GOTTHARD

Hanoverian

Gotthard is truly one of the great Hanoverian stallions and was bred by Richard Kords in 1949. For seven years he was the leading sire of show jumping horses in Germany. His influence continues to the present day. During his time he sired over 34 licensed stallion sons -the most highly rated of which was Goldberg who was based in Westphalia. Gotthard was also influential as a mare sire and he was responsible for 26 State Premium mares. On his dam’s sire, Gotthard descends from the Shagya Arab line of Amurath, also influential on the dam line of another influential sire of jumpers, Ramzes.

Gotthard’s progeny were fantasitc jumpers, but were rather stiff and untalented for dressage. Gotthard was considered as ‘lucky’ to be accepted into the stallion ranks at Celle. At the time he was not really ready. He looked weak and lacking in his expression -he was not developed sufficiently in the shoulder and in the formation of his neck.

When he was approved in 1951, Gotthard seemed short framed, insignificant and stocky and it is not surprising that he was not particularly popular
(indeed he was put over all sorts of mares, including cold bloods and Norwegians) . From 1956 to 1960 he was not used at all. It was not until his daughter, Goldika (out of a Mecklenburg mare with no papers) started her sensational jumping career with Gert Wiltfang that the breeders found him attractive.

The fully matured Gotthard impressed through his perfect shoulder and his perfect neck. Even his head could be classed as ‘nice’ . Eventually he was to produce over fifty horses to compete internationally and when in 1975, a list of top stallions was published, Gotthard was number one in terms of prize money won. Eventually his competing progeny numbered 398, with earnings of almost two million deutschmarks.

Gotthard died in 1978 at the age of 29.