Middlefork Ranch is pleased to offer a superb, young, Oldenburg stallion, DONNERSMARK, direct son of the legendary DONNERHALL. Imported from Germany, Donnersmark proudly carries the royal bloodlines of Donnerhall who is one of the foundation sires of the modern Oldenburg breed and is considered the number one ranking stallion in the world of dressage.

Donnerhall and his progeny have continually set records throughout the breeding and dressage worlds. In 1992, for example, Donnerschwee, sired by Donnerhall, became the highest priced horse ever to sell at a German Breeding Association Auction. In 1993, Donnerschwee was named the most successful approved stallion at the federal dressage horse championship. In 1994, Donnerhall won the German Championship in Mannheim and went on to win the bronze medal for free style and a team gold medal at the World Riding Games in The Netherlands. The 1992 federal championships in Verden went down into the annals of sports history as the "Donnerhall Festival." Again, at the 1998 federal championship in Warendorf, more than 50% of all finalists of the three-year-old stallions carried Donnerhsll's blood.

The results of the 1998 federal championships are characteristic of the prepotency and significance of Donnerhall. Donnerhall and his sons enriched horse breeding throughout Germany. The Hanoverian breed enhanced its bloodlines by breeding to Donnerhall and produced such champions as the renowned Hanoverian stallion, Davignon. The great demand for Donnerhall's sons and daughters in all of the German breeding regions shows that he passes his own qualities on to his progeny. In fact, Donnerhall came to be regarded as a "hereditary transmitter," as he so reliably passes on his extraordinary talents. High scores, particularly in the index of ride ability and intellect are guaranteed by Donnerhall genes and are considered a seal of quality of Donnerhall offspring. The spitting image of his sire, Donnesmark is liver chestnut with big dark eyes combined with exceptional disposition, balance and outstanding movement. Donnersmark is the very stamp of his famous sire.

When searching for a Donnerhall son to import, Colin Bate, stud manager at Middlefork Ranch, was ecstatic to find that this fine colt, Donnersmark, has a dam sired by the famous Oldenburg stallion, Rubinstein. A winner of 40 Grand Prix competitions, member of the 1996 Olympic team, double world champion, seven time Dutch Champion and fourfold European champion, this brilliant black stallion, Rubinstein, once held the title as the world's most successful dressage horse. The star-studded list of Rubinstein offspring includes Olympian Rohdiamant, and Relevant, who won the 1998 Nuremberg (Cup). Rubinstein's cousin, Rembrandt, won individual and team Olympic gold medals with rider Nicole Uphoff in 1990. Johann Hinnemann, the former federal trainer of the German dressage elite once said, "When we consider a stallion of the century, we refer to Rubinstein. His hereditary transmission is unequalled in respect to ride-ability, seating comfort, affability and preparedness to perform."

While lauded for his dressage talents, it is easy to overlook Rubinstein's above average jumping abilities. Though he was never asked to demonstrate his jumping in competition, Rubinstein's noted jumping talents have clearly been passed on to Donnersmark who shows a natural talent for the jumps. What is clear is that a horse that is athletic, balanced, and intelligent with an even temperament is able to perform over jumps as well as in the dressage arena.

Donnersmark embodies the unparalleled joining of two of the finest equine bloodlines known to modern dressage breeding. In 1998, a Belgian born horse by a Rohdiamant son and out of a Donnerhall mare sold at the Oldenburg Stallion Days Auction for the record-breaking sum of DM 500.000. Given that Donnerhall and Rubinstein, two of the most legendary stallions of all time, have both died recently, it makes access to their genes all the more limited and valuable. Breeding to Donnersmark combines both the Donnerhall and Rubinstein bloodlines, which set Donnersmark apart as a truly unique stallion that can impart the best genes available to your foal. We believe the old adage is true that history repeats itself. You have the opportunity to breed a champion just like the champion sire and grandsire whose traits will be passed along by Donnersmark.

For more information on DONNERSMARK, please see Colin Bate, stud manager of Middle Fork Ranch located in Lyons, Colorado.