Conthargos, who counts top grand prix showjumpers and a leading event horse among his progeny, has died aged 19.

A statement on behalf of his breeder, Paul Schockemöhle, said that Conthargos had to be put down owing to a sudden onset of laminitis, which “unfortunately could not be treated by the vets who were called in immediately”.

The Converter son, out of the Carthago Z mare Cajandra Z, spent his life at Paul’s Mühlen base, Gestüt Lewitz, siring countless successful offspring.

“We had to say goodbye to our Conthargos far too soon,” said a post on the stallion station’s social media yesterday (18 January).

“One of the very great sires has left the stage far too early. Remembering the beautiful moments and being grateful for 18 years with him. Thank you Conthargos!”

Conthargos had success in young horse classes as a four- and five-year-old. An injury cut short his competition career, which was continued by his offspring.

He had more than 20 licensed stallion sons, including Conthalou and Continental Blue.

His top-performing progeny include Concona, who has had placings in five-star grands prix with Ben Maher. Conchento PS, partnered by Gregory Wathelet and Luciana Diniz, also has a CV littered with top grand prix placings from St Tropez, London, Geneva, Valence and Vilamoura. He also sired Cosa Nostra, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics with Israeli rider Alberto Michan.

German event rider Sophie Leube’s stable star Jadore Moi, with whom she won Boekelo CCI4*-L in 2021 and finished second at Strezgom CCI4*-L in October 2022, is also among Conthargos’ daughters.

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A six-year-old showjumping mare billed by former owner Paul Schockemöhle as “one of the best we’ve seen” set an auction record selling for a staggering €4m (£3.49m).

Chyazint (pictured, above), formerly co-owned by Paul and her breeder Anna Christina Gansäuer, topped the 43rd PSI Auction (11 December) and set the highest price in the auction’s history.

The Casallco daughter, out of Heartbreaker mare Hyacint 2, started her career with Swedish rider Ebba Johansson and was acquired by the Auer family for the seven-figure sum.

“This is an unbelievable result,” said Paul.

“Chyazint is an absolute super talent, one of the best horses we have seen in all these years.

“Under the expert guidance of Ebba, she has developed into a truly absolutely exceptional jumper. The best riders in the world have tried to win this mare for themselves and I am sure that she will soon play a role in top international sport and at championship level.”

The proceeds from the 50 horses sold totalled €22,992,000 (£20,047,882), with two other horses also breaking the €1m barrier at the showjumping and dressage sale.

Fürstin Aura, by Fürst Jazz and out of a Don Schufro mare, was the highest-priced dressage horse, selling for €1,050,000 (£915,548) to a Belgian buyer. Seven-year-old showjumper LVS Vigo, formerly owned by Paul and who started his international career under Ireland’s Aoife McCabe and Germany’s Laura Klaphake, also broke the €1m mark.

The combined total for the showjumpers sold was €13,655,000 (£11,906,482), with an average price of €546,200 (£476,259). For the dressage horses, it was €9,337,000 (£8,141,400), with an average price of €373,480 (£325,656).

“The philosophy of Performance Sales International meets the buyer’s demand and is unique in the sport horse market,” said Ulli Kasselmann, who co-founded PSI with Paul

“Especially loyal customers rely on the relationship of trust à la PSI — a factor that is more important than ever, especially in these times.

“Our customers know that in most cases we have known the candidates in the PSI collection from birth and appreciate their good upbringing as well as their initial training.”

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The former dressage superstar Totilas is set to make a rare public appearance tomorrow (Friday, 1 February), it has been confirmed.

Totilas last appeared in public at the 2015 European Championships at Aachen, his final competition before retiring.

The 19-year-old stallion, owned by Paul Schockemöhle, will appear alongside his progeny at the KWPN stallion show in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.

“This year the show revolves completely around him and his offspring,” said a statement from KWPN.

“Three of his KWPN-approved sons, Glock’s Toto Jr, Glock’s Total US and Glock’s Trafalgar, enter the arena under saddle and will show what they inherited from their sire.

“Their strong genetic package resulted into great qualities in movement and character.”

The statement added that a number of Totilas’ grandsons are also taking part.

These include Kayne and King (both by Governor), plus King Karim and Glock’s Taminiau (both by GLOCK’s Toto Jr.).

“How wonderful is it that Totilas himself is also part of this fantastic show,” said the statement.

Christoph Hinkel, of the Schockemöhle stud, confirmed the news to H&H on Thursday (31 January).

At the height of his career, Totilas broke numerous world records and was a triple gold medallist at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games with Dutch rider Edward Gal.

Article continues below…

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After the pair’s triumph, the horse was sold to Mr Schockemöhle with Germany’s Matthias Alexander Rath taking over the reins.

The new pair scored multiple international wins, but both horse and rider went through spells of illness and injury.

In February 2017, Totilas was due to appear at France’s major Saint-Lô show, but his visit did not go ahead.

The horse is currently living at Gestüt Schafhof, which is where Matthias is based, and his stud fee for 2019 is €2,500 (£2,191).

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A two-year-old stallion has made history at the Hanoverian licensing and stallion sale in Verden, selling for more than €2million (£1.78million) on Saturday 27 October.

The unnamed premium stallion by Vivaldi, out of a state premium mare Desiree, by Dancier, was bought by the new Schockemöhle-Helgstrand Dressage collaboration, with Andreas Helgstrand placing the winning bid of €2,010,000 (£1,789,320) after a 20-minute bidding war with Norway’s Kristin Andresen.

“Another achievement of this new joint cooperation between Schockemöhle and Helgstrand is the beautiful and harmoniously moving Vivaldi x Dancier,” said the Schockemöhle stallion station.

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The stunning liver chestnut, who particularly impressed with his fantastic movement, was bred in Hesse, Germany, by Ulrike Buurman, who said she was “thrilled to be known internationally as an excellent breeder”.

Ulrike sold him at just a few days old to Ernst and Rosi Kemper at Hengsthaltung Kemper in Heiden, Germany, who presented him in Verden.

The Vivaldi son is the most expensive horse ever bought at a stallion licensing auction, the previous record being €1.2million, also paid by Andreas Helgstrand for Revolution in 2015. Revolution (Rocky Lee x Rouletto) was this year’s winner of the world championship for five-year-old horses in Ermelo.

The best-selling warmblood of all time, however, is still the Australian-bred Hanoverian SPH Dante, who was sold to Russia as a six-year-old for €2.8million at the 2014 PSI auction.

Schockemöhle-Helgstrand, along with Joop van Uytert, also purchased a second premium stallion at the sale, this time a Lord Leatherdale x Boston son for €800,000.

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In total, 46 dressage stallions were licensed for breeding over the weekend, with 12 of these given the status of premium stallion. Of the 12, three were by Vivaldi.

Seven jumping stallions were also given premium status and it was Ireland’s Cian O’Connor who became the proud new owner of the top-priced showjumper at the subsequent auction — a dark bay premium stallion by Kannan x Stolzenberg, bred and presented by Ulrich Heuer. He was sold to Cian for €150,000 (£134,000).

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A dressage rider has been riding with a likely broken neck for 18 months, his doctor recently informed him.

West Sussex-based Jody Haswell fell off a young horse some time ago, but never had his injuries checked out.

“I got straight back on and carried on schooling,” he said. “I persuaded myself it hadn’t been that serious, but I felt like I was on a different planet for the next two weeks.

“I buried my head and kept getting on with it, like us horsey people do, but I kept getting migraines.”

Finally, last week — 18 months after the accident — Jody went to the doctor, complaining of severe headaches.

The doctor attributed the pain to the fall, and said that it was very likely that Jody had broken his neck in the accident in early 2013.

“He told me I was silly for not coming in at the time,” said Jody. “I’d say to anyone else who has any sort of fall, go straight to A&E. If you feel funny, something’s probably not right. Don’t be a fool like me.”

Jody’s fall was from a youngster when he was alone in the arena. The horse leapt and Jody was ejected out of the side door. As he fell, the horse leapt upwards again and Jody hit his head hard on the saddle.

“If I hadn’t been wearing a hat, I’m sure I would have been knocked out — or worse,” he concluded.

“People should wear hats all the time — especially as they are so fashionable these days.”

Jody and his wife Hannah have 21-month-old triplets, another factor in Jody’s decision not to seek medical help immediately.

“They’ve just started walking talking and being demanding and life never stops; I’m always on the go, and I thought I didn’t have time to go and get checked,” added Jody, who runs a training and livery yard and typically rides six to 10 horses a day.

Some of his horses — including four stallions — are owned in partnership with Germany’s Paul Schockemöhle.

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Day two started with a frantic search for cake. It was Sarah Oppenheimer from Headmore Stud’s birthday and her dressage rider daughter Alice roped Kevin Sparrow and I into the mission. Alice made good use of the one German word she remembers from school (gooseberry) and, with the help of some internationally recognised hand gestures, we’d soon procured a vast cake.

Alice almost uprooted the 18hh metal horse on the town’s main drag on our return trip — while trying to ascertain if it would take my weight. It won’t.

A close shave

That afternoon was the Schockemohle show, in the same Oldenburg arena as Sprehe’s the previous day.

We, along with the 2000-odd other spectators, arrived early to gorge in the party tent. In my excitement I shoved the stiff door over-zealously, bashing the man behind it carrying two precarious trays of chips. It was Matthias Rath. I would have been single-handedly responsible for his hunger or — worse — his broken hand, had the door swung a smidge further.

The Schockemohle show had its own problems early on, with the three-year-old Sandro’s Adel losing his bottle after clouting the big final spread of the loose-jumping combination. He then jumped through clean, but refused the final element the next time through.

There followed more attempts to get him down the line, culminating in him crashing through the lowered final element. His groom said afterwards that something at the end of the arena had caught his eye, distracting him. Let’s hope his confidence is restored in his next session.

Ants and scope to burn

That aside, the Schockemohle team — and particularly the main stallion man — gave an exemplary display of handling stallions from the ground and running them up: something many Brits could learn from.

Both shows used what we termed “ants”: to keep both jumping and dressage breeders interested, the disciplines are mixed up, demanding frantic fence building and dismantling every 15 minutes — cue the swarm of matching-jumpered school children legging it into the arena. Three proper fences repeatedly appeared and disappeared like magic.

There followed outstanding top-of-the wings jumping performances by Balou Du Rouet and Diarado — two really exceptional, athletic horses with scope, power and the illusive “look at me” factor.

On the dressage font, it was a delight to see the greats Sir Donnerhall, Furstenball and San Amour, as well as Don Frederic and Foundation — all horses I have pored over only in catalogues and online until now.

Sandro Hit was run in-hand, looking the picture of health. To see this magnificent horse, who has had such an impact on dressage breeding, performing under the lights was really special.

We got to go and visit them all back in the stables after the show — the isles were noisy and packed with punters and the horses were friendly — none more so than the black three-year-old Dancier son Danciano.

The only disappointment was that Totilas wasn’t presented, but at least with the international competition stallions there are other chances to view them.

The Germans are very lucky to have these horses on their doorstep — and thank god for AI for us!

Alice

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Dressage superstar Totilas will have reduced stud duties in 2013, following two disappointing years of competition since transferring to German ownership.

Paul Schockemöhle — who bought Totilas with Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff in 2010 — told the German magazine Spiegel that “everything went wrong that could have gone wrong” for the horse this year.

Totilas has not enjoyed the consistent competition record he had with the Netherlands’ Edward Gal since being ridden by Ms Linsenhoff’s stepson, Matthias Rath.

He failed to win an individual medal at the 2011 European Championships and could only manage second at the German national championships this year.

The horse appeared tense and unhappy at the Schockemöhle stallion parade in February. At the Hagen CDI in April, Matthias attracted attention from critics, who alleged that the horse had been warmed up using the controversial rollkur, also known as hyperflexion.

In June it was announced that Totilas would not go to the Olympics, because Matthias was ill with glandular fever.

Totilas commands a stud fee of £8,000 and one of his progeny, sold in Germany in October, equalled the foal auction price record of

£200,000.

But Mr Schockemöhle, who owns the breeding rights to the stallion, said competition would be the priority next year.

“Next year sport will be the focal point. We are optimistic,” he told Spiegel.

However, a spokesman for Totilas’ connections, Kai Meesters, said the quotes had been taken out of context.

“Everything is fine and the relationship between Paul and Matthias is fine,” he said.

In October, the German branch of animal rights extremists PETA filed charges against the owners and rider of Totilas, alleging that the horse was being abused by being kept in isolation and trained using rollkur.

Prosecutors have not announced whether the allegations violate German law.

Mr Meesters preferred not to comment on the allegations.

“These are things that do not merit comment,” he said. “They [PETA] wanted some PR — and they got it.”

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (29 November 2012)

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The best dressage horse of all time, Moorlands Totilas, has been sold to German former showjumper turned top European breeder Paul Schockemohle.

The Netherland’s Edward Gal took three gold medals with the 10-year-old stallion at the World Equestrian Games, Kentucky, just two weeks ago.

In America, Edward strongly denied rumours that the horse had been sold, saying: “I’ve heard those rumour too, they’re not true, nothing is going on.”

However, today Cees Visser of Moorlands Stables confirmed to H&H that the horse was being sold.

Cees said: “The past two years have been a whirlwind of excitement for us, and we’ve enjoyed watching Edward and Totilas again and again. After Kentucky, however, we could no longer ignore the interest in the stallion. Therefore, the time came to discuss matters with one another, and we decided to let Moorlands Totilas go.”

Totilas has broken every world record score for a grand prix, special and freestyle in his past year at the level with Edward.

Cees added: “Of course, it’s not easy for Edward. Thanks to his talent and effort, Totilas has become the phenomenon he is today.

“Fortunately, Edward understands our decision to take a new path, and new challenges lie ahead. We consider Edward a top rider, and we’ll keep supplying him with potential top horses in the coming years.”

Originally, the horse was not to be used as a breeding stallion, but after his double gold at Windsor Europeans last August his owners did make frozen semen available to selected mare owners for a record 5,000 Euro. Just last month, an embryo by Totilas sold for 32,000 Euro.

Jan and Anna Schuil of Broeksterwoude, Friesland, bred Totilas and gave him his basic training. When the horse was five they contacted Edward Gal and asked him to ride and compete Totilas.

Edward’s sponsors Cees and Tosca stepped in and bought the horse at this stage, maintaining for a long time that he would not be sold.

For more reaction to this breaking news, don’t miss H&H 21 October issue

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