Renowned German breeder Hans-Martin Otto-Willers passed away on 21 April 2012 at age 81. The Kutenholz based Otto-Willers bred numerous internationally competed Grand Prix dressage horses.
"Hans-Martin was such a nice, big man with an amazing character," an acquaintance told Eurodressage. "He was unique and a original person. He was such a horseman."
Otto-Willers' breeding products include international dressage horses Florinero, Floris, Dujardin, De La Vega, De La Noche and Dos OW.
Florinero (by Furst Heinrich x A Jungle Prince) which won silver at the 2009 World Young Horse Championships under Dorothee Schneider and is now competed at international small tour level by Austrian Stefan Peter. Floris (by Fürstenreich-Drosselklang) is owned by Swiss Marcela Krinke Susmelj and finished third with Oliver Oelrich in the 2011 Tesch Inkasso Cup Finals. De la Noche (by Del Piero-Davignon) was trained to Grand Prix level by Norbert Lochthowe and is now competed in America by Akiko Yamazaki. De La Vega (by Davignon x Wolkenstein II) competed at the 2006 World Young Horse Championships and is now shown at CDI Grand Prix level by Canadian Alexandria Lampe-Wilson.
Katrin Bettenworth brought two Otto-Willers breeding products to Grand Prix level: Dos OW (by Di Caprio x Drosselklant) was competed at national GP level in Germany but passed away last year due to colic. Dujardin (by Davignon x Werther) won multiple Grand Prix classes as well as the 2005 German Professional Dressage Riders Championships in Hagen.
Hans-Martin leaves behind wife Marie and two children. Son Martin and daughter-in-law Jessica Otten-Willers will continue the breeding and sales business.
The funeral will take place on Saturday 28 April at 14.00 at the cemetary Chapel of Mulsum.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Relatd Links
De La Noche, Tristan, Matrix Sold to Akiko Yamazaki
Germany’s Young Grand Prix Hopefuls Shine in 2011 CDI Verden Grand Prix
Forward Looking Reigns Supreme in 2011 Hagen Tesch Inkasso Cup Qualifier
Katrin Bettenworth and Sachsenkönig Shine in Zuidlaren