FURIOSO II

Colour: Liver Chestnut
Height: 166 cm (16.1 hh)
Origin: Selle Francais

Furioso II was the first Anglo-Norman of modern breeding times. Horse breeders the world over still have the highest regard for this sire. French Anglo-Arabians such as lnschallah AA were used in Oldenburg in small doses with great success. By combining the most various bloodlines on the base of Oldenburg mares, our breeders were able to breed a horse in a relatively short period of time that now belongs to the top group of modern sport horse breeds.

Furioso II was imported to Germany by the legendary Oldenburg breeder, George Vorwerk (father of Gudula Vorwerk who currently stands a string of stallions, including – and until his recent death, Rubinstein). Furioso II was out of the great mare, Dame de Renville, who produced a series of wonderful horses when mated with Furioso. The first of these was Mexico, who standing at the French National Stud of Le Pin, sired 20 approved sons, 20 dams of stallions, and famous international showjumping horses, including Laeken, Jexico de Pare and Heur de Bratand. His son, Le Mexico, has been a hugely influential sire of jumping horses in Holland.

Furioso II was interesting to the Oldenburg breeders as they needed a half-blood stallion to help make the transformation of their mares to more modern lines, without too much direct Thoroughbred blood.

Furioso II was approved for the Oldenburg studbook in 1967, and then went on to easily win his 100 day test. later he was approved for Hannover, Rhineland, Hessen and Westfalia. For many years, Furioso II was ranked in the top three sires of leading money winners in Germany. Furioso II had winners in all disciplines. His showjumping stars included: FBI (with Thomas Fri.ihmann), Heissman (ridden by Eric Van Der Vleuten, then Michael Matz) and For Pleasure.

Heissman under his original name, Friesengeist was sold to the stables of Henk Nooren, who later sold him to the United States, when ridden by Michael Matz he was Horse of the Year, and 4th at the Barcelona Olympics.

For Pleasure was originally ridden by Lars Nieberg, and under his guidance won team gold at Atlanta, before the ride was transferred to Marcus Ehnning. For Pleasure is already the sire of eight licensed Hanoverian stallions, and was a member of the gold medal winning German team at the Sydney Olympic Games.

Perhaps Furioso ll’s most influential son is Voltaire – out of a mare by another classic sire of jumping horses, Gotthard. Voltaire is the sire of 33 approved sons and top jumpers like Finesse and Altaire.

In dressage, his son, Purioso is the sire of numerous stars including Anky van Grunsven’s Grand Prix horse Cocktail (who is the sire of Jazz); Le Mexico is the sire of Ulft, who in tum is the sire of Ferro. The Oldenburg stallion Welt As is out of a Furioso II daughter, and is the sire of Anky’s gold medallist Bonfire and Christine Sti.ickelberger’s Grand Prix horse, STC Diamond.

Graded Sons: u.a. Falkner, Falstaff, Fanal, Fantast, Fantom, Fashion King, Faszination, Fatianus, Faust Z, Feingau, Feragosto, Fernet, Branca, Ferrari, Festival, Feudal, Fidelio, Filius, Fingal, First Class I, First Gotthard, Flagranti, Flambeau, Florian, Folkert, Follow, Furioso II is one of the most influential sires of show jumpers, producing over 200 state premium mares and 68 approved sons. He was bred by H. Lemoine Escajeul, and later imported to Germany by legendary breeder, George Vorwerk. Furioso II won his 100-day testing, held at Westercelle in 1968.

He went on to become the top producing stallion in Germany from 1979-89, based on earnings won by offspring, and was still the top producer of dressage horses in 1990.