How many famous black horses do you know? Tall, dark and handsome – there’s something so irresistible about a black horse. From the Lloyds Friesians galloping across our screens to equine superstars such as Classic Moet and Black Caviar, black horses are blessed with presence and panache.

Such is our captivation with black horses that they have well and truly left their hoofprints in the pages of history. They’ve inspired stories, art and generations of equestrians. We’ve narrowed down the world’s famous black horses to five favourites – though it was a tough call!

1. Bucephalus (4th Century BCE)

We hear about Bucephalus from Plutarch, the Greek historian and philosopher. According to his Life of Alexander, Bucephalus was a wild black horse with a large white star. He was given to Alexander the Great’s father, King Philip II of Macedon. The horse’s name combines the Greek words “bous”, meaning ox, and “kephalos”, which means head.

Bucephalus seemed wild and vicious – no one in King Philip’s court could get anywhere near him. Alexander, only a boy, watched the horse kick and fight and noticed he was afraid of his own shadow. If you’ve ever hacked a spooky horse, you’ll appreciate this!

Alexander turned Bucephalus’ head towards the sun and, shadow obscured, the horse relaxed. Thanks to his observance and patience, the young prince bridled and mounted the unrideable Bucephalus.

Bucephalus became Alexander’s famous war horse. When the horse died in battle at Hydaspes in 326 BCE, Alexander named a nearby city Bucephala (sometimes acknowledged as modern day Jhulem in Pakistan).

The story of Bucephalus is recounted in the 1970s classic film The Black Stallion, and tells the story of a boy who tames a wild horse.

2. Black Beauty (published 1877)

As famous black horses go, we’re sure you’ll have heard of this horse! Black Beauty is the titular character of a beloved children’s novel by Anna Sewell. Anna, born to Quaker parents in 1820s Norfolk, was permanently disabled when she broke both ankles as a child. Her mobility severely limited and her health poor, she spent much of her life assisting with her mother Mary’s writing.

She relied on horse-drawn carriages to get out and about and it is said this helped her develop a huge affection and sympathy for horses. She began writing Black Beauty in the 1870s, of which she said “its special aim being to induce kindness, sympathy and an understanding treatment of horses”.

The novel follows Beauty from birth to his final home. Throughout his life, Beauty changes hands many times and suffers a number of trials and tribulations. Most strikingly, Beauty is made to wear a bearing rein while pulling a baker’s cart. This is a device that was used to hitch a driven horse’s head up as high head carriage was the fashion. In the novel, a woman shows the driver how much easier Beauty could manage with his head low. Following the publication of Black Beauty, the use of bearing reins was abolished.

Sadly, Sewell died shortly after its publication in April 1878, but not before she learned of its success. Today, Black Beauty is a 50 million-copy bestseller and is undoubtedly one of the best horse movies ever made.

These days, the novel’s cultural impact knows no bounds. There are a host of film and stage adaptations to enjoy and it’s even one of Queen Camilla’s favourites. However, perhaps most significant is that the novel serves as a manifesto for the kind treatment of horses. Bernard Unti, who wrote a chapter on Sewell in Encyclopedia of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare, dubbed Black Beauty as “the most influential anti-cruelty novel of all time”.

3. Burmese (1962-1990)

Gifted to Queen Elizabeth II in 1969 by The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Burmese was a striking black mare born in Saskatchewan and trained in Ottawa. It is said the regiment had heard The Queen was looking for a new horse. Thus, Burmese was presented to Her Majesty at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 1969.

Burmese was a horse for business and leisure. Queen Elizabeth was often seen on board Burmese whatever the weather during stays at country houses, but most famously the mare was the Queen’s chosen mount for Trooping the Colour 18 years in a row until her retirement in 1987. Burmese was buried in the grounds of Windsor after her death in 1990.

During Trooping the Colour of 1981, Burmese was famously spooked by a teenager firing blanks at her royal rider from the crowd. Burmese was understandably unsettled but The Queen, riding side saddle, handled her horse expertly.

4. Sefton (1963–1993)

If you’re looking for famous black horses with hero status, then look no further. The part-bred Irish Draught was purchased by the Army as a four-year-old and was assigned to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. During his time at the barracks, he received the nickname “Sharkey”, which alluded to his penchant for biting.

Sefton gained a reputation for being difficult, and was sent out with the Blues and Royals on deployment in Germany with great success. In fact, he even competed in showjumping while posted out there.

However, Sefton became a beacon of resilience and bravery in July 1982 following the detonation of an IRA nailbomb in Hyde Park. Sefton and 15 other horses were participating in the changing of the guard when the incendiary went off. Tragically, two soldiers were killed at the scene and a further two died later of their wounds. Meanwhile, all the horses were wounded, with seven put down at the scene. However, Sefton was the most severely hurt.

Following eight hours of surgery – a record for a horse at the time – Sefton returned to his duties for a further two years after convalescing at the Veterinary Hospital of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps and the Defence Animal Centre, Melton Mowbray.

Sefton received countless cards and mints during his hospital stay. Plus, the public raised more £620,000 for the new Sefton Surgical Wing at the Royal Veterinary College.

Following his retirement to the Home of Rest for Horses in Speen, Buckinghamshire, Sefton’s lived until he was 30, when complications that arose from his injuries took their toll. He was one of the first horses inducted in the British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame in 2005.

5. Totilas (2000-2020)

This black stallion heralded a new era of dressage when he burst onto the grand prix scene with Dutch rider Edward Gal in 2009. Famously, “Toto” was the first horse to score more than 90% in a grand prix test. Later that year, at Olympia, the pair broke the freestyle record to score 92.3%. Following their success, Edward and Toto cleaned up a the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky. However, this was to be their last championship as the stallion was sold to Germany shortly after.

Matthias Rath was given riding rights when his step mother, Ann Kathrin Lissenhoff, bought shares in Totilas. Rath and Toto won their first grand prix and special at München-Reim in 2011, but the horse retired in 2015 following a disappointing score of 79.571% in Aachen and concerns for his soundness.

Following a five-year retirement spent hacking and at stud, Totilas died as a result of a serious colic episode.

Who is your favourite famous black horse? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com including your name, nearest town and county for the chance to have your thoughts published in H&H magazine

You may also be interested in…

The Household Cavalry: its history, the regiments and the famous Cavalry Black horses

‘A wonder horse who changed dressage’: top riders’ tributes to Totilas

“The partnership and the silhouette of Edward and Toto became iconic, something those of us lucky enough to see them

The Queen’s favourite horses – 8 riding horses and 5 racehorses #H&HArchives

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The exclusive breeding rights to the late record-breaking dressage star Totilas are held by Paul Schockemöhle, a Dutch court has ruled in a dispute over the dead stallion’s semen.

The legal wrangle involves the stallion’s previous owner, Kees Visser, and Mr Schockemöhle, and has been rumbling through German and Dutch courts for some years.

H&H reported on an interim decision by a German court to prevent Mr Visser from selling Totilas’ frozen semen (news, 11 April 2021), which was upheld later that year following an appeal. Once the interim injunction proceedings were concluding, main proceedings had to be initiated to conclude the legal dispute by a final court decision. Mr Schockemöhle did so at the Oldenburg Regional Court, and these proceedings are ongoing.

At the same time, Mr Visser initiated main proceedings in the Netherlands, which have recently concluded, where he sought the declaration that he is entitled to sell Totilas’ semen. He also sought damages of up to €18m (£15.93 million) against Mr Schockemöhle. The Court of Gelderland in Arnhem, the Netherlands, dismissed Mr Visser’s claim on 15 February 2023.

The court ruling document from this 15 February decision was anonymised, referring to Mr Visser as the plaintiff and to Mr Schockemöhle as the defendant.

The case hinged on whether buying Totilas in 2010 for €9.5m – in a verbal agreement – included exclusive breeding rights. It also focused on whether a box of 301 semen straws with a value of “at least several hundred thousand euros” delivered to the new owner were a gift or something else.

Mr Visser, who had straws of Totilas’ frozen semen from when he owned the horse, argued that Mr Schockemöhle bought only the horse – not exclusive breeding rights.

After Totilas’ death in December 2020, his former owner listed the horse’s frozen semen for sale online via a third party, which kicked off the dispute and subsequent legal proceedings.

“[The plaintiff] has pointed out that only the sale of the horse Totilas was invoiced and that the exclusive breeding rights were not also charged,” states the ruling.

“The description also does not exclude that exclusive breeding rights were included in the sale of the horse. Although the invoice forms a point of reference for [the plaintiff’s] reading, the court cannot attach any weighty significance to it.”

The judge ruled that the arrival of the free box of semen lines up with Mr Schockemöhle’s argument that the exclusive breeding rights were included in the purchase, and “seems to have in a sense actually recognised the exclusive breeding rights of [the defendant]”.

The court ruling notes that in 2021, Mr Schockemöhle attempted to buy Mr Visser’s remaining stock of Totilas’ frozen semen. It was argued that this was because Mr Schockemöhle “wanted to avoid lengthy and costly legal proceedings” about the exclusive breeding rights being part of the sale.

The judge dismissed the case, ordering Mr Visser to pay €12,198 (£10,784) in the defendant’s costs, and added that the “few circumstances” in favour of Mr Visser’s arguments “do not carry enough weight against the many weighty leads” for the defendant.

“In view of the foregoing, the court is of the opinion that [the defendant] has sufficiently demonstrated that the parties meant that the sale of Totilas included the exclusive right to breed with this stallion and to market his semen,” he said.

H&H has contacted both sides for comment. Mr Visser’s lawyers have not yet responded, but previously told H&H following the German interim injunction in 2021: “If you buy a mare, you don’t also own her foal, unless it’s inside her.”

Mr Schockemöhle’s lawyer Dagmar Borchers told H&H: “Of course, we feel confirmed in our legal opinion by this third court decision in this matter. In the meantime, [Mr] Visser has filed an appeal against this decision of the court in Arnhem, but has not yet substantiated it.

“The main proceedings in Germany are also still ongoing and we are waiting for Visser’s statement of defence.”

Mr Schockemöhle’s Dutch lawyer Maud van den Berg, of MAAK Advocaten, told H&H she is “pleased with the outcome”.

“It is well-judged, fair and just, and is in line with what is common practice,” she said. “The judgement is thus a clear example of ‘actions speak louder than words’ in a complex matter. “Our law firm in the Netherlands holds this matter close to heart as the outcome of this legal procedure does not only affect our client, but also the entire group of stud farms (acting internationally).”

You might also be interested in:

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Injunction issues in Totilas semen legal dispute *H&H Plus*

Legends of the sport: Totilas — ‘one of the most beautiful things I ever saw’ *H&H Plus*

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits. 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

From Olympic gold medallists to works of art, famous horses take many shapes and guises. Here Horse & Hound selects the most famous horses of all, and explains what brought them such fame. We begin with famous racehorses, racing being the horse sport most widely followed. A few brave thoroughbreds have really caught the public’s imagination, even helping to raise spirits in challenging times. One of those was Red Rum…

Famous horses in racing

Red Rum

Red Rum remains in the hearts of every racing fan who witnessed him winning the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977. The horse came second in 1975 and 1976, too. His third win is considered one of the greatest moments in racing history. That 25-length victory was greeted by tumultuous applause and BBC commentator Peter O’Sullevan stating: “It’s hats off and a tremendous reception; you’ve never heard one like it at Liverpool. Red Rum wins the National.”

Red Rum was bred to win sprint races on the Flat and was an anonymous seven-year-old when a small-time trainer from Lancashire bought him in 1972. That trainer, Ginger McCain, a former second-hand car dealer, gave 6,000gns for the fifth-hand horse. He housed him in run-down stables behind his used-car showroom in a suburb outside Liverpool.

The gelding was lame on arrival and suffered from pedalostitis – an incurable inflammation of the bone inside the hoof. His condition was managed with therapeutic visits to nearby Southport beach, where he would gallop on the sand before cooling down in the sea.

In his previous role as a taxi driver, Ginger befriended regular customer Noel le Mare, then 84, who wanted a Grand National winner. Noel gave Ginger the money to buy Red Rum.

In a nationwide poll in 2006, 45% of the public asked to name a horse picked Red Rum. He retired a celebrity on the eve of the 1978 Grand National, when he pulled up lame after a gallop. Then 13, he was still one of the favourites.

Aldaniti

The Josh Gifford-trained racehorse Aldaniti was part of one of the most tear-jerking racing stories in history. He won the 1981 Grand National under Bob Champion. The jockey and horse were a perfect pair. Having both been written off with serious health problems, they made remarkable comebacks. By winning the big race at Aintree, they captured the heart of a nation.

Bob had been diagnosed with cancer in 1979 and given a small chance of survival. He underwent a gruelling programme of chemotherapy, which gave him some hope. Aldaniti, who belonged to Nick Embiricos, made a spectacular return to the racecourse following a bad leg injury. He picked up the problem at Sandown in November 1979, and it put him on the sidelines for a year. When the duo lined up for the Grand National in 1981, no one expected them to win. But their story saw the public back them into 10/1 second-favourites behind Spartan Missile.

Aldaniti very nearly didn’t make it past the first fence, having landed too steeply and gone down onto his knees. However, Bob held on and the pair finished 41⁄2 lengths in front of Spartan Missile – literally beating the odds. It was one of the most popular successes in the history of the Grand National.

The chestnut gelding was bred in the UK by Harrowgate Stud and his name was derived from the names of breeder Tommy Barron’s four grandchildren; Alastair, David, Nicola and Timothy. In his retirement, the horse helped raise funds for the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, set up by Bob in 1983.

Aldaniti played himself in a film made about the moving story in 1984 called Champions, in which actor John Hurt played Bob. The horse died at the home of his owner in Sussex in 1997, aged 27, having suffered a heart attack.

Whistlejacket

A star of the racetrack in his lifetime, Whistlejacket achieved greater fame as the subject of George Stubbs’ renowned portrait. One of the world’s most famous horses, he hangs in the National Gallery, London. George Stubbs’ life-size portrait of the chestnut has a slightly wild look in his eye. The 1762 oil painting was last sold for £11m, and has been fêted as “a paradigm of the flawless beauty of an Arabian thoroughbred”.

Stories abound about how this masterpiece came to be. Some contemporaries suggested it was an unfinished portrait of King George III, being on a scale typically reserved for kings. When the real Whistlejacket saw his likeness on canvas, he is said to have reacted violently. Stubbs then considered his work complete and the king was never painted in. Others say funding simply ran out – although the 40 guineas commission looks a worthwhile investment today.

Whistlejacket belonged to the second Marquess of Rockingham. Born in 1749, he was by the Godolphin Arabian son Mogul out of a Bolton Sweepstakes mare. He was named after a cold remedy of the times, containing gin and treacle. He was a star of the track in his day, defeated only four times in a six-year career, and winning £2,000 in his final race. He retired to the Rockingham stud aged 10, where he was only moderately successful. He was known to have “a nearly ungovernable temper”.

Famous horses in service

Burmese

Burmese was the first of four horses given to The Queen by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The Queen took on the mare in 1969 when the RCMP visited Britain to ride in a display at Royal Windsor Horse Show. Burmese was trained by RCMP Staff Sergeant Fred Rasmussen.

Her Majesty rode the mare for 18 consecutive years in her birthday parade, Trooping the Colour. After 21 years’ service, Burmese was retired to Windsor in 1986. She died in 1990 and is buried at Windsor. While not serving as The Queen’s charger in Trooping the Colour, Burmese served her adoptive country in the Metropolitan Police Mounted Branch.

The horse’s fame became more pronounced when in the 1981 Trooping the Colour a young man fired blanks at the pair. Burmese skittered briefly, and was instantly calmed by her rider.

Warrior

Warrior was born in 1908, a compact thoroughbred by Straybit out of Cinderella, and prophetically named. Of those famous horses who took part in battle, Warrior’s is perhaps the greatest story of all. Ridden for most of his 33 years by his breeder, General Jack Seely, Warrior survived four years of war. He spearheaded a crucial and gruesome cavalry charge to check the German offensive in Moreuil Wood in 1918. It is barely believable that Warrior survived all those blood-soaked battles in France. The Canadian cavalry, led by Seely, would say “the bullet hadn’t been made that could kill Warrior”.

On the very rare occasions he was lame and Seely had to ride another horse, his substitutes were killed. Once, while on watch, Warrior’s nose touching another horse, the other was shot. Twice, his stable was blown up moments after he was let out. Seely remembers during the Battle of Amiens, when Warrior was stabled in the drawing room of an abandoned French villa, it too was shelled.

“I said, ‘I’m afraid that is the end of Warrior,’” Seely writes in his 1934 book about his great charger. “But his head was poking out of the few bricks still standing, with the joist of the ceiling on his back.”

Seely’s grandson, racing broadcaster Brough Scott, says: “Warrior was the ultimate symbol of unquestioning, upstanding courage.”

Sefton

In 1982, the IRA detonated explosives that killed seven horses. Sefton, one who survived, became a symbol of hope. It was 20 July 1982. Eleven soldiers died in the two explosions on that day. Four were soldiers of the Blues and Royals. Seven bandsmen of the Royal Green Jackets died in another explosion in Regent’s Park. “The poor horses; my poor soldiers,” The Queen reportedly said on learning of it. The names of the soldiers and horses are commemorated on a plaque inside Knightsbridge Barracks.

Sefton recovered from terrible injuries. He retired to the Horse Trust, where he died at the grand age of 30. He was then returned to Melton Mowbray, where he was interred at the Defence Animal Centre, in the aptly named Remount Road. His grave has a marble headstone and overlooks the fields where his modern-day successors graze contentedly.

Famous horses in dressage

Valegro

Born in 2002, Valegro is the world famous horse who brought dressage to a wider audience with his rider Charlotte Dujardin. The pair won team gold at the 2012 Olympics and individual gold at the 2016 Olympics. At Olympia in 2014, Valegro beat his own world record in the grand prix freestyle, scoring 93.4%. During his career he set new records in all three types of grand prix.

The horse’s part-owner, Olympic gold medallist Carl Hester, gave the ride to his protégée Charlotte. She was to produce him as a young horse for Carl to ride later. But their partnership proved too strong to dissolve.

Although Valegro retired from competition after retaining individual Olympic gold at the Rio 2016 Games, he remains in work. The gelding continues to entertain his fans with special appearances. His official retirement ceremony took place at Olympia in 2016. There he produced an outstanding performance of his London 2012 freestyle to a packed house.

Totilas

The black stallion Totilas broke records in all three grand prix tests ahead of Valegro’s time, ridden by Edward Gal. He was also the first horse to break the 90% barrier. British Olympic rider Richard Davison said of the horse: “You had to fight through people just to get a glimpse of him. He was incredible, the talk of the town.”

The horse’s conformation was harmonious from front to back. He was said to possess the ideal topline for collection and connection, with superb flexibility, too. He had an extraordinary ability to open his elbow, which created his expressive front leg action.

Totilas was sold to German owners in 2010 to be ridden by Matthias Rath. The new pairing were beset with problems. They missed out on the London Olympics when Matthias contracted glandular fever. Totilas then missed the 2014 World Equestrian Games due to injury. The pair did hit form for a time, beating Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro twice, but never reproduced top form on the world stage. After helping the German team to European Championship bronze in 2015, Totilas was retired from competition. He continued breeding duties until his death in 2021.

Blue Circle Boy

Sir Lee Pearson says both he and four-year-old Blue Circle Boy “knew nothing about dressage” when they started. But the pair went on to win three gold medals at the Athens Paralympics – in the team, individual and freestyle events. They repeated the feat with triple gold at the 2002 European Championships in Portugal. At the 2005 European Championships, they won another team gold, plus individual and freestyle silver.

“My being disabled and having a horse of such beauty and power made people sit up and look,” says Lee. “We took on the world within para dressage. He carried me to become the first British dressage rider with a disability to become a national champion [elementary restricted in 2004]. He put para dressage on the map.”

The first time Lee saw Blue Circle Boy, he’d gone to buy a horse from a local lady in Staffordshire who had a yearling colt she kept in her garden. “He was bright dun, his dam had died when he was a day old and he was bottle-fed,” Lee recalls. “Three-and-a-half years later the lady phoned and said she had this stallion in the field. I went to see him and he was a massive, shaggy thing with hair down to his knees. A couple of months later, after castration, we put him on the lunge and we were dragged round the field by this golden monster. I just planted myself with my crutches while he kept slipping around. He was a bugger, but a very talented horse.”

Famous horses in eventing

Charisma

New Zealand event rider Mark Todd’s Olympic gold medal-winning ride Charisma achieved a great deal more than would be expected of any 15.3hh gelding. The horse became a national hero and one of the most famous horses in New Zealand after winning two consecutive gold medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

Nicknamed “Podge” because of his love of food, Mark fondly described the horse as “a fat, hairy pony”. He had a prolific international record, winning the British open championships twice and enjoying several wins across Europe.

In 1987, Mark had his eye on a Badminton victory, which was not to be as the event was cancelled due to bad weather.

“1987 was the year the Whitbread Trophy had Podge’s name on it, or so I believed,” said Mark in his first autobiography, So Far, So Good. “I was devastated. If I kept him in training the following year as a 16-year-old, it would be to defend his Olympic crown in Seoul, which would definitely rule him out of Badminton, so he’d missed his last chance.”

So despite winning back-to-back individual Olympic gold medals, Charisma never won a British four-star (now five-star). He finished second at Badminton in 1984 and 1985 and at Burghley in 1987. Officially retired at the age of 16, Charisma was flown back to New Zealand, where he completed a gold medal tour of the country, and then spent his retirement on Mark’s Rivermonte Farm.

King William

Postmen in British event rider Mary King’s Devon village became accustomed to fielding letters addressed to: “King William, Devon” in the 1990s. “I suppose there weren’t any other King Williams,” laughs Mary.

The fan mail started after she and the 17hh gelding won Gatcombe in 1991 and by the following year, hundreds of letters were arriving. With his prominent blaze, alert demeanour and increasingly consistent one-day-event record, the famous horse was easy to recognise.

His celebrity status was cemented in the biblical rain and mud at Badminton in 1992. Arriving in the 10-minute box, 38th to go, Mark Phillips delivered Mary the news that no one had yet gone clear. As she set off, Mary found herself praying: “Please God, look after William.” They rode the first clear of the day, with Mark’s advice to kick on and ignore the mud ringing in Mary’s ears. Despite painstakingly rubbing nearly every showjump on the final day, King William knocked just one. Mary took the Badminton title for the first time; a childhood dream realised at the age of 30.

“Winning Badminton is in a league of its own; it’s like a jockey winning the Grand National – virtually everyone in the world has heard of this occasion, and it’s your big, famous moment,” she wrote in her 2009 autobiography.

Priceless

Priceless was arguably the greatest of Ginny Elliot’s famous horses, taking her to her first Olympics and giving her the confidence to aim high with all the horses that followed. His purchase price of £900 turned out to be an incredible investment, although he was suffering from a curb when Ginny went to view him at Diana Scott’s Brendon Hill Farm in Devon. Diana had bred him, by Ben Faerie and out of an Irish hunter mare, Reckless, and had hunted him as a four-year-old.

“Priceless was plain and small — he stood at only 16hh — but in his favour he was a big mover,” recalls Ginny. “The decision on whether or not to buy him rested on how he jumped a ditch, and he flew it. He turned out to be an incredible eventer. He never deviated from a line and you could turn him on a sixpence. This gave him an advantage and he almost always made the optimum time despite this being the era of long-format three-day events.”

Priceless won Burghley, Badminton and world and European gold. At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, he clinched team silver and individual bronze. Despite the cross-country being an imposing four-star, Priceless didn’t make a single mistake, and he also showjumped clear. The gelding was retired at 12 – having achieved so much, it was only right that he should bow out while still at the top of his game.

Famous horses in showjumping

Stroller

Stroller was a showjumping sensation, a little bay pony who took on the world’s greatest and most famous horses – and beat them. At around 14.2hh, Stroller was among the smallest of stars but also among the greatest. He was a TV sensation whose fans wrote to ask for hairs from his tail. Bought as a junior showjumping pony for a Hampshire farmer’s daughter, Marion Coakes, Stroller and his rise to international fame summed up every young rider’s dream.

“When I came out of juniors at 16, Dad wanted to sell Stroller. It seemed the natural thing to graduate to horses,” Marion recalls. “I pleaded with Dad not to sell him, but to let me start open jumping with him.”

It became a showjumping sensation that a child’s pony was soaring over spreads, parallels, banks and ditches better than most of the world’s great horses. He won the formidable Hamburg Derby in 1970. Marion recalled: “When we sailed over the last fence, having completed the only clear round, the crowd of 25,000 went crazy. It was the most exciting moment. We had completed the 50th clear round ever on the course – and the first by a woman rider.”

Stroller’s greatest triumph was in the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He was suffering from a decayed and split upper tooth. It was decided to give him painkillers and steam inhalations rather than risk an extraction just before the contest. Marion won the silver medal and was fêted on her return to Britain and named Sportswoman of the Year. Retired in the 1970s, Stroller lived until the age of 36.

Hickstead

One of showjumping’s most famous horses, the 2008 Olympic gold medallist’s life and career was cut short when he was 15. In 2008, Eric Lamaze became Canada’s first Olympic showjumping champion following a thrilling climax to the equestrian Olympics in Hong Kong riding Hickstead. All the medals were decided in a jump-off and the gold only at the very last fence.

Eric and Hickstead jumped off against Sweden’s Rolf Bengtsson on the compact Ninja for gold. Eric and Rolf had jumped the sole double clears of the competition. They both finished on the same time, 38.39sec, but Ninja crashed through the final fence, a multi-coloured wall.

Hickstead died in particularly tragic circumstances when competing in Verona, where he had been taking part in the fourth round of the World Cup. Hickstead and Eric had just completed their round when the 15-year-old stallion collapsed. The cause was later revealed to be a rupture of the main artery supplying his heart. Riders requested that the competition be cancelled and filed into the arena in tears to pay their respects with a minute’s silence. FEI president at the time Princess Haya described Hickstead as “a horse in a million”.

Foxhunter

Foxhunter is credited with bringing showjumping to the attention of the British public, making him one of Britain’s most famous horses. Sir Harry Llewellyn began his partnership with the horse after buying the six-year-old bay for £1,500 in 1947. The gelding won an incredible 78 international competitions, including the King George V Gold Cup three times. He won a bronze medal at the 1948 Olympics, then most notably team gold, this being the only British gold medal at the 1952 Olympics. He retired in 1955.

Norman Holmes of Thrussington, Leicestershire, produced Foxhunter. He bought the horse as an unbroken four-year-old in 1944 for £60 from his breeder and hunted him with the Quorn only a fortnight later. He changed the horse’s name from Eelskin to Foxhunter, schooled him as a showjumper and went on to win top-level classes at county shows. “He was very easy to break in, had a kind eye and so much quality,” said Norman.

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

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The legal case centres on who has the rights to semen of the legendary dressage stallion Totilas, who died last year. H&H hears from both sides of the dispute

AN interim injunction has been issued against a previous owner of legendary dressage stallion Totilas, in a legal dispute over semen ownership rights.

The Oldenburg regional court issued the injunction in favour of plaintiff Paul Schockemöhle, who owned the stallion until his death in December, and against Kees Visser. Mr Visser stood Totilas for one season when he owned him, and also collected semen to freeze.

Mr Schockemöhle took legal action against Mr Visser, who had offered the semen for sale as now there is a limited supply, and great interest from breeders. The injunction prevents him from doing this.

A spokesman for Mr Schockemöhle said: “Semen of the three-time World Champion and two-time European Champion Totilas may continue to be offered and sold only and exclusively by Paul Schockemöhle Hengsthaltung GmbH. This was decided by the court.

“In 2010, Paul Schockemöhle acquired the KWPN stallion from Kees Visser, and put him into stud. Here the hope came true that Totilas would pass on his movement genius and his willingness to perform to his offspring. In Germany alone, the black stallion produced 28 licensed sons and 36 award-winning daughters.”

Luc Schelstraete and Piotr Wawrzyniak, of Dutch equine law firm Schelstraete which is representing Mr Visser, told H&H they are appealing, and that they were surprised by the action, which they claim concerns semen already owned by Mr Visser.

“It was collected months before the purchase, so we were surprised to receive a summons saying it was Mr Schockemöhle’s property,” ” Mr Schelstraete said, adding that he believes Dutch law rather than German applies in this case, and under Dutch law, the semen in question belongs to Mr Visser.

“If you buy a mare, you don’t also own her foal, unless it’s inside her,” he said. “So we were very surprised, but for us, this is a political decision, nothing else.”

It is expected that the appeal will be heard this month. Mr Schelstraete said some “interesting new information” will be introduced, while the question over which law applies will also form part of the argument.

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Tributes have poured in from across the equestrian community following the death of global dressage star Totilas, at the age of 20.

The Gribaldi son had enormous success under Edward Gal in 2009 and 2010, breaking world records and winning numerous gold medals.

Sharing podiums with Edward and “Toto” on several occasions was Britain’s Laura Tomlinson and Mistral Hojris (Alf), silver medallists at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in 2010 where Totilas scooped a trio of gold medals.

“I was number two to Edward and Totilas for quite a long time – Alf and I even held the WEG grand prix record for about five minutes in Kentucky, until Totilas entered the arena,” said Laura.

“Totilas was a wonder horse who changed the world of dressage. There was so much hype around him, and enormous interest in our sport from other disciplines and from outside the equestrian world too. It was a really fun, exciting time to be at the top of the sport.

“I had a really fun rivalry with Edward, who was a great sport, and the rest of the Dutch team – when they won team gold in 2010 my mum bought them all limoncello, and when we won gold a year later at the Europeans in Rotterdam, the Dutch team had already organised a round of limoncello for us in return,” Laura told H&H.

“The partnership and the silhouette of Edward and Toto became iconic, something those of us lucky enough to see them live will never forget.”

Carl Hester was also a member of the British dressage team who competed against Totilas throughout the horse’s time at the top of the sport.

“How privileged I feel to have seen him live,” Carl told H&H. “And how much we all owe him for his incredible presence and his ability to bring a new audience to the dressage world.”

Charlotte Dujardin, who took over the mantle at the very top of the sport with Valegro in the years following Totilas’ reign, said: “Totilas, you were a dominant horse of our time and will always be remembered. My thoughts and condolences to all that have been involved with this sweet horse and to those who, like myself, are very sad to hear of his passing.”

Many other British riders have shared their favourite memories of Totilas, including para dressage world champion Sophie Wells, who was a sheet collector at the European Championships in 2009, where Totilas became the first horse to ever break the 90% barrier.

Continues below…

‘My love for you lasts for ever’: Edward Gal pays tribute to wonder horse Totilas

“You honored me with your trust. You were my friend. I will miss you until we meet again”

Totilas dies aged 20: dressage world mourns loss of global superstar

“We will miss you so much and never forget you”

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

“I’m unbelievably grateful to have seen Totilas in the flesh many times, but to have collected his sheets at the Europeans in Windsor in 2009 when I was 19 years old is a clear highlight,” said Sophie. “RIP special boy, you changed dressage.”

The FEI has also paid tribute, posting: “Thank you for the records broken, memories made and the history your hoofbeats created. An out-and-out legend that inspired fans around the world, Totilas will for ever be remembered as one of the greats who changed the sport. Fly high, Toto.”

Don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound for a full feature charting the life and career of Totilas, on sale now.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

News of Totilas’ death yesterday rocked the equestrian worlds as it signalled the end of an incredible 20 years for one of the most remarkable horses dressage has ever seen.

When Totilas and Edward Gal burst onto the world stage, they began a new era in dressage. It was an era that would see them hold three world records, win six medals at European and world level, and capture the hearts of the dressage world.

When Paul Schöckemohle bought Totilas in 2010 to compete for Germany, there was outrage. So powerful was Totilas’ magic that dressage fans everywhere saw the horse almost as their own, and were devastated to see the partnership between ‘Toto’ and Edward split up.

Totilas never quite returned to his former brilliance and was plagued by injuries in recent years, under new rider Matthias Rath. He went on to retire to stud. Following yesterday’s devastating news, we look back at some of his career highlights.

European Championships: Windsor, 2009

Totilas sets a new world record score of 90.75% in the grand prix freestyle to take the gold medal, having been beaten into silver in the special just minutes after setting a new record there, too.

The sell-out, 8,000 strong crowd were ecstatic to watch Toto and Edward beat their own previous record by over 1%, with a test including music from Pirates of the Carribean arranged by Joost Peeters.

Totilas’ fan club were out in full force — with the orange of the Dutch supporters always standing out in a crowd.

Edward celebrates victory with silver medallist Adelinde Cornelissen

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Olympia, 2009

Another day, another world record, as Edward and Totilas post 92.3% to smash their previous record, with a mistake-free test that was 10% clear of nearest rival Adelinde with Parzival.

World Equestrian Games: Kentucky, 2010

Totilas and Edward scooped triple gold in front of 25,000 spectators at the huge Kentucky Horse Park, adding the freestyle medal to their special and team medals from earlier on the week.

Although the test was marred with some mistakes, they scored 85.70% with a total of 40 10s awarded across the seven judges. This would be their last test together, as Totilas was sold to Germany shortly after.

At home with Matthias Rath, 2011

Paul Schockemöhle sold shares in Totilas to Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, Matthias step-mother, securing the ride for the then 27-year-old Matthias. Their first competition together was at München-Reim, where they won both the grand prix and the special on scores of +76 and + 79%. Below, they are seen at home prior to their competition debut.

European Championships: Rotterdam, 2011

In their only complete championship together, Toto and Matthias finished third in the grand prix (79.453%), fourth in the special (77.09%) and fifth in the freestyle with 81.696%.

European Championships: Aachen, 2015

In Totilas’ last test, he scored a disappointing 75.971% in the team grand prix to lie sixth, with many spectators concerned for his soundness. He was then withdrawn from the special and freestyle tests, and it was announced shortly after that the then 15-year-old superstar would be retired from any further competition.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Edward Gal has shared an emotional tribute to Totilas, his former record-breaking dressage partner, who has died, aged 20.

The Dutch rider competed the Gribaldi son internationally in 2009 and 2010 with huge success, becoming the first pair to break the 90% barrier, at the Windsor European Championships in 2009, and landing triple gold and another world record at the Kentucky World Equestrian Games in 2010.

“Goodbye my friend. Heaven has a new star today. But my heart is broken,” said Edward, who debuted the Totilas son Glock’s Toto Jr at grand prix this year, and may target him at the Tokyo Olympics.

“Rest in peace Totilas. You will always be remembered. Together with you I experienced happiness and even grief. Time passed by and wounds healed. But my love for you lasts for ever.

“You honoured me with your trust. You were my friend. I will miss you until we meet again.”

In October 2010, owners Kees and Tosca Visser of Moorlands Stables sold Totilas to Paul Schockemöhle, who retained breeding rights, while Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff bought the riding rights for her stepson Matthias Rath.

Totilas and Matthias made a winning start to their partnership in 2011, but had to withdraw from contention for the London Olympics 2012 when Matthias had glandular fever.

The horse’s final test was at the 2015 European Championships, where they were awarded 75.97% in the grand prix. The next day, Totilas was diagnosed with periostitis of the coronet band, and shortly afterwards, he was officially retired from sport.

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“My condolences to Matthias and his family and to all who had the chance to work or live with this exeptional stallion,” added Edward. “And my thoughts to all of you who loved him.”

Matthias confirmed the great stallion’s death, posting: “We will miss you so much and never forget you.”

Don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound for a full feature charting the life and career of Totilas, on sale now.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The legendary dressage horse Totilas has died, at the age of 20. His rider, Germany’s Matthias Rath, confirmed the news, saying: “We will miss you so much and never forget you.”

It is understood that the Gribaldi x Glendale son died on Monday, 14 December, after a severe attack of colic.

With his former rider, the Netherlands’ Edward Gal, Totilas set the dressage world alight. The pair made their international grand prix debut in June 2009, scoring 79.14%, and two months later, “Toto” became the first horse to break the 90% barrier, as he scored a euphoric individual gold at the European Championships at Windsor.

“Windsor was his first Europeans and his first big championship,” Edward said. “We had the castle lit up behind the arena and it was really magical.”

• Read H&H’s exclusive legends of the sport feature on Totilas’s career

Vanessa Ruiter, Edward’s groom, added: “Totilas looked for Edward the whole day, and Edward adored him. He really loved Edward. If he heard him, he’d prick his ears and look around for him. It was really special.”

The pair broke the world freestyle record at Olympia in 2009 with 92.3%, which was only bettered by Valegro four years later.

Totilas and Edward were crowned World Cup champions in March 2010, and later that same year they landed a trio of gold medals at the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky – and another world record score, this time in the special. However, this was to be their final competition together.

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What made Totilas one of the world’s greatest dressage horses?

At the recent Global Dressage Forum held at the Bartels Academy in Holland (26-27 October), seven horses were put forward

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In October 2010, owners Kees and Tosca Visser of Moorlands Stables sold Totilas to Paul Schockemöhle, who retained breeding rights, while Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff bought the riding rights for her stepson Matthias Rath.

Totilas and Matthias made a winning competition debut in 2011, but had to withdraw from contention for the London Olympics when Matthias became ill with glandular fever.

The horse’s final test was at the 2015 European Championships, where they were awarded a controversial 75.97% in the grand prix. The next day, Totilas was diagnosed with periostitis of the coronet band, and shortly afterwards, he was officially retired from sport.

Totilas spent his five-year retirement hacking out at the Rath/Linsenhoff base Gestüt Schafhof, near Frankfurt, as well as fulfilling his duties as a much-demanded sire. His final public appearence was at the 2019 KWPN stallion licensing.

Don’t miss the current issue of Horse & Hound for a full feature charting the life and career of Totilas, on sale now. 

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The late black stallion and his phenomenal scores lit up the dressage world. Alice Collins tracks his path to fame and the story behind his high-profile sale

Few horses have owned the spotlight like the magnificent Totilas, who died on Monday, 14 December 2020 following a severe case of colic. Under Edward Gal, he set fire to the dressage scene with an almost 80% grand prix at their first international, when Totilas was just nine. They swept the board from summer 2009 to September 2010, winning everything there was to be won.

But unlike Britain’s sensation Valegro, Totilas didn’t seem to have all the hallmarks of greatness from the get-go. He didn’t dominate in young horse classes and was a busy, impatient young colt.

Totilas – named after a distant relative who survived a long trek at the end of World War II and helped found the Trakehner breed – was born in 2000 in the Netherlands. The Gribaldi son was a picture-book foal, jet black with four matching white socks.

His breeders Jan Schuil and Anna Schuil-Visser gave him his basic education before asking local rider Jiska de Roos-van den Akker to take over when he was four. Totilas didn’t make the instant impression you might think.

“I saw him ridden and thought, ‘That’s not for me.’ He wasn’t much to look at and didn’t move that well,” recalls Jiska. “I wasn’t that enthusiastic about riding him; he seemed anxious and wasn’t very friendly. I know now that he just wanted to work, but at the time I thought he was misbehaving. But my husband, who knows a good horse, said that maybe he’d surprise me.”

So Totilas travelled to Jiska’s place three times a week for her to ride him. It didn’t take long for her to be persuaded.

“He was so intelligent and it was so easy for him to understand everything as he was physically so naturally strong,” she says. “When I asked him to move bigger he did, and then a bit bigger again, and he always said, ‘OK’. I’d ridden big-moving horses before, but not one who could move that big at such a young age.”

Jiska took Totilas to the Pavo Cup (Dutch warmblood young horse championships), where they were unplaced. She still had faith in the horse though, and the following year they headed to Verden World Young Horse Championships in the five-year-old division. They finished fourth, the best placing for a KWPN horse. Interest in Totilas was piqued, and she remembers the day Edward first sat on him.

“Totilas had had a little holiday and he was very excited, so Edward was a bit scared,” laughs Jiska. “But I could see that they had a good connection.”

Luckily for Edward, one of Totilas’s most admirable traits under saddle was that no matter how excited he got, he wouldn’t buck or rear, just move bigger and bigger. He was safe, but with abundant power.

“The first time I sat on ‘Toto’, I already felt a really exceptional feeling, but you had so much energy you didn’t know if you could control it,” he recalls.

Kees and Tosca Visser bought Totilas for Edward from the breeders (same name but no relation) as “a bit of a diamond in the rough,” remembers Kees.

“Tosca saw him on a DVD. The quality wasn’t good and it was dark, but with those four white feet, you could see that he was a good mover. He was really a stallion back then, showing off and wanting all the attention.

“As a six-year-old he was quality, but an old fashioned type, and with a big belly. He wasn’t the dashing beauty that he became.”

At his new home, his impetuousness subsided and Edward’s relationship with the high-octane young stallion quickly blossomed. Vanessa Ruiter, groom to Edward and his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud for the past 17 years, remembers the early days.

“We’d heard stories about Verden that they’d had to move him a couple of times as he was too wild in the box,” she says. “He settled quickly once we found him a nice spot. He had the first stable next to the wash box and we’d clean tack there and talk to him. I quickly fell in love as he was magical already.”

Edward’s relationship with Totilas went well beyond just the riding.

“Totilas looked for Edward the whole day, and Edward adored him,” continues Vanessa. “He really loved Edward. If he heard him, he’d prick his ears and look around for him. It was really special.”

Kees was also in awe of his horse.

“Edward and Nicole [Werner, his trainer] did the right things for Totilas at the right times,” he credits. “They trained him at home for two years until he was eight, and then the magic started. It was one of the most beautiful things I ever saw.”

As soon as the pair hit the competition scene, they achieved instant superstar status, igniting justified worldwide hype. He was the first in the world to score 90% – in front of an adoring British crowd at Windsor, during the European Championships – and attracted enraptured fans like iron filings to a magnet.

Totilas wasn’t just another horse in Edward’s stables.

“I think we treated him a bit different,” he admits. “I gave him a bit more attention, and at shows I spent more time with him. We had a special thing going on. It wasn’t only because he was so good, but also such a special character.”

One of the best moments of Edward’s career was claiming individual European gold.

“Windsor was his first Europeans and his first big championship,” he says. “We had the castle lit up behind the arena and it was really magical.”

The Vissers also revelled in their horse’s glory, remembering seeing fans climbing trees just to get a look at him.

“We loved the standard he gave the dressage world,” explains Kees. “And even people not interested in dressage liked what they saw. At Windsor, [Olympic showjumpers] Nelson Pessoa and George Morris travelled there just to see Totilas. Nelson said that even if you didn’t like dressage, you would like it that day.”

Then, a bombshell. In 2010, just after Totilas and Edward’s triple gold at Kentucky World Equestrian Games (WEG), the news that Totilas had been sold to stallion mogul Paul Schockemöhle rocked the dressage world. The record-shattering four-year partnership was over and Totilas would be moving to Germany, the Netherlands’ arch dressage rivals.

The price tag was said to be between €9m and €15m – the exact figure remains a closely-guarded secret – and Schockemöhle kept the breeding rights, while Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff purchased the riding rights for her then 26-year-old stepson Matthias Rath.

The Vissers simply couldn’t turn down that sort of money.

“We’d had everything with that horse,” Kees explains. “He competed 55 times with our Moorlands flag and he won 53 times [beaten only by Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival]. We got three world records, three world championship gold medals, two European golds, and the World Cup final.”

Presented with that list, it’s hard to see what more the Vissers could have asked for. Having been reluctant to sell, what finally tipped the balance? After three years of glorious ownership and awash with keen interest, the Vissers eventually lit upon a figure. If anyone met or exceeded that “extreme price”, they’d sell. It would make the final decision easy.

“The price was so high that it would be impossible to keep him, especially knowing the risks of being an owner,” explains Kees, who had lost another good horse, Van The Man, that year. “It would have been economic negligence on our part not to have sold at that price.”

Paul had previously expressed an interest in Totilas, but it wasn’t until the WEG in Kentucky, where Totilas became the first horse ever to claim triple gold, that the final deal was cemented.

“I was fascinated by the horse,” says Paul. “He was a super fighter in the ring. He was the best horse in his time in dressage and he had special talent for the difficult things, like piaffe and passage. I never saw a horse so good; it was truly outstanding.”

A small sector of the horse world understood the Vissers’ decision to sell, but many fans were agog.

“You take away a bit of a fairy tale, and we understand that people sometimes react badly to that,” muses Kees.

Although his rational self accepted the decision, Edward was heartbroken.

“When Toto moved on, it was really difficult, but you could understand it,” he shrugs. “It was so much money, and it wasn’t for me to say that they had to keep him for me.”

Vanessa remembers the day Totilas left.

“I wanted to load him myself,” she says. “Edward was inside at home because he couldn’t cope with it. I put Totilas on the truck with his own halter. It was very sad and we cried all together, but he brought us so much. The time with Totilas was one of the most amazing things in my life and in Edward’s life. We lived the dream with him and were blessed to have him.”

Edward concurs: “That period was awful but you have to deal with it. It was like missing a friend. Now that I have his sons Glock’s Total US and Glock’s Toto Jnr it’s easier, but at the beginning when I saw him it was really hard.”

The next chapter of Totilas’s career did not pan out so majestically. Matthias opted not to compete him right away, instead appearing only at stallion shows until June 2011, where he debuted with a plus-76% win. They followed up with a triple win at Aachen CDIO5*, with three scores over 82%.

Just as the combination was really bonding, Matthias was struck down with glandular fever and the pair had to withdraw from selection for the London Olympics. It was a bitter pill, but Paul had not bought Totilas on ridden merits alone.

“At that time, he was the best dressage horse in the world and I was very interested in using him as a stallion,” says Paul, who breeds around 2,000 dressage and jumper foals a year. “For us in Germany he has a really different bloodline and is by Gribaldi, one of the best stallions from the Trakehner studbook. Besides that, I had the damsire Glendale about 30 years ago.”

Though there were undoubtedly good times for Matthias and Totilas, like their unbeaten streak of eight wins in the summer of 2014, the monumental pressure on them to replicate Edward’s gargantuan scores was ever-present.

And now Totilas was combining his ridden job with stud duties, he picked up niggling injuries that ruled him out of competition on numerous subsequent occasions, not least the 2014 WEG in Normandy.

His major championship comeback was scheduled for the 2015 Europeans, on home soil at their happy hunting ground of Aachen. But as Totilas performed the first extended trot in the grand prix, there were warning whistles from the enormous crowd. The stallion didn’t look quite right. However, Matthias pressed on and was awarded 75.97% and sixth place. The show ground was abuzz with speculation.

“He got a soundness issue and since that he never came back to the same quality as before, which is normal if you have a problem,” reasons Paul.

Totilas was retired from the remainder of the competition and, the following day, diagnosed with periostitis of the coronet band – a bone inflammation – on the left hind. Just days later, he was retired from sport.

“It was very unlucky,” adds Paul. “But I’m still lucky that I bought him because I have very good offspring from him. Since he stopped competing, he’s always been sound. Without that pressure, he’s relaxed and healthy. He has a really nice life now.”

That happy life is spent hacking out at the Rath/Linsenhoff base Gestüt Schafhof, near Frankfurt, while he goes to Paul’s for breeding. He may no longer live in the limelight, but he’s still in demand as a sire and globally revered as the game-changing sport legend that he is.

“He was great – he still is,” concludes Jiska. “But because of his greatness, he broke a lot of hearts. But all’s well that ends well, and he deserves that.”

In the genes

Totilas’s sire Gribaldi was by the eminently trainable Kostolany. Kostolany competed at grand prix, was awarded the stallion of the year title in 2009, and then lived a magnificent retirement at the heart of the Langels family at Gestüt Hämelschenburg, where he was bred. Gribaldi was another black grand prix stallion ridden by Edward Gal. Although known for being spicy in competition, he was Trakehner stallion of the year in 2008, led the WBFSH sire rankings in 2014 and sired a talented dressage dynasty.

Totilas’s dam Lominka is by Glendale, a son of Nimmerdor, who is best known as a sire of jumpers and widely credited for Totilas’s outstanding canter.

Totilas inherited the best that each side of his pedigree had to offer: the talent to excel at the highest level coupled with the trainability and willingness to execute the work with balance, power and enthusiasm.

“His foals may not be the most fancy looking,” says Paul Schockemöhle, “but Totilas really gives his biggest potential to them – like piaffe, passage and canter – and later they become really good horses.”

Timeline of a legend

May 2000

Born in the Netherlands to breeders Jan Schuil and Anna Schuil-Visser

May 2005

Finishes fourth at the Verden World Young Dressage Horse Championships under Jiska de Roos-van den Akker

April 2006

Kees and Tosca Visser of Moorlands Stables buy Totilas from his breeders

for Edward Gal to ride

June 2009

International grand prix debut with Edward Gal, scoring 79.14%

AugUST 2009

Becomes first horse in the world to break the 90% barrier, carrying Edward to individual Europeans gold

March 2010

The pair claim gold at the World Cup final

September 2010

Performs his final test with Edward, securing triple gold at the Kentucky WEG, with 91.8% in the freestyle

October 2010

Totilas is sold by the Vissers to Paul Schockemöhle (breeding rights) and Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff (riding rights)

February 2011

First public appearance with his new rider: Totilas appears at the Schockemöhle stallion show in Vechta. He is a handful; Matthias exits to regroup. A week later at another Schockemöhle stallion show, the display is more harmonious. Totilas’s stud fee is €8,000

June 2011

First test with Matthias Rath, scoring 76.78% at CDI Munich to win class. This month they become German champions

December 2011

Totilas picks up an injury in training

April 2012

The pair return to competition and win both tests at Hagen CDI

July 2012

Totilas and Matthias withdraw from Olympic contention. The horse is fit, but Matthias has glandular fever. They do not return to competition until 2014

March 2013

Totilas injures his leg while mounting the dummy mare for breeding

August 2015

Last test, scoring a controversial 75.97% at the Aachen Europeans. The following day he is diagnosed with periostitis of the coronet band. A few days later, he is officially retired from sport.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 10 December 2020

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Not much of note happened in the competitive sphere in summer 2020. But one black horse with a striking similarity to his famous father made a quiet debut at grand prix level at a national show in the Netherlands in July. The Dutch darling, Olympic dressage rider Edward Gal, showed the enthusiastic (though minimal, thanks to Covid-19) spectators that he has a new star in his stables, nine-year-old Glock’s Toto Jr. The black stallion has an uncanny resemblance to his father, Edward’s former superstar Totilas.

Edward was so keen for a low-key outing for his latest superstar that they didn’t even feature on the start lists. But there was nothing low key about the 79.43% score, and the video of their test quickly circulated online.

To put that in context, Charlotte Dujardin and the rising nine-year-old Valegro made their grand prix debut in January 2011 at Addington and scored 74.62%.

Toto Jr’s FEI level debut – Edward had only ridden him at stallion shows and in young horse classes some time ago – was a much-needed bright spot in what has been a torrid year globally. Competition in the Netherlands has been all but cancelled since, but the Dutch championships were able to go ahead in a narrow window in which shows were permitted in September. It gave Edward the chance to prove Toto Jr’s sensational score was no fluke, and to dust off Totilas’s emotive old music score – the first time he has done so.

The victory was poignant as it came exactly a decade on from Edward’s final competition on Totilas, at the 2010 Kentucky World Equestrian Games, where they won individual gold on 91.8%. This time round, Toto Jr scored 80.68% in the special and, to Totilas’ floorplan, pulled off 86.15% and a standing ovation in the freestyle.

“Toto Jr was green, but in Ermelo at the championships the special was much more confirmed and then to ride to Totilas’ music again gave me goosebumps,” said Edward, who turned 50 in March. “In the test when I did the transition to walk I got a bit emotional and I had to tell myself, ‘Come on, there’s still half a test to go.’ The special was just the second test with Glock’s Toto Jr, but even then he was giving me an incredible feeling. It felt like he’d already done a lot of competitions.”

As is usually the case with a developing horse at any level, Edward says the horse is even more confirmed at home, and capable of yet higher scores. So how does he compare with his famous father?

“With Toto Jr, he can do really good piaffe/passage and the collected work,” says Edward, who has trained him since Glock bought the young stallion at auction for €100,000. “I think naturally he has a better hindleg by himself. Totilas was really exceptional so it would be tricky to say Toto Jr will be better, though it is certainly possible. With Totilas I had never felt such a thing before, but now I know how it can feel.”

The likeness to Totilas doesn’t end there.

“The first thing I thought when I saw Glock’s Toto Jr [who is out of a Desperados dam] was that he’s like a clone of his father; the same white feet, the same head, and even his expression is similar. He’s also really similar in character: the ‘stalliony’ behaviour in the field and the way he moves out there, with big strides – it’s so like Totilas it’s almost scary.”

Although the Netherlands has been in some sort of lockdown for most of 2020, Edward, his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud and trainer Nicole Werner count themselves very fortunate. They are based at Glock Horse Performance Center Netherlands (GHPC NL), a purpose-built state-of-the-art facility with 42 stables, an indoor and outdoor arena and ample paddocks. The GHPC NL team have called the place home for five years.

“When we had the first lockdown, we couldn’t teach at all and that was hard,” says Edward. “For weeks we just stayed on the premises with the home team and didn’t see anyone else. That was really weird.”

The Netherlands remains on partial lockdown: some restrictions have been eased since the spring, but life is by no means back to normal. Restaurants are still closed and shows cancelled indefinitely.

“At least we can now teach with social distancing,” he adds. “The training goes on. We can do indoors but only one on one – which is easy for us as that’s the norm – and a limit on the number of horses and riders working at the same time. GHPC is really a beautiful place: it’s just outside the town of Oosterbeek [near Arnhem], and also near to the forest, which is great for the horses. But it is not just beautiful, it’s also functional.”

One of the most delightful aspects of the high-spec horse paradise is that provision has been made for all Edward and Hans Peter’s retired horses, who live out their days on the premises. It’s another major positive to having the deep-pocketed sponsor Glock on board.

“All the old ones like Undercover, Nadine and Next One are here,” says Edward. “In the beginning when they retire it takes a bit of time for them to adjust to being out in the paddock all day with their group, but now that they’re fully adjusted, they scream in the mornings to go out with their friends. We are so happy to be able to give them a really nice retirement here.”

Clearly Edward has not been idle over this strange season and has cultivated not only Glock’s Toto Jr as a possible for the postponed Tokyo Olympics, but also has another Totilas son, Glock’s Total US, in the pipeline. He hopes the eight-year-old will come out at grand prix in the new year.

And behind them is yet another crop of emerging horsepower, with a lot of that talent being directly by Toto Jr, including the three five-year-olds Glock’s Taminiau, Glock’s King Karim and Glock’s Kardam’s Whisper. Whisper was selected for the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, due to start next week, but the show has recently been cancelled due to Covid.

The pandemic has hit close to home for Edward and his team.

“An aunt and an uncle of mine are both infected,” he explains. “My aunt is in hospital now being put into an induced coma. Back in the spring we heard of people being ill. And suddenly it came close to us when our horse feed advisor Willy van Doornik passed away of coronavirus. That was a great shock for the whole team. And so now everyone knows someone who is in hospital, someone who has been sick – or worse.

“We use face masks in shops and public areas,” he adds. “In the beginning it was really weird to see people with masks everywhere. But we are used to it now. It’s important to wear them, because you protect not only yourself, but others too. You have to take the virus seriously and look out for each other, especially for older and vulnerable people.”

Everyone is grappling with this new normal. Not the least the organisers of the postponed Olympics. What was to be the highlight of the calendar this year is now not

a certainty even for next year.

Being in the horse world, Edward is well aware of the inevitable last-minute changes of plan with horse illness and injury, so his outlook is pragmatic. He’s in the fortunate position of being likely to have three horses to choose from for Tokyo, but he won’t be drawn on which is most likely to be selected.

“I have Glock’s Zonik and the two by Totilas,” says Edward. “We’ll just have to see which horse is in the best shape at the time. You can plan all you like, but you never know what will happen. We just have to wait for the moment.”

The cloud of Covid-19 hangs over all of us, and radical changes to Tokyo – if it happens – are likely, including tighter limits on the number of spectators allowed to attend.

And for the moment, Edward and Hans Peter must wait before going out competing again, and it looks like the schedule will be barren until next year.

“I’m OK, but Hans Peter is missing the shows now,” says Edward. “He wanted to do Lyon and Mechelen with Glock’s Dream Boy, but everything was cancelled. He was all right for two months, but now he’s really missing his shows.”

Edward also misses the small things that Covid has taken away.

“We stay in touch with our friends and family on WhatsApp groups, but we miss the other things, like going out for dinner. And normally you’d shake hands or hug people, and you can’t do it now,” he laments. “You have to get used to it, but when someone is sad or just needs a hug, you can’t. Luckily we can still hug the horses and our dogs.”

Ref: Horse & Hound; 3 December 2020

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The son of dressage superstar Totilas was crowned Dutch national champion with Edward Gal, using the same freestyle as his history-making sire.

The pair’s poignant victory came almost exactly a decade on from Edward’s final competition on Totilas, at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (30 September, 2010), where he partnered the son of IPS Grimaldi to the same music and choreography, winning individual gold on a score of 91.8% and taking home three gold medals.

Edward and Glock’s Toto Jr were the only pair out of 28 starters to break the 80% barrier in the grand prix special on Saturday (19 September), posting a winning score of 80.68%.

They followed this up on Sunday with a score of 86.15% for their freestyle performance to a soundtrack composed by Joost Peters, which was met with a standing ovation.

Edward said the nine-year-old gives him a similar feeling to Totilas — and he has a feeling the horse can be even better than his father.

“When Toto Jr was three years old I already knew that if there was a horse that could run the freestyle of Totilas, it would be him,” said Edward.

“I’ve waited seven years for it. Today it was also exactly 10 years ago that I became world champion with Totilas in Kentucky.

“It’s still daring to say, but I have the feeling that Glock’s Toto Jr can be even better than his father.

“I am very happy how he walked went here today. It was only his third [time] at this level and it says something about his quality that he is doing so well. I feel he was even better today than yesterday. It is very nice for the future to know that he is growing in a competition. With Glock’s Toto Jr I feel a lot of what I also felt with his father Totilas.

“That is what makes this title so special for me.”

Glock’s Toto Jr is one of Totilas’ first crop of foals. He was bred by Judith and Sonke Schmidt, licensed in 2013 at Verden and bought for €100,000 (£91,715) by Edward’s sponsors, Glock.

He is a popular breeding sire in his own right and has around 700 offspring, including several licensed sons.

“It is 10 years ago that I rode this freestyle with Totilas in Kentucky. I never thought I would ride it again,” added Edward.

“Today I sat on his son and it was incredible. I felt the tears coming up and was really overwhelmed when you gave us standing ovations.

“I’m so thankful to Kathrin and Gaston Glock who gave us a new equestrian home and the chance to train and ride such amazing horses as Glock’s Toto Jr is. Always knowing that they won’t be sold.

“I’m so thankful that they trusted us, when we advised to buy Toto. We were convinced by him. We saw the upcoming champion and today he showed his amazing talent.

“He is a lot like his father. He has nearly the same behaviour — so smart and cuddly and he really looks similar to him.”

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The great Totilas took the dressage world by storm around the last turn of the decade, producing world record scores

He thanked the fans and the whole team involved in the “exceptional day”.

“You went along with me through ups and downs, really happy and really sad moments. Today we are sharing a really special and really wonderful moment. Thank you,” he added.

In second place was Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Dream Boy NOP, with Emmelie Scholens and Desperado NOP third.

“From a sports point of view it couldn’t have been better,” said Dutch national coach Alex can Silfhout.

“In the special we saw that many participants still missed the competition feeling a bit. Today I saw a group of 12 combinations with which we can look to the future with a smile. The fact that there is another top combination with Edward and Toto Jr only gives hope to Tokyo again.”

Watch Edward Gal and Totilas score 92.3% at Olympia in 2009

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The great Totilas took the dressage world by storm around the last turn of the decade, producing world record scores and gasp-inducing performances under the Netherlands’ Edward Gal. Now his progeny are starting to follow in his footsteps at grand prix level, including Glock’s Toto Jr...

This nine-year-old Glock’s Toto Jr is certainly one of Totilas’ most interesting and high-profile offspring, being from his first crop of foals. He was licensed in 2013 at Verden, and sold for €100,000 to Glock, Edward Gal’s sponsors. He has since become a very popular breeding stallion, with amost 700 offspring to date, among them several licensed sons.

The Hanoverian stallion, who is out of the Desperados daughter Desperada, has now put himself firmly in the frame for a top level dressage career with a stunning grand prix debut performance under Edward Gal last week at the CDN Schijndel in the Netherlands.

The pair pulled off a mistake-free test, with clean tempi-changes and well-established piaffe-passage work. They received a huge score of 79.43%, putting them well ahead of Edward’s partner, Hans Peter Minderhoud, in second riding Glock’s Casper to 73.73%.

This is the first time Edward has competed the black stallion, who has concentrated on breeding duties up until now, and is yet to make his first international competitive appearance.

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Earlier this year, Edward hinted that he is aiming Toto Jr at the Tokyo Olympics, originally due to be held this summer, but now postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Edward’s current top ride is the 12-year-old Danish warmblood stallion Glock’s Zonik NOP, by Blue Hors Zack x Romanov, with whom he lead the Dutch team to silver at last year’s European Championships, also finishing individually eighth and sixth in the grand prix special and the freestyle respectively.

But this impressive debut from Zonik’s younger stablemate certainly makes him a realistic prospect for the Olympics in 2021.

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We have rounded up some of the greatest, most memorable dressage freestyle performances of all time. Turn the volume up, and enjoy...

Andreas Helgstrand on Blue Hors Matiné (DEN) at WEG 2006

This pair shot to fame after winning individual silver in 2006 with this electrifying performance to a pop medley that scored 81.5%. The enormous Aachen crowd were unable to resist joining in for the final section, as this enchanting mare passaged up the centre line perfectly on the beat to their Lady Marmalade music.

Isabell Werth on Gigolo (GER) at Atlanta Olympics 1996

At the inauguration of dressage freestyle into the Olympic Games programme, it was this routine that won Isabell Werth her first – and, to date, only – Olympic individual gold medal, as she edged out arch rival Anky van Grunsven to take gold on 76.6% with the legendary Gigolo. It set the standard for grand prix kürs, with a soundtrack really designed to enhance the horse and tell a story, rather than just acting as background music.

Edward Gal on Totilas (NED) at Olympia 2009

Who could forget this world record-breaking freestyle by Edward Gal and the one-and-only Totilas? The legendary black stallion produced a performance unlike anything anybody in the dressage world had seen before and blew the judges away with 92.3%, finishing at the top of the leaderboard with a 10% margin.

Laura Bechtolsheimer on Mistral Højris (GBR) at London Olympics 2012

Possibly one of the most well choreographed and befitting freestyles of all time, this performance from Britain’s Laura Bechtolsheimer (now Tomlinson) and Mistral Højris earned them 84.339% and individual Olympic bronze. The catchy Lion King medley suits “Alf” down to the ground, and Laura’s emotion and pride in her horse at her final halt is a delight to see.

Anky van Grunsven on Salinero (NED) at WEG 2006

She’s long been known as the “Queen of the Kür”, and has a plethora of standout freestyle performances, including with her Olympic champion Bonfire. But this one of Salinero’s, entitled L’Espirit Chanson and created by Dutch composers Cees Slings and Victor Kerkhof, may well be the best of all. It also features Anky’s own vocals accompanying her canter half-pass sequence. This particular performance earned her 86.1% and the world championship title.

Carl Hester on Nip Tuck (GBR) at Olympia 2016

This intricate freestyle was set to music by Tom Hunt, and based on Mr Selfridge. A masterclass in how to use a floorplan to really show off a horse’s strengths, it suited the quirky “Barney” down the ground, with the eye-watering level of difficulty really highlighting the tall gelding’s straightness and talent for the collected work. He may not be as flamboyant a mover as many top horses, but with the first centre line alone featuring a full piaffe pirouette, passage and a double canter pirouette, this routine certainly has plenty of wow factor, scoring 84.669% for the win here.

Juan Manuel Muñoz Diaz on Fuego De Cardenas (ESP) at WEG 2010

A freestyle full to the brim with energy and Spanish flair, this thrilling performance earned the pair a resounding standing ovation in the giant Kentucky stadium, as well as fifth place with 81.45%. The Spanish flamenco-style music, composed by Michael Erdmann, was superbly suited to this PRE stallion, and the excited and very vocal American crowd went wild for Juan’s one-handed centre lines.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl on TSF Dalera BB (GER) at Rotterdam Europeans 2019

This exquisite, more recent performance, which earned Jessica her first ever individual medal – bronze, with 89.107% – is sure to go down in history. The beautiful music from La La Land really suits the tall elegant mare, and her equally elegant rider, perfectly and the sheer harmony between the combination is a delight to witness.

Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro (GBR) at London Olympics 2012

And finally, arguably the greatest of them all! Charlotte and Valegro produced so many dazzling freestyles, setting new world records at Olympia in both 2013 and 2014 along the way, but it is their gloriously British performance from London 2012 that will always stick the most firmly in so many minds. Having already lead Britain to a historic team gold, they stunned the Greenwich Park crowds with their memorable routine featuring Land of Hope and Glory and the chimes of Big Ben to score 90.089% and become Olympic champions.

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When you think about the offspring of the legendary black dressage stallion Totilas, what sort of foal comes to mind? Something sleek and shiny, probably black — and almost certainly not spotty!

But wait for it — enter Spotilas! Born in mid-May, the striking foal is the son of the world champion Totilas and out of a spotted Knabstrupper mare, Luna Af Nyskoven. He has been bred in Denmark by Henriette Magnussen and Bjørn Boesgaard, who took over the family’s dressage and showjumping stud, Stutteri Boesgaard, in 2005.

“Spotilas is really a dream come true for us,” Bjørn says. “The goal was to improve on the movement and strengthen the [Knabstrupper’s] dressage capacity, while keeping the characteristics of the breed. Totilas was the ultimate choice [of stallion], so even though the chance of spots all over or on most of the body are rather small, Luna was driven to Totilas in Germany.

“Luna is a great mare with the characteristics of her breed: beautifully spotted, intelligent with a good temper and very eager to work for her rider, with a big frame, muscular front, and power and action in her movement,” adds Bjørn, who believes Luna is the only Knabstrupper to have been put to Totilas.

The now 19-year-old Gribaldi stallion (pictured above at the 2009 European Championships) became a triple world record holder at the height of his career under Holland’s Edward Gal, also winning three gold medals at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Having been retired from sport in 2015, he has become a popular sire, and his spotty son is following in his father’s footsteps by causing quite a stir on social media.

“Spotilas is only three weeks old, but he has already gained a lot of fans,” continues Bjørn. “We feel very fortunate to be so lucky that our gamble gave him as result.”

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“The plan is to prepare him for grading, and use him for dressage, shows and breeding.”

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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.

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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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The former superstar stallion who is credited with bringing dressage to the masses will be performing at his first show since he was retired from sport after a sub-par performance at the European championships at Aachen in August 2015.

The now 17-year-old KWPN will be appearing at France’s major Saint-Lô show, which runs from 18-19 February.

Brice Elvezi, director of Group France Elevage (GFE) — the large French stud which helped devised the concept of the multi-stud stallion show — told H&H: “We’ve been working with [Totilas’ part-owner] Paul Schockemöhle for a few years now, mostly concentrating on showjumping stallions. But for this year we wanted to put a foot in the dressage world, so we went with the best: Totilas.

“Like everybody else, we’re really excited he’s coming. Totilas was the one stallion who brought dressage to the front of equestrian sport, and also to people who are not riding dressage themselves. He is the megastar who brings everyone to look at dressage and to love it.”

It is the first time the German breeding magnate has brought stallions to the French show.

Totilas will perform on the Sunday and is unlikely to participate in the Schockemöhle stallion show in Vechta, Germany, the previous weekend.

“He will probably not be shown in Vechta, only in Saint-Lô,” Schockemöhle stud manager Christoph Hinkel told H&H. “And yes, it will be his first appearance since his retirement, but probably only shown in hand.”

Totilas will arrive in France on Saturday 18 February and be shown the following day.

His stud fee for the year is €2,500 — around £2,100.

Other stallions appearing at the high profile show include the top eventing stallion Contendro, Balou Du Rouet, Catoki and Orient Express — as well as the dressage sires Fürstenball, Soliman De Hus and Vitalis.

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Totilas shot to fame under the Netherlands’ Edward Gal and was the first horse to break the 90% barrier. He was then sold to German owners Paul Schockemöhle and Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff and paired with Ann’s step-son Matthias Alexander Rath. They enjoyed international success, including beating Valegro when he had an off day in Aachen in July 2014, but their final outing, also at Aachen, did not end well.

Totilas appeared unlevel behind in the grand prix, was withdrawn from the remainder of the competition, and subsequently retired.

[Update: 10 February 2017]

Schockemöhle stud manager Christoph Hinkel told H&H today: “Paul has decided not to show Totilas at Saint-Lô [after all].”

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Breeders interested in using Totilas on their mares will now find him considerably more affordable — although still not cheap — after his stud fee dropped by a massive €5,500 (£4,128).

The famous black dressage stallion by Gribaldi formerly commanded a €8,000 fee for chilled semen — this has now fallen to €2,500 (£1,875) on the Schockemöhle stud’s website.

“We will be exactly the same price as the stud, as we are with all their stallions, with exactly the same terms,” Lorna Wilson, of Totilas’ British agent Elite Stallions, told H&H.

She added that she is yet to confirm with the stud that the terms of the stud fee are the same as they were in previous years.

The news comes in the same week as Totilas’ son, the rising five-year-old Glock’s Toto Jr (Totilas x Desperados), won the KWPN stallion competition in Zuidbroek with an impressive 92 points on 11 January.

Ms Wilson added that the demand within the UK for Totilas as a sire “has always been quite strong”.

“I think because he came over here a few times — he came to Windsor for the Europeans and to Olympia where he broke the world record— and he is so breathtaking I think everyone wanted to use him,” she said.

Totilas, who is co-owned by Paul Schockemöhle and the Linsenhof/Rath family, was retired from competition following the 2015 FEI European Dressage Championships in Aachen, Germany (12-16 August).

Ridden by Matthias Rath, he helped Germany to team bronze, but was withdrawn before the special after scoring 75.9% in the grand prix.

After the grand prix he was found to have a bone edema and on 18 August, his owners released a statement confirming that Totilas was to be retired from competition.

Highlights of his career included winning three gold medals at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, freestyle and team gold at the 2009 FEI European Dressage Championships and breaking numerous world records.

With his former rider Edward Gal of the Netherlands, he became the first horse to break the 90% barrier, before being sold to Germany in 2010 when Matthias took over the ride.

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At the 2015 Global Dressage Forum held at the Bartels Academy in Holland (26-27 October), seven horses were put forward as the best the sport has ever seen. Take a look at why Totilas made the cut

Riders: Edward Gal and Matthias Alexander Rath

Breed: Dutch warmblood (KWPN)

Breeding: Gribaldi x Kostolany

Sex: stallion

Career: 2003-2015

Great dressage horses: Totilas

Totilas’ talents were in evidence right from birth, says his Dutch breeder Jan Schuil: “Right from the second day, when we turned him out in the paddock, the blueprint for talent was clear,” he says.

The match was no fluke: Totilas was a third-generation home-bred for the family.

However, not everyone agreed, and he failed his stallion grading with the KWPN as a young colt.

Jan still believed he was talented and started working him as a two-and-a-half year old. They went to their first show a year later. It was not a great success.

“The judges thought he was overly-prepared as they’d never seen natural movement like it,” he remembers.

Continued below…

Totilas retired from competition *VIDEO*

Following his withdrawal from the European Championships last week, Totilas has now been retired from competition

Jan sought a better rider, and the horse came fourth at the world championships as a five-year-old — scoring 9.4 for trot. Then the phone started ringing.

“But we never sell out horses until six, so I kept him,” he says. “Our plan was to take him back to for the six-year-old class, but that mandatory selection trial [the Pavo Cup final] was two days after the five-year-old final, so we didn’t take him as we wanted to give him a break, and so we weren’t allowed to go.”

By this point, Edward Gal had expressed an interest in riding him, and picked him up as a six-year-old.

Richard Davison saw him shortly afterwards at the rider’s yard and thought he was “a nice horse, but not much more,” he says.

When Richard next saw him, 18 months later, it was a different story. Edward took him to a show and everyone was wild to see the new star.

“You had to fight through people just to get a glimpse of him,” remembers Richard. “He was incredible – the talk of the town.”

The horse’s conformation is harmonious from start to finish, and he is said to possess the ideal topline for collection and connection, with superb flexibility.

He has an extraordinary ability to open his elbow, which created his extremely flashy front leg.

The horse still stirs up such emotion that none of his former riders or owners — aside from his breeder — would talk about him at the Global Dressage Forum.

Jan still owns Totilas’ full-sister, and she is in foal to Silvermoon — the Trakehener sire of Blue Hors Matine — for a 2016 foal.

Jan believes that the eyes are most important part of a horse, showing “intelligence, kindness and pride”.

“Toto was always proud, but never arrogant.”

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German team selectors have been criticised for failing to apply rigorous fitness tests to Totilas before naming him for their FEI European Dressage Championship team.

Making only his second championship appearance with Matthias Rath since 2011, Totilas showed irregularity in the grand prix team test last month (14 August) and finished sixth with 75.971% — far below his best.

The stallion was withdrawn from the rest of the competition. Connections later revealed that a bone infection had been diagnosed in his near hind fetlock joint and announced his retirement, aged 15.

Now, in a statement published by the German federation, its equestrian Olympic committee (DOKR) says it was a “mistake” to select him without assessing his health, and insists on stronger pre-championship fitness tests for German horses in all disciplines.

“We already knew, with the nomination of the horse, that he is susceptible to injury because of what we have seen in previous years. Therefore, we should still have paid attention to his current state of health. That was, in retrospect, a mistake, “said DOKR director Dr Dennis Peiler.

The DOKR also regretted that Totilas’s Aachen appearance was still a “talking point.”

The sad end to the super-stallion’s career follows a catalogue of injury-related absences from major competitions since he was sold in 2010, after winning triple World Equestrian Games gold under Edward Gal, to Paul Schockemohle and Ann-Katrin Linsenhoff. Her stepson, Matthias Alexander Rath, got the ride.

In nearly five years together they have started at only 11 FEI shows and championships and have not attempted all three tests (grand prix, special and kur) since the Europeans at Rotterdam in 2011. They beat a below-par Valegro in the Aachen CDIO in July 2014, but did not compete internationally again till Hagen, a month before the Europeans, and were controversially excused from the German selection trial at Balve.

Global dressage website www.dressage-news.com has a picture of the European Championship ground jury apparently in deep discussion before passing Totilas at the first horse inspection.

DOKR has previously expressed misgivings about Totilas’ long absences from the ring. They removed him from the German A-Team in December 2012 — he had not competed since June that year and missed London 2012.

At the time, Klaus Roeser, chairman of the DOKR Dressage Committee, stated that “of course we regret this very much, but we have to treat all team members equally. Naturally this pair will become a member of the championship team again as soon as we get a perspective on the first concrete show starts for the 2013 European Championships.”

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Totilas, the famous black stallion ridden at grand prix by Edward Gal and, latterly, Germany’s Matthias Rath has been retired from sport.

He competed at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Aachen, Germany last week (13 August) and helped the host nation claim team bronze.

However, after the test — in which many observers claimed he was unlevel — he was found to have a bone edema and was withdrawn before the individual grand prix special.

Today (Tuesday 18 August), Paul Schockemöhle, in consultation with co-owners the Linsenhof/Rath family, released a statement confirming the 15-year-old Dutch warmblood was to be retired.

“After the past week and the now circulating speculations about Totilas’ future, we — as a family — would like to take a stand on this matter,” it read.

“How much the international dressage sport owes to this horse is almost impossible to put into words. Never before has a dressage horse moved and thrilled these masses — no matter if horse-enthusiast or not, young or old.

“The examination last weekend showed that Totilas has an edema in the bone. This is being treated in the best possible way by a superb team of veterinarians.

“As a result we collectively came to the decision, Totilas will not come back into competitive sport in the future.”

The statement continued that the horse would return home to recover, in “all the time” that the injury needs.

Providing it is possible, he is expected to continue to be available for breeding.

“We really hope for the understanding of all those people, that are moved by this horse as much as we are. Also we would like to take the opportunity to thank all the admirers and fans for their support during all this time,” the statement concluded.

With former rider Edward Gal of the Netherlands, the jet black Gribaldi x Glendale stallion broke records in all three grand prix tests. He was also the first horse to break the 90% barrier.

Since being sold to Germany in 2010, to be ridden by Matthias, the new pairing have been dogged with problems. This included missing out on the London Olympics when Matthias contracted glandular fever and the 2014 World Equestrian Games due to horse injury.

They did hit form for a time, beating Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro twice at Aachen in July of last year, but cold never reproduce that form on the world stage.

In the individual rankings in the grand prix at the European Championships, the pair finished sixth with 75.91% – with individual judges’ scores varying between 71.6% and 80.1%.

For a full report on all the action from the FEI European Dressage Championships, see our bumper H&H magazine edition, out Thursday (20 August).

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Germany’s wonder horse Totilas has been withdrawn from the remainder of competition at the FEI European Dressage Championships.

Partnered by Matthias Rath, Totilas was part of the German bronze medal-winning team yesterday (Thursday, 13 August), alongside Kristina Bröring-Sprehe, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and Isabell Werth. However, there was concern over the 15-year-old Gribaldi son’s soundness, and he will not contest the grand prix special class scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday, 15 August).

Indeed the famous stallion’s scores ranged wildly in the grand prix from 80.1% (fourth, from Andrew Gargner and the Dane Susanne Baarup) to 71.6% (21st, from the French judge Jean-Michel Roudier).

Matthias was very disappointed with his grand prix score of 75.9%.

“I had a good feeling in there and I’m happy with the horse,” he said. “But not with the points.

“For sure I have done worse tests for more than 80%, but today was good and we only got 76%.

“The trot work was good but could have been more active, the two-time changes were good, though we had some short one-times.

“In Hagen we made many more mistakes and got a better score. But people expect more from him every time.

“I’ll have to read the score sheets later — I don’t get it.”

Today (Friday, 14 August), Totilas’s co-owner Paul Schockemöhle confirmed to the German media outlet St.Georg that “the horse was not OK in the grand prix, I saw that.”

Totilas will now have an MRI and investigations to diagnose any possible injury.

Having already had a checkered and highly-publicised career — the horse’s competitive future hangs in the balance.

Since gaining world records in all three tests under Dutch rider Edward Gal, the sale to the German partnership of Paul Schockemöhle and Matthias’ step-mother, Ann-Katrin Linsenhof, for a reported €8m has been an unmitigated disaster dogged by both horse and rider injury and illness.

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With less than a month to go before the FEI European Dressage Championships in Aachen (11-16 August 2015), 30-year-old Matthias Rath talks about Totilas, pressure, the duel with Valegro and the birth of his son

Q. With less than a month to go before the Europeans, how are you feeling?

A. Matthias Rath: The anticipation is indescribable. On the one hand, it is super that Totilas and I are actually being able to compete at the European Championships, because we haven’t taken part in any championships over the past few years. Of course, a European Championships in one’s own country is always special, but the fact that it is also being staged in Aachen is simply fantastic. Especially since Totilas has won every grand prix that he has competed in so far in Aachen — it couldn’t be a better omen.

Q. The dressage riders will be competing in the main stadium, does that provide additional motivation?

A. In 2006, I experienced the World Championship dressage competitions in the main stadium as a spectator — it was tremendous. Being able to ride at the CHIO in the Deutsche Bank Stadium is already an exceptional experience. There is no comparable arena anywhere else in the world for us. Riding in the main stadium myself in this magnificent setting is going to be super.

Q. Could the setting put too much pressure on the horses and riders?

A. For Totilas it can’t be big enough. The bigger the setting, the bigger and more alert Totilas is. And up until now, I have always succeeded in focusing very well during the competition and don’t actually take in much of what happens outside of the dressage arena.

Q. So you are not frightened about the duel between the two dressage giants, Totilas and Valegro?

A. The omens aren’t too bad there either. Totilas succeeded in coming out on top at the hitherto only encounter between the two in 2014 in Aachen. But, of course, it will be incredibly difficult: Valegro and Charlotte Dujardin have won everything there is to win, and in the meantime have also managed to defend some of the titles. They are the crème de la crème. But Aachen proved that everything is possible a year ago. Kristina Bröring-Sprehe and Desperados are also in top-class form. It is going to be an exciting story.

Continued below…

Valegro v Totilas: who will come out on top? VIDEO

Compare videos of these two elite dressage horses competing at Hartpury and Hagen this weekend

Q. What is your schedule up until the FEI European Championships?

A. The next few days will be a little quieter, before continuing with and intensifying the training in good time, which will approximately be at the end of next week. Of course, we will do a few test rounds to improve our routine at competitions. But last year showed that we are able to call up top performances quickly without competing much.

Q. You have never been hectic, has the birth of your son made you even more laid-back?

A. Sure. When you come home in the evening, you know there is more than just sport, there are more important things to win and lose. However, one thing is also clear, when I am sitting in the saddle I am totally concentrated and want to win.

To see Totilas and Valegro in action at the European Championships, visit www.aachen2015.de for more information about tickets

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Matthias Rath and Totilas will spearhead the German team at the European dressage championships in Aachen (11-17 August).

The news was announced yesterday (Sunday, 12 July), ahead of the final grand prix freestyle at CDIO Hagen (8-12 July).

They are joined by Kristina Bröring-Sprehe on Desperados FRH, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (Unee BB) and Isabell Werth, who will ride Don Johnson FRH after her mare Bella Rose was withdrawn from selection last week.

Klaus Roeser, head of the German dressage committee, said: “It was our intention to put an end to speculations and provide all riders the opportunity to completely concentrate on the task ahead.”

Anabel Balkenhol and Dablino FRH are the reserve.

Totilas made his comeback at Hagen CDI in Germany this weekend, winning both his tests with plus-80%.

The popular German dressage stallion, pictured at the 2011 European dressage championships in Rotterdam, was last seen out competing at Aachen’s CDIO5* show in July 2014, but has had time off due to injury.

Before Aachen, the combination enjoyed a run of eight consecutive wins in a row.

On Friday, (10 July) Matthias said he did not feel not nervous ahead of Totilas’ return to competition.

“However, I was nevertheless a bit surprised when I came around the corner with Totilas today to let him graze and saw all the photographers and visitors,” he said.

Matthias and the 15-year-old black stallion scored 80.36% to win the CDI4* grand prix and 80.039% in the CDI4* grand prix special.

Speaking after the grand prix special on Sunday (12 July), Matthias said: “Toto was willingly performing today, and particularly piaffe and passage were even better than in the grand prix.

“Unfortunately, we had some more severe, but unnecessary mistakes, for example the salute and the first pirouette.

“But now we have the time to work on it.”

Host Ullrich Kasselmann said they saw “extraordinary sport”.

He added even though this was the third big equestrian event within a couple of weeks, there was a huge audience who gave the riders fantastic support.

Read the full report in this week’s H&H, out Thursday, 16 July

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With Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro a shoe-in for the British Dressage team at the European Championships in Aachen next month and Matthias Alexander-Rath and Totilas now confirmed as members of the German squad, dressage fans are salivating at the chance to see these two outstanding equine stars going head-to-head once more.

Current form would suggest Valegro is set to come out on top. He holds the world records in all three tests while the partnership of Totilas and Matthias has been dogged with problems since the German took over the ride from Edward Gal. However when Valegro and Totilas met in Aachen last year ahead of the World Equestrian Games (WEG), it was the German pair who took the spoils. Sadly an splint injury ruled Totilas out of WEG so the championship head-to-head did not materialise.

Both partnerships were in action on home soil over the weekend with Valegro delighting the crowds at Hartpury while Totilas was the centre of attention on his return to competition in Hagen. They each won their grand prix classes with Valegro earning 85.44% while Totilas managed 80.36%.

See for yourself how their tests compared in the videos below.

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro at Hartpury: 85.44%

Footage courtesy of Hartpury College

Matthias Alexander-Rath and Totilas at Hagen: 80.36%

Video courtesy of Horses and Dreams youtube channel

Current dressage world records

Grand prix: Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro 87.460%, Olympia CDI-W 16 December 14

(previous Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, 87.129%%, Reem Acra FEI World Cup Finals, Lyon 19 April 2014)

Grand prix special: Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro 88.022%, Hagen CDI4*, Germany April 2012

(previous – Edward Gal and Totilas 85.708%, World Equestrian Games 2010 Kentucky USA)

Grand prix freestyle: Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro 94.30%, Olympia CDI-W 16 December 14

(previous – Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro 93.975%, Olympia CDI-W 2013 and Edward Gal and Totilas, 92.30%, Olympia CDI-W 2009)

About the European Dressage Championships

The European dressage championships are taking place in Aachen, Germany from 12-16 August. The grand prix class, which counts towards the team competition, takes place on 12-13 August, with the individual grand prix special on 15 August and the grand prix freestyle on 16 August. There are separate sets of individual medals for the special and the kur.

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Fan of Valegro? Love Salinero? Or is Totilas your dressage star?

Dressage lovers are being urged to vote for the world’s greatest dressage horses by next Wednesday (1 July).

The final six selected will be celebrated at the Global Dressage Forum in Hooge Mierde in the Netherlands on 26-27 October.

The programme committee of the Forum and the dressage community have selected ten horses for the voting.

Only those who had won an individual gold medal at the Olympics, World Championships or have won the World Cup Final were eligible for selection.

The horses to vote for are:

· Rembrandt ridden by Nicole Uphoff

· Matador ridden by Kyra Kyrklund

· Valegro ridden by Charlotte Dujardin

· Corlandus ridden by Margit Otto-Crepin

· Totilas ridden by Edward Gal

· Salinero ridden by Andy van Grunsven

· Ahlerich ridden by Reiner Klimke

· Granat ridden by Christine Stuckelberger

· Gigolo ridden by Isabell Werth

· Bonfire ridden by Anky van Grunsven

Voters can nominate their top three “greatest dressage horses ever” by visiting: www.globaldressageforum.com

All those who vote will have the chance to win a ticket for the Global Dressage Forum 2015.

“We will honour and look back at the great achievements of six of these horses. We will invite the rider, owner, breeder and/or groom and learn all about their personal story and the real character of these elite stars,” said a spokesman for the forum.

The factors that made the selected horses so special and better than their opponents will be analysed.

The speakers confirmed so far for the 15th Global Dressage Forum include international rider and trainer Wolfram Wittig, former rider and national coach of the US jumping team George Morris, international trainer and long reins specialist Paul Fielder, German rider Uta Graf and feeding and hydration specialist vet Chloe Bristow.

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Popular dressage star Totilas is to make a long-awaited return to competition next month.

The 15-year-old Dutch warmblood stallion is due to compete with Matthias Rath in Hagen (8-12 July).

The pair haven’t been seen since Aachen’s CDIO5* show last July, where they won the grand prix and the grand prix special.

Prior to that the combination had enjoyed a run of eight consecutive wins. However, the horse has been out with injury since Aachen.

There was much speculation on the return of Totilas, with initial rumours suggesting he’d compete in May.

However, a statement on the Rath’s website this week read: “After some rumours last week we are happy to announce that Matthias’ and Totilas’ entry for the competition in Hagen in July has been officially finalised.

“We are really looking forward to the event in the beautiful showgrounds at the Teutoburger Forest.”

Totilas also made a comeback last May, having spent two years off the competition scene through various horse injuries and rider illness.

They then racked up wins at Kappelen and Aachen, but Germany’s top hope for individual gold at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) last summer was withdrawn prior to the Games.

A statement released by the German equestrian federation at the time said that the partnership had been at a training camp at Peterhof stud when Totilas had a “pain reaction” to an existing splint injury.

“After consultation with the leadership team, the vet team and the rider decided that for the sake of the horse he should not participate,” the statement added.

The pair are now aiming at the European dressage championships at Aachen in August. Hagan is one of two German riders must compete in to be eligible for selection for the Europeans.

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One of the first crop of foals sired by dressage star Totilas won in the showring at Royal Windsor Horse Show at the weekend (13-17 May).

Timolin headed the Blue Chip ridden sport horse qualifier at his first attempt. The four-year-old was partnered by Lizzie Murray and is owned by a syndicate led by Anthony and Jennie Loriston-Clarke.

“Our jaws dropped when we first saw him move as a yearling and he’s been turning heads ever since,” said Jennie, who formed the syndicate to keep him in the country for the benefit of British breeding.

The elite graded stallion is out of the Sion-sired Samira, who competed to prix st georges level with the late Olympic dressage rider Jane Gregory.

Timolin stood champion sport horse as a two-year-old (pictured) at Royal Bath and West Show and Devon County, and has qualified for the four-year-old final at the national dressage championships at Stoneleigh.

“It proves that Totilas wasn’t ‘manufactured’ after all as he has passed on this incredible movement, and because Timolin also has Glendale lines from his sire and Landadel blood from his dam, he really jumps as well,” said Jennie.

Nine foals sired by Timolin are expected in 2015.

“He already has foals on the ground and puts quality on everything. He could breed for any job,” added Jennie.

Timolin’s sire Totilas became the first horse to win all three gold medals available in dressage at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, partnered by the Netherlands’ Edward Gal. He has broken multiple world records, and was the first to score more than 90% in the freestyle.

Now campaigned by Germany’s Matthias Rath, the 15-year-old Dutch warmblood beat British stars Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro in CHIO Aachen’s grand prix and special last July.

Don’t miss the full report on Royal Windsor Horse Show in tomorrow’s Horse & Hound magazine (21 May).

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Although there was great sport at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy, the facilities for riders and the media were dire. The food was rubbish and took ages; we gave up after a couple of days and ventured out with the masses instead.

The organisers refused to give accreditation to one journalist friend of mine — who had gone through the proper channels — as they had lost her emails. She ended up having to report the whole show from the sofa back at her hotel. What a fiasco.

The sport in the arena was one of the most exciting WEG’s ever, but it was the worst for spectators.

Reports about the hole-in-the-floor toilet facilities were eye watering. I imagine all the local pharmacies ran out of Imodium as none of my lady friends wanted to go standing up.

Actually, it was lucky the eating facilities for the public were appalling — nobody ate anything, so that helped too.

The British team finished as high as we could have. Even if Gareth’s score had counted instead of Michael’s, we’d still have won silver.

A massive number of 102 horses trotted up. But what became apparent was that the test event had in no way given a realistic idea of what it would be like having so many horses and people on site.

Combined with awful weather on the first two days, the fact that none of the arenas were flat made for tough working-in.

It was amazing the show ended up with such a high standard given the number of withdrawals — including Totilas, Undercover and Kingsley Siro.

We riders really missed the challenge of the head-to-head between Totilas and Valegro. When they’re both on form, the margin between them is very small, so it would’ve been an amazing finale. I hope that clash might still happen.

The show had a record number of starters and 24 dressage teams. For us, it was job done finishing on the podium and qualifying for the Rio Olympics.

I do wonder why eventing has six qualification spots from just 16 teams. That doesn’t seem fair.

We’re still in the golden age of dressage in Britain, but we must look to the future. This may realistically be Gareth’s mare Nadonna’s last championships. And, although I feel I’m a contender for next year’s Europeans at Aachen, looking to Rio, it might be better for Gareth and me to step aside and allow our most promising two pairs — Henriette Andersen on Warlocks Charm and Spencer Wilton on Goodmans Supernova — to go to Aachen instead.

Although those two horses might not peak until Rio, giving them a championship run would strengthen our hand for the Olympics.

And it’s all about Rio: the Olympics is the pinnacle; it’s what keeps our sport in the public eye and pushes our funding needs to the forefront.

More forward thinking

Aachen’s show director Frank Kemperman held a riders’ meeting at WEG to put a few more ideas into the pot about how to continue to bring dressage to the public. There were 21,000 people at the WEG freestyle, but Aachen can go even bigger.

The public scoring apps are a big hit, and the idea of having a split video screen so people could see the current horse performing the same test alongside the leader was also mooted.

I know some will turn in their graves at this suggestion, but do we look like we’re stuck in a museum dressed in our tops hat and tails?

In reining, in the areas where it originated, it’s the norm to see people walking down the streets wearing the gear. You wouldn’t expect to see someone in tails walking round Newent — or if I did then I’d know they’d nicked them from my wardrobe!

Particularly for the freestyle, we should be allowed to wear short jackets and funky hats, so we look a bit less pompous.

Team spirit

The whole British WEG contingent stayed in the same hotel and the atmosphere was great. We crossed over with the para riders and the reiners and had such a laugh.

To anyone who is shy or embarrassed: go and watch reining. By the end you’ll be whooping and hollering with the best of them.

The paras won team gold but lost some individual golds. I hope it will make them come back out fighting next year with reinvigorated performances.

Let’s just hope everyone can remember this WEG for the brilliant sport, rather than the less brilliant facilities and organisation.

And wouldn’t it be easier to have WEG in one place for the rest of its life — somewhere like Aachen or Kentucky, or anywhere that really can handle such a big show?

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Totilas — Germany’s top hope for individual gold at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) — has been withdrawn for health reasons.

The 14-year-old was due to compete next week (25-29 August) with rider Matthias Alexander Rath.

A statement released by the German equestrian federation said that the partnership had been at a training camp at Peterhof stud when Totilas had a “pain reaction” to an existing splint injury.

“After consultation with the leadership team, the vet team and the rider was decided that for the sake of the horse he should not participate,” the statement added.

Fabienne Lütkemeier and D’Agostino will take their place in the German dressage team.

Totilas was one of Charlotte Dujardin’s main rivals at WEG after he won two classes in impressive style at Aachen earlier this summer.

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After the thunderbolt that struck at Aachen [Valegro finishing sixth in the grand prix] we came home with a few questions to answer. When me, Charlotte and the team were in Germany, it was really interesting, surprising even, that people thought I would be upset with Charlotte. It is at times like that when you need support.

Although I wouldn’t wish a fall from the top in such spectacular style on anyone, the relief in the situation was finding that Charlotte was human and Valegro was a real horse. We might have been disappointed with how the test went, but I can never be disappointed in Charlotte or Valegro.

Valegro bounced back on the Sunday to win the freestyle, from which Totilas had tactfully — or tactically? — withdrawn, but anyway the shake-up and different placings just serve to make the prospect of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) all the more exciting.

With Bella Rose looking utter quality — Isabell Werth has proclaimed her to be the best horse she has ever had — the tussle for medals is on!

Of course there are questions you ask yourself at home. Was the horse fit enough? The weather was hot, was the working-in too long? These sorts of situations help you become more prepared for future tests.

For our team-mate Michael Eilberg, it was great to see Half Moon Delphi back on top form as he scored 80% in the music — what a confidence booster.

Daniel Watson and Nikki Crisp again gained valuable experience of being on the British squad.

Spectators at Aachen got the chance to use a phone app that allowed them to judge for themselves, live. Given the knowledge of the Aachen audience, I suspect most of them were using it in “expert” mode, which lets them mark every movement. This is an interesting innovation and I can quite see how Aachen placings in the future will end up depending on a 50:50 public/judges result.

Putting in the groundwork

Once home, we got cracking towards Hickstead and the Nations Cup. A lot of people think the Nations Cup is a waste of time — I’ve heard it — but I have to applaud Dane Rawlins for holding this competition at Hickstead for several reasons.

First, having been a leading nation in dressage for the past few years, Team GBR is not just about medal teams: we need to show that we have quality venues with great footing.

Addington, Hartpury, Hickstead and Royal Windsor have some of the best dressage footing you will ever see. We need to attract competitors to our shores to make good competition for up-and-coming young riders to see. If they have easy access to top competition, it’s easier for them to watch and learn.

Second, when you look back over the past 40 years of senior British teams, you’ll notice how many team members stay at the top for lengthy periods of time, taking those team slots. Therefore, if there were no Nations Cup series, where else would we get the chance to put up-and-coming riders in team situations to test their horses and how they perform under pressure?

Spoilt for choice

It was great to start at Hickstead on Jenny Green’s Fine Time, who I’ve enjoyed riding. With Aram Gregory’s Dances With Wolves at Hickstead as well, and these two horses winning the grand prix, special and freestyle between them, it was a good weekend away from the office.

I am confident I’ve made the right decision to ride Nip Tuck at WEG. On one hand, I am one of the luckiest riders to have a full team of grand prix horses, but on the other, you can imagine how stressful it has been deciding which one should go to WEG. In two weeks I’ll know if I made the right decision; I am pretty sure I have.

Our last few weeks of preparation have included extra fitness work, converging on Hartpury, Glos, where Philip Cheetham let us have access to the arena so Charlotte and I could shout each other through the test.

If you’re going out to support the team, we look forward to seeing you and hope we can do you proud.

Carl’s column was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (14 August, 2014)

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German riders dominated in all three disciplines at CHIO Aachen, but should Britain be concerned ahead of the World Equestrian Games?

Last week H&H asked the question, “can Valegro be beaten?” At Aachen, the answer was yes.

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro went to Aachen unbeaten since January 2012.

However, in the Nations Cup grand prix (17 July) the pair had to settle for a disappointing — and surprising — sixth after several mistakes, with German combinations Matthias Rath and Totilas (pictured) and Helen Langehanberg with Damon Hill filling the top two spots.

Valegro was second in the grand prix special, again won by Totilas, before winning the freestyle. However, Totilas wasn’t in the class.

Chef d’equipe Major Richard Waygood told H&H we need to “look on the positive side”.

“It wasn’t a great show for Charlotte, however as the classes went on she improved,” he said.

“Obviously the German team look very solid. But we’d rather have these glitches now than at WEG.

“Michael [Eilberg] had a great show and is definitely going the right way too.

“Our main goal for WEG is to qualify for Rio, if we’ve done that we’ve done our jobs”.

Eventing win

The home nation also set a high bar for the eventing. Germany fielded the Nations Cup winning team, plus a one-two-three in the CICO3*.

Sandra Auffarth and Opgun Louvo came home in front of Ingrid Klimke (FRH Escada JS) and Michael Jung and La Biosthetique-Sam FBW in third.

Although finishing second in the Nations Cup, the Brits did not put in a foot-perfect performance. Zara Phillips and High Kingdom had poor dressage and showjumping phases, while Harry Meade (as an individual) scored in the late 50s in the dressage with Wild Lone. But Izzy Taylor and Orlando put in a solid effort to finish fourth overall.

“Aachen is a fantastic show and we made use of it as part of our mid season campaign. But it’s hard to read anything into this at this stage,” said GBR manager Yogi Breisner.

“We’ll do our best at WEG and see what happens. But we are not disappointed with Aachen — we came second above some strong teams and we are delighted especially with Izzy.”

Heading for the grand slam

While in showjumping rider Christian Ahlmann is now a contender for the Rolex Grand Slam and a potential €1m bonus after winning the Aachen grand prix with 12-year-old stallion Codex One (20 July).

He described the win as “a dream come true”.

However, H&H reported earlier this month that British riders were disappointed not to be fielding a team at the prestigious show, meaning that previous winners Nick Skelton (2013) and Michael Whitaker in (2012) were unable to defend their titles.

Performance manager Rob Hoekstra told H&H this was to “conserve horsepower”.

The two individuals that went to Aachen — Ben Maher and Scott Brash — went out in round one of the grand prix.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (24 July, 2014)

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Germany is sending a highly competitive dressage team to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Normandy next month.

After their dual wins at Aachen last week (17-20 July), Totilas and Matthias Rath (pictured top) spearhead the team.

The pair won the Nations Cup grand prix and the grand prix special, in a shock defeat of Olympic gold medal winners Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro.

Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW, Kristina Sprehe and Desperados FRH and Isabell Werth and Bella Rose (reserve horse Don Johnson) complete the team.

Reserves are Fabienne Lutkemeier and D’Agostino, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (Unee BB) and Dorothee Schneider with Forward Looking.

Stay up to date with the latest news in the run-up to, and during, WEG on Horseandhound.co.uk

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Following their win in the grand prix on Thursday (17 July), Germany’s Matthias Rath and the black stallion Totilas held their form to win the grand prix special today (19 July).

The pair performed a relaxed and flowing test to sore 84.53%, beating Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro into second place by just 1.37%.

Looking much more relaxed, Valegro made a strong start, but costly mistakes in the one-time changes and passage to piaffe transitions saw their scores drop to as low as five.

Despite the unfortunate errors, the pair were nearly back to their best, consistently scoring nines throughout, plus a ten for their two-time changes and extended trot, netting a final score of 83.12%.

Charlotte’s trainer and confident Carl Hester tweeted after their performance: “Nearly back to normal for Valegro and Charlotte. Tomorrow, hopefully, will be their turn!”

Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill NRW improved on their grand prix performance to earn 82.08% for third, and last to go Isabell Werth and Bella Rose 2 also bettered their grand prix percentage by nearly 2% to net 81.47%, again finishing fourth.

The next best Britain, Michael Eilberg and Half Moon Delphi, moved up two places from their grand prix placing to finish eighth with 74.71%.

View individual results

Don’t miss our full report from Aachen in Horse & Hound magazine (24 July, 2014)

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Matthias Rath and Totilas led Germany to a convincing win in the dressage Nations Cup grand prix in Aachen earlier today (17 July).

There was disappointment for British spectators, however, when Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro made several costly mistakes that left Great Britain trailing more than 24 penalties behind Germany in fourth.

Valegro

made a promising start and looked set to take the lead until his marks — consistently nines — slipped to threes and fours for the two-time changes and pirouettes. This earned a final mark of 76.9%, which was only good enough for individual sixth.

Totilas, meanwhile, looked a class act from the outset to earn 82.3%. Matthias confessed that the stallion’s piaffe and passage “was not the best he can do”, but added that Totilas had given him “a great feeling”.

Teammate Helen Langehanenberg finished second individually on 81.22% riding Damon Hill NRW, who shocked onlookers when he leapt into the air before the final halt.

“It was a shame because the rest of the test went well, but we both had a lot of fun,” said Helen.

The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen slotted into third with Jerich Parzival NOP. This helped the Dutch quartet claim second in the team standings while Spain finished third.

Britain’s Michael Eilberg and Half Moon Delphi netted 10th place on a score of 74.02%, after following Totilas into the arena. Daniel Watson’s Fideramber and Nikki Crisp’s Pasoa struggled to earn the marks in the atmospheric stadium and finished outside the top 30.

View individual results

View team results

Don’t miss our full report from Aachen in Horse & Hound magazine (24 July, 2014)

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Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro have gone from strength to strength since taking gold in London, breaking the world record for freestyle and grand prix as well as becoming European champions last year and taking the World Cup title in Lyon. However, with Totilas, Damon Hill and Jerich Parzival winning on the continent, Charlotte cannot afford to become complacent.

The top combinations meet at Aachen this weekend where it should become clearer how hard Charlotte will have to fight to take her first world title.

Totilas back to his best?

The 2010 triple world gold medallist Totilas made a winning return to competition this spring after a two-year absence due to injuries and rider illness. In their third show last month (27 June) the stallion and Matthias Alexander Rath earned a personal best score of 85.18% in the grand prix at Perl CDI. This was the stallion’s highest ever grand prix mark under any rider.

“It all went very, very well,” Matthias said. “Now we are preparing for Aachen and then we’ll know where we stand.”

Totilas shot to stardom under his former Dutch rider Edward Gal and was the previous world record holder for all three international grand prix classes before he was sold to Paul Schockemöhle at the end of 2010. There was widespread criticism of the ride being removed from Edward, but Totilas’ recent comeback has started to silence critics.

British Olympic rider Richard Davison believes that the decision to train with Anky van Grunsven’s husband Sjef Janssen after 2012 appears to have helped the partnership.

“Perhaps one reason it took them time to click with Totilas is that they didn’t find out enough about how the horse was previously trained and ridden,” Richard said. “Moving to train with Sjef is logical as Edward Gal worked in that system and achieved world record scores with him. Judging by how Totilas is now moving and performing, it seems to be paying off.”

Always the bridesmaid?

The current world number two combination Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill are also still snapping at Charlotte’s heels. The stallion was excused from the first selection trials for the World Equestrian Games (WEG) at the German Championships in Balve (15-18 May) due to breeding duties.

Helen and Damon Hill, who won last year’s World Cup, finished 4.84% behind Charlotte at this year’s final. However, there were several small errors that knocked down their mark.

“It will be interesting to see Damon Hill in Aachen as he starts to get strong again as the summer goes on,” said Olympic team gold medallist Carl Hester.

“At the World Cup in April he looked tired, but last summer at the Europeans he was only 1% behind Valegro. He was on fire.”

After missing out on a medal at the London Olympics by 0.03%, Helen will be determined not to be the bridesmaid again.

The rest of the pack

The combination closest to spoiling Charlotte’s golden party in London — Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival — have also been on winning form after a nine-month break.

The 17-year-old gelding suffered from an irregular heartbeat last June but scored 77.86% to win the grand prix at Arnhem CDI (7 June), and then went on to post the biggest score of the day — 81.48% — at the Nations Cup in Rotterdam two weeks later (19 June).

“I’m very happy,” Adelinde said afterwards. “For the past few months I’ve been trying to change our technique, and it takes time. But I feel it’s coming together at last and we are on our way.”

Carl watched Parzival’s test in Arnhem but believes the horse’s age might limit his potential.

“Certain things did look better,” Carl said. “But with a horse of that age it is hard to get maximum performance across three tests.”

Five-times Olympic gold medallist Isabell Werth has also had a successful spring and has the choice of two rides in Aachen — Bella Rose and Don Johnson.

The 10-year-old Bella Rose is a rising star and scored more than 80% in both the grand prix and the special in Perl.

But despite more horses having crept over the 80% barrier this year Charlotte and Valegro still remain at the top of the pile.

“There is a pack in which there are some very, very strong horses but I don’t think they can close the gap,” said Richard. “I’m putting my money on Valegro.

“However, he is only a horse and as we all know in any sporting environment, anything can happen.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (17 July, 2014)

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Contrary to some rumours going round, this year’s fantastic Somerford show will not be the last. Organiser Julian Sebire tells me that he is just looking to bring fresh blood into the organising set-up.

That is great news for British Dressage, and I’m glad to hear that Julian will “probably still be around” once he’s groomed someone else to take over.

After 12 years, the fixture is firmly on the map. The friendliness, the quality of the surfaces and the stabling again gave us the feeling of being at a small international show, which was great for our campaigns.

As Somerford gives us this feeling already, maybe it is something the new organiser will consider in the future?

Julian set out with the aim of bringing top-class dressage to Cheshire and that aim has been fulfilled. It was lovely that he was so appreciative of us making the trip, along with Michael Eilberg and Farouche and Spencer Wilton with his up-and-coming string, but we go there because it’s a great show.

International judge Marian Cunningham came over from the USA via Buckingham Palace and the Household Cavalry garden party. She thanked Julian for the invitation to Somerford (he had nothing to do with the royal command, I’m afraid).

She remarked on the “amazing” standard of riding, the quality of the horses and the organisation “where everything worked down to the smallest detail”. What a fantastic impression to take home — and the canapés were pretty good as well, I’m told.

There was an impressive cohort of home-grown judges too: Clive Halsall, Sarah Pidgley and Jo Graham, who are all FEI judges, and Peter Storr, who has taken to international judging like a duck to water (probably literally at Somerford).

He was judging the grand prix special — one of the team of 5, which is a rarity at home but which Stephen Clarke insists on and it adds to the international flavour. Peter was dragged out of his box to judge the 4-year-olds without a minute for a cup of tea or a pee.

So any of the few who complained about the young horse classes running late, spare a thought for Peter!

And although the weather was terrible, all I had to do was think of anyone who rode at Badminton on grass to put it out of my mind. We are very fortunate to have Somerford — long may it continue.

Totilas back in action

It was very clever of Totilas’ connections to keep the pressure off in the build-up to his first outing after nearly 2 years. The first I heard about his appearance at CDI Kapellen, the Belgian 3-star, was in a text message — I could hardly believe what I was reading!

Totilas might not be at his best at the moment, but he still does things for the dressage public that very few horses can. Twitter and Facebook were abuzz.

A competent, though not perfect, grand prix had the critics saying he wasn’t the same horse. However, in the following grand prix special Totilas was back into the 80s and, lo and behold, the negativity started to turn positive.

Hopefully, people can move on now. Clearly the horse is not going back to Edward Gal and, for the good of the sport, can we not show some support for Toto and Matthias [Rath]?

I can think of nothing worse than the pressure they have been under and I can’t help thinking their progression would be quicker and easier with that positive support. Hopefully, they will gain confidence, keep getting better and be back as top rivals for glory at this year’s World Equestrian Games [WEG].

The Germans are looking strong already — their selection trials are at Perl and Aachen. Damon Hill is excused from Perl due to breeding. And, with Parzival due to start at Arnhem as I write, dressage just got a lot more exciting.

It’s going to become increasingly difficult to bet on this year’s WEG winners.

Top dressage stallion Totilas is out of action again due to a breeding injury, his rider Matthias Rath has told a Dutch equestrian newspaper.

Hoefslag reported that the horse’s leg was twisted while breeding to a “phantom” to collect semen.

“For the next few years we have a number of goals and the important thing is [Totilas] remains fit. So we will certainly not force it,” Matthias told Hoefslag.

Since being bought by Paul Schockemöhle and Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff in 2010, Totilas has had a disappointing few years of competition.

He failed to win an individual medal at the 2011 European Championships and in June 2012 it was announced that he would not compete at London 2012, because Matthias was ill with glandular fever.

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A senior public prosecutor has confirmed that she will investigate allegations dressage superstar Totilas is being ill-treated.

The German branch of the extremist animal rights group, PETA, filed charges against Totilas’ owners, Paul Schockemöhle and Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, in October.

It claims the stallion is being trained in the controversial rolkur method, is kept in isolation from other horses and is not given turnout.

A spokesman for Totilas’ connections had told H&H that the allegations “did not merit comment”.

But on 6 December, Frankfurt prosecutor Doris Möller-Scheu told German newspaper Die Welt that she would investigate the claims.

“Based on the assessment of the [state] animal welfare officer, we decided not to drop the case,” she said.

An investigator will visit Totilas’ yard in Kronberg and inspect the stable management there.

Totilas has not enjoyed the record-breaking scores he achieved with the Netherlands’ Edward Gal since being ridden by Ms Linsenhoff’s stepson, Matthias Rath.

The pair were recently dropped from the German Olympic “A” team.

They have not competed since June and missed London 2012 because Matthias was suffering from glandular fever.

No date has been set for their return to competition and it is thought unlikely they will contest any of the World Cup qualifiers this winter.

Paul Schockemöhle has announced that Totilas will have reduced stud duties this season, in order to focus on competition.

Klaus Martin Rath, Matthias’ father and co-trainer, said Totilas was “doing well” and he was “totally calm” about the investigation.

Matthias’ trainer Sjef Janssen told a Dutch news website he was surprised prosecutors were pursuing the case.

“PETA is not even taken seriously by the biggest detractors of the training programmes in the horseworld,” he said.

“These people have nothing to do with professional horse sport, of which they have no knowledge.”

A German magazine, FOCUS, has claimed that the Frankfurt prosecutor is examining a secretly filmed video showing Totilas weaving in his box.

Additional reporting by Astrid Appels

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (20 December 2012)

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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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Young dressage rider Maisie Scruton tells H&H about her team pony known as ‘Mini Totilas’.

Fact file

Stable Name: Remy

Age: 11

Height: 14.1hh

Breed: Welsh part-bred & Weser-Ems German riding pony

Sire: Renoir

Dam: Prinzess

Owners: Isobel & Ian Scruton

Rider: Maisie Scruton

Best result with Maisie: sixth in the 2011 pony Europeans team test in Poland, with a record-breaking British score

Five things you didn’t know…

1 His uncanny resemblance to the dressage megastar has earned him the nickname “Mini Totilas“.

2 He limbers up for exercise like a true athlete, stretching like a cat before his saddle is put on.

3 He was a three-times Pavo Cup winner [a competition for young horses and ponies], at four, five and six years old.

4 With Dutch pony rider Maria van den Dungen, he gained international recognition – the pair took team silver at the 2009 pony Europeans and team gold in 2010.

5 He eats for England. His snack of choice is fruit,especially bananas and pears.

To read the full interview with Maisie Scruton about Rembrandt DDH see 13 September issue of H&H

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Potential dressage and eventing youngsters featured strongly at the British Equestrian Federation (BEF) Futurity evaluations at Catherston Stud on Tuesday 21st August. The three top scorers all earned elite premiums – one in eventing and two in dressage. There were an impressive 18 higher first premiums awarded, 11 of which were in eventing.

The evaluators at Catherston were impressed at the consistent quality of the entries. All three agreed that the three elites had exceptional potential.

The day’s top score went to dressage colt Timolin (pictured). His score of 9.38 for owner and breeder Aram Gregory is the highest awarded so far this year.

Timolin is by dressage stallion Totilas, out of Samira by Sion. Samira was successfully competed by Aram’s wife, the late Olympic dressage rider Jane Gregory.

Catherston was the first outing for the bay yearling and he rose to the occasion and showed off to the appreciative crowd.

“He has lots of presence and he’s got the potential to perform at the top level internationally,” said Jennie Loriston-Clarke. “The Futurity gives us a good view of breeding in the UK. It’s a great way to have your stock evaluated by people who are giving an independent view.

“The recession has had an impact on breeding, but I hope that Britain’s success at the Olympics and horses like Woodlander Farouche at the world championships will pick it up again and encourage breeders to keep producing these top horses.”

The second elite of the day went to Catherston Definitive, owned and bred by Jennie Loriston-Clarke. The three-year-old earned a score of 9.33 in the eventing section. He is by Catherston Dazzler out of the thoroughbred mare Celony, who is by Primitive Rising.

Celony also produced the top eventing foal, Fiona Boyne’s Cedrik. By Royaldik, he earned a higher first premium of 8.89.

The highest scoring foal was dressage colt Lord Barnaby B, who earned 9.00. Owned and bred by Richard Black, the chestnut colt is by Lord Carnaby out of Richard’s home-bred Don Frederico mare, Daiquiri B.

Audacio Equites, owned by Toby Vernon and bred by Vanessa Vernon was the top scoring two-year-old of the day, scoring a higher first eventing premium of 8.94. The colt is by Grafenstolz out of Just Chilli, by Kuwait Beach.

The highest placed dressage foal was Seagry Tobias, who earned a higher first premium of 8.93. He was produced through embryo transfer and is another by Totilas, this time out of the Sandro Hit mare Seagry Rohsan. Tobias is owned and bred by Keith Taylor of Seagry Stud.

Mylow was the highest placed showjumper, earning a higher first premium of 8.82. The colt foal is owned and bred by Sarah Jones and Nicky Jesse. He is by Peppermill out of Carousel Jazz, by Carousel.

Nicki and Michael Bates’ mare Grenache was the highest scoring showjumping yearling, earning a higher first premium with a score of 8.62. She is by Ustinov out of Tropical by Ircolando.

For further information visit www.britishbreeding.org

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Dressage wonder horse Totilas is out of contention for the London Olympic Games.

It was announced at Aachen CHIO today that his rider, Matthias Rath has had a relapse of the glandular fever that prevented the pair from appearing at the show.

The German Federation was set to reassess the rider’s fitness tomorrow (Friday 6 July), but Matthias is bedridden and the combination have been withdrawn from contention.

This is a bitter blow for the Germans, who, with Totilas on the team, were very strong gold medal contenders.

The German team physician Dr. Manfred Giensch said taking part in the Olympics would be a “severe health risk” to Matthias.

The dressage committee chairman Klaus Roeser added: “This is very bitter for Matthias and very unfortunate that we have to go without them to the Olympics. We wish him a quick recovery.”

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Laura Bechtolsheimer was the jam in a German sandwich today: she and Mistral Hojris filled second place between two German riders on black stallions at Horses And Dreams Meets Great Britain, CDI Hagen, Germany.

Matthias Rath brought Totilas out for the first time this year and produced the pair’s best test to date, an 83.809% test – littered with 10s just like in the old days – to take home the winner’s rug.

It’s taken time, but Matthias has finally found the right buttons on the 12-year-old son of Gribaldi. In today’s grand prix qualifier for the freestyle tomorrow afternoon, he scored a personal best, just 0.271% shy of previous rider Edward Gal’s world record score achieved at the European Championships in Windsor in 2010.

Totilas received a host of tens for the piaffe-passage tour and even one for his final halt and salute in front of a tightly-packed and appreciative capacity crowd.

Asked if the win was a relief, he said: “I’m relieved it was a good score, but I’m not surprised. I was very happy to start the season this strongly, but we’ve been training hard all winter and it was what I was expecting.”

Laura rode a secure test for 82.745%, but a mistake in the two-time changes, where “Alf” jumped together behind, saw them scoring mostly fives and sixes for that movement – with the exception of an eight from German judge at H Katrina Wust, who obviously didn’t notice.

“He felt fantastic,” said Laura. “It’s a shame I didn’t get to take the rug with the lovely British flag on it home as I really wanted it, but I’ll just have to try harder tomorrow.”

One to watch

At any other time in history, 81.851% would likely have secured you the top spot on the podium, but Kristina Sprehe and her 11-year-old De Niro/Wolkenstein stallion Desperados II had to settle for third place.

Last to go of the 30 starters, Kristrina – a young lady of few words – had all the pressure on her shoulders after beating Laura and Alf in Dortmund in March. Despite improving on their score and hitting the magical 80% barrier for the first time in a grand prix (as opposed to special or freestyle) they couldn’t catch Laura this time.

At the end of March, Kristina jumped up the world rankings from 125th to 17th and now looks a likley medal contender in London.

The stage is now set for tomorrow’s competitions; the special in the morning and the freestyle in the afternoon.

For all full report on all the action from Hagen, see Thursday’s Horse & Hound magazine

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Matthias Rath’s top grand prix horse Totilas suffered a minor injury to his foreleg while training on Wednesday (30 November).

But a prompt veterinary investigation has shown that there is no serious injury and no strain to the suspensory ligament.

Matthias said: “We need to see over the coming days how the healing process develops.”

The pair is expected to compete at the 2011 CDI-W Frankfurt later this month.

“I hope I can still start in Frankfurt. I’m very connected to the tournament and I have been looking forward to going into the arena with [Totilas] for weeks,” said Matthias.

On Monday night Totilas had appeared in a live performance on the German TV channel Hessian Broadcasting.

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Matthias Rath and Totilas won double gold and the national title at the German Dressage Championships (17-19 June). But the German rider’s celebrations may have been marred by controversy over the choice of floorplan for his new freestyle.

The 26-year-old commissioned a score by top dance DJ Paul van Dyk for what was billed a new kür. But the choreography for the routine was virtually a mirror image of previous rider Edward Gal’s.

Matthias’ publicist Kai Meesters said: “The music was only finished at the start of the week and there was no time to create a new floorplan for the national championships.

“But Matthias is creating a new freestyle in time for Aachen [8-17 July], when he will be competing against Edward.”

With marks awarded for choreography and originality, H&H wanted to know how judges can score a routine that is effectively second-hand.

FEI dressage director Trond Asmyr told us: “If a rider competes with a floorplan that another rider has used before it doesn’t influence the marks. Choreography and originality are judged by comparison with standard tests, regardless of the fact that there may be similarities with previous freestyles.

“The task of the judges is to evaluate the performance presented to them in the arena on a particular day, without taking into consideration any knowledge of previous results, music, floorplan, and so on.

“They must judge as if they were seeing the test for the first time.”

The issue has provoked a range of views and wide debate on the internet. But by Friday links to a number of videos showing Matthias’ kür side by side with Edward’s had been taken down from the web, ostensibily due to issues with the copyright.

Edward Gal did not want to be drawn into the discussion, but his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud said: “The kür is the same, just the other way around, but a lot of freestyles look the same — there’s not much you can do about it.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (30 June, 2011)

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Dressage record-breaker Totilas has teamed up with a superstar of a different kind — world famous DJ Paul van Dyk.

Paul has created the music for Totilas’ new freestyle routine, which will be seen for the first time at Balve, Germany, this weekend.

The Grammy-nominated DJ said: “To produce music for such an international star is a great honour.

“I started off by looking at the movement of Totilas when he was training with Matt [rider, Matthias Rath]. This allowed me to set the timing, tempo and pace for the composition.”

Paul then spent a week in a London studio producing the track before doing the final recording in Berlin. And the end result has thrilled Matthias.

He enthused: “When I first heard the music, I got goose bumps. This musical masterpiece fits so well with Totilas and his movements, I hope the crowds will be smiling when they see our routine on Sunday.”

What do you think? Listen to a clip here — www.matthias-rath.de/de/aktuell

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Dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer is to star in the BBC’s British Olympic Dreams — on BBC1 this weekend.

The programme focuses on British athletes in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Following on from the programme that featured event rider Piggy French (14 May), BBC journalist Ollie Williams goes behind the scenes with Laura at her Gloucestershire yard, working out what makes her tick and meeting Mistral Hojris (Alf).

He also visits Germany to meet Laura’s main rivals — Totilas and Matthias Rath.

The programme airs at 1.15pm on Saturday (18 June).

“Laura was a great candidate for the programme — she’s one of the finest dressage riders in the world and one of Britian’s top prospects to secure a medal,” Ollie told H&H.

“We spent a day filming at her yard – meeting her horses and family and learning how Laura and Alf grew up together and formed such a great partnership. And how’s she’s preparing for the London 2012.

“For the second part of the programme we went to Germany and met Totilas and Matthias Rath — who Laura used to go out with. So that is especially interesting — competing against her ex-boyfriend who’s riding the best — and most expensive — horse in the world.”

British Olympic Dreams will also be available on the BBC iPlayer for seven days after it is aired.

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The eagerly awaited return of Totilas to the competition circuit hit a stumbling block this weekend in Wiesbaden, Germany (12 June), in the form of the towering partnership of Britain’s leading dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer and her Michellino gelding Mistral Hojris (“Alf”).

In Sunday’s grand prix for special qualifier, a 78.76% from Laura put her 5% clear of Totilas and Matthias Alexander Rath’s 73.4%.

In the arena, Totilas and Rath looked very much like a new combination and communication difficulties between the two saw them awarded with the horse’s lowest-ever score at grand prix.

In the following day’s special, Laura and Alf had some niggles in the one-time changes on the centreline, which proved costly. The pair, drawn just ahead of Totilas and Rath, still posted a strong 80.5%.

But Rath and Totilas had ironed out some of the previous day’s issues and produced a more polished performance, which was rewarded by an 81.47% win.

However, two of the five judges had Laura to win, so the London 2012 gold medal is still very much up for grabs.

See full report in Brits Abroad H&H 23 June issue

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The latest addition to Edward Gal’s stable may be gold, but it’s not a smart new palomino.

The dressage supremo has been kitted out with golden boots courtesy of Petrie, Edward’s riding boot sponsors.

But the bling boots have split opinion.

Reactions on H&H’s Facebook page range from Amy McGrady’s, “Go ahead. If we are not having fun, why are we doing it?” to Susanne Madsen’s quip: “The Only Way is Essex called. They want their boots back.”

If Edward is willing to stray this far away from the strictures of dressage norms H&H wonders whether he might go the whole hog and don a golden tailcoat and glittery top hat.

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (9 June, 2011)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Read the latest Matthias Alexander Rath news

Matthias Alexander Rath is a successful German dressage rider, who currently has the ride on the exceptional horse, Totilas.

Born in 1984, Matthias’s life and family have long been centred on horses; he sat on his first pony when he was just a year old. His father is the famous trainer and instructor Klaus Martin Rath; his stepmother, Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, and his uncle, Karsten Huck, were dressage bronze medallists at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.

Matthias was a successful under-21s rider – in 2005 he won team gold at the young rider Europeans in Barzago on Cantelli. Soon after, he started making an impact at grand prix, and in 2006, won the Piaff grand prix final in Stuttgart on Renior-UNICEF, repeating the feat the following year on the same horse.

In 2008, he won the German National Championships grand prix title on his horse Sterntaler-UNICEF. The pair then helped Germany win team bronze at the 2009 European Championships in Windsor.

The following year Matthias came eighth in the World Cup final on Triviant-UNICEF, and picked up team bronze at the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Kentucky with Sterntaler-UNICEF.

But after 40 years of dressage domination, the German team was unimpressed with their team bronze at WEG. Then the Dutch owner of Totilas, Cees Vissler, made the shock decision to sell the stallion, who was ridden by Edward Gal.

Seeing the breeding potential, and the chance to put Germany back on the dressage world map, breeder and dealer Paul Schockem ¶hle bought Totilas. Ann Karin Linsenhoff subsequently bought a percentage of the horse – including the riding rights – seeing the chance to propel Matthias into dressage superstardom.

Matthias made his competition debut with Totilas at CDI Munich in Germany on 2 June 2011. They won on a score of 76.787% in front of a packed crowd.

Matthias missed the London 2012 Olympic Games with Totilas due to an attack of glandular fever.

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