In 2008 two fillies were born both


by Marion’s stallion Wolkenzauber: White Solitaire and White Quarter-carat. Marion remarks, “Quartercarat was shown with a final standing of sixth in the nation for USDF Weanling Fillies Sport Horse in Hand. She also received her Gold Medal at the RPSI inspection. Sadly we lost her to an accident later that year. She is very much missed here!” In 2009 Marion tried something different by breeding Hochkarat to an outside stallion, the ever popular Sir


Donnerhall (by Sandro Hit). In that April a fancy dark bay colt was born that she named Sapphire. And in 2010, a beautiful filly by Radikal was born. Like many breeders, both her good investments and her mistakes along the way have taught her some valuable lessons. Perhaps Marion’s biggest piece of advice that she enthusiastically shares is this: “If you have five really good mares, trade them all in for one superb mare. Using that mare, you can breed superb youngsters, and from them select and keep more superb mares to breed. Quality not quantity is what counts, especially in this economy.” As the USDF 2009 Sporthorse Breeder of


the Year, Marion has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time. And Marion has Hochkarat to thank for much of it.


WT


Top: (L to R) Rio Rima, at three, Hochkarat, and Rio Rio at 4, placed well at the 2010 Northwest Sport Horse Breeder’s Classic (Photo courtesy Marion O’Connor). Bottom: Wolkenkarat, Hochkarat’s first born, shown as a three year old (Photo by Mary Cornelius).


Warmbloods Today 33


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68