Hanoverian Sire Widmark Passed Away

Breeding

Hanoverian

The U.S. based Hanoverian breeding stallion Widmark has passed away. He was 26 years old.

Widmark was by Wolkentanz I out of Marinie (by Maar II x Azur x Steinklee). He was bred by Bernhard Schaerffer.

Licensed Stallion

He was licensed at the 2000 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing in Verden and a year later approved for Oldenburg breeding in Vechta.

He did his 70-day stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf in the autumn of 2001 and scored 129.88 points to place 3rd out of 38 participating stallions. He had a dressage score of 136.11 (2nd) and a jumping score of 101,09 points (19th).

His sport career began in Germany under Hans-Dieter Mangelsdorf in 2001, competing in the riding horse classes, but Holga Finken took him to the 2001 Bundeschampionare, where he won the bronze medal.

Imported in the U.S.A.

The stallion sold to Meg Williams of Oakwood Farms in the U.S.A. and continued his sport career under the owner

The pair made its national show debut in March 2003 at First Level and moved up to second level in 2004. By 2006 they were competing at third level and in 2007 they showed at fourth level. Their Prix St. Georges debut followed in May 2008 and showed at small tour level until June 2010.

Between June 2010 and May 2014 Widmark did not compete but he returned to the arena in the spring of 2014. In August 2015 the pair rode its first Grand Prix test. They did their last show together in June 2017 at Intermediaire II level at Majestic Farm View II.

Retirement

At his retirement from competition, continued as a schoolmaster for some of Meg’s students.

“He was a sheer delight to ride and to train. He walked out of his stall ready and wanting to work every single day," said Meg.

As a breeding stallion, Widmark stamped his foals both in looks and temperament. "His offspring continue to be known for their strong work ethic and immense ridability – making them favorites of both amateurs and professionals alike across a variety of disciplines such as dressage, hunters, and eventing," the American Hanoverian society stated.

There is no recorded offspring in Germany, but in the U.S.A. he sired numerous offspring registered with the American Hanoverian Society, who named him Elite stallion. His most successful offspring in dressage sport is Whirlpool (Melissa Jackson), as well as Whuthering Heights (Jennifer Pass), Wacation (Megan Ward), Windayla (Chris Hickey, Jane Fulton), and Wisperle (Denielle Gallagher). J.T. Burnley and Won Million (by Widmark x Fidertanz) won bronze at the 2016 U.S. Young Horse Championships for 5-year olds.