders went to Wilhelm Berghorn from Stolzenau. Contendros by Contendro/Drosselklang II, bred by him, is one of the world's most successful horses with Mexican rider Andres Azcáraga. Last year, the two were finalists at the Olympic Games in Paris/FRA. He already stood out at the 2009 stallion licensing with his exceptional scope. Paul Schockemöhle secured the rough diamond at the time. Performance runs in the family: Contendros' dam Diaspora is a half-sister to Christian Ahlmann's Olympic horse Codex One.
Dr Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff from Behlmer was honoured in eventing. Olympic champion fischerChipmunk FRH by Contendro/Heraldik xx is one of the best eventing horses of all time. His career began as a Bundeschampion. Five years later, he competed in the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, with his rider Julia Krajewski. After that, the bay found his master rider in Michael Jung. The pair collected titles and medals at World and European Championships and competed twice at the Olympic Games. In 2019, his dam Havanna was named Hanoverian Mare of the Year, and the breeder was honoured as Breeder of the Year by the WBFSH.
At the dressage stallion licensing last weekend, Stephan Kurz from Zöbingen was awarded the Madeleine Winter-Schulze Prize for the breeder of the most successful dressage horse. Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour's number one in the WBFSH world rankings, Mount St John Freestyle by Fidermark/Donnerhall, was born in his stable.
The European vice-champion from Crozet/FRA also began her career in the Niedersachsenhalle in Verden. In 2009 – the same year that Contendros was part of the stallion licensing collection – Emma Blundell purchased the exceptional mare at the Elite Foal Auction for her Mount St John stud.
Successful sport horses are the best advertisement for Hanover. In Madeleine Winter-Schulze, a namesake was found who, for many years, has supported top-class sport in all disciplines like no other and has always been closely associated with the Hanoverian society as a breeder. In addition, she herself has celebrated great successes in dressage and show jumping with Hanoverians.
