Duke was bred by the longtime and highly successful
Virginia Hanoverian breeding farm Marefield Meadows. His sire, Dauphin (Donnerhall/Feiner Stern) also was bred by Marefield Meadows and currently stands for breeding in Germany at the famous Hanoverian state stud known as Landgestuet Celle. In fact, all of Duke’s immediate ances- tors came from that breeding farm. Duke’s dam, Elite Ha- noverian mare Reese was also bred by Marefield Meadows and was an accomplished show horse. She placed second in both the open and “Born in the USA” FEI 5-year-old class- es at Dressage at Devon in 2005 under well-known mid- Atlantic dressage trainer Erin Sweeney. And EM Reese’s sire (Duke’s grandparent) Rienzi (Raphael-EM Bounty by Bolero) is also owned and bred by Marefield Meadows. Even Rienzi’s dam (Duke’s great- grandparent) EM Bounty was a Marefield Meadows broodmare. Te “jump” in Duke’s mostly
dressage-oriented pedigree that has led to his success in the hunter show world comes from Rienzi’s sire, Raphael by the famous Ramiro Z, known as one of the most reliable sires of top jumper competitors. (He sired Ratina Z who earned the individual silver medal and helped win the team gold medal for the German team at the 1992 Olympics.) In addition, Dauphin’s dam line traces back to Furioso II, also known as a top producer of jumper competitors (including the Hanoverian stallion For Pleasure, who won show jumping team gold at both the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics). Duke embodies the Hanoverian breeding goal that strives for a horse that, because of temperament, character and willingness, is suited principally as an all-around riding horse. Proving once again that equestrian success usually starts with good breeding, Duke has fulfilled his genetic promise during his partnership with Raegan. Raegan, even at just 12, was able to mold Duke’s ath-
Raegan profited from both her jumping and dressage
training and aimed Duke toward a hunter career. She admits there were some challenges along the way, but with Duke’s forgiving attitude and willingness to please, it was easy to learn and advance together in the hunter ring. Tanks to Raegan’s good care and their training together, Duke matured nicely. Raegan reports that Duke is a “solid citizen” who has her complete trust. She also says that Duke has a huge personality, calling him both loveable and hilarious. Raegan’s show success with Duke is proof of the overall
Reagan Rast poses with her Hanoverian hunter Duc du Vent, before he went on to teach a ten-year-old the ropes.
success of youth and Hanoverian partnerships. In 2012, they were Zone 7 Children’s Hunter Champion as well as year-end champions in several hunter/jumper show organizations. In 2013, when Raegan was only 13 years old, the pair had an especially successful year as they moved up into the Junior Hunter division. Tey finished thirteenth in the nation among the Large Junior 15-and- under hunter riders, were Zone 7 Large Junior 15-and-under Champions and received high point hunter and top junior rider awards for a show series. During that year they competed in 14 shows and
earned champion eight times and reserve champion two more times. Tey also were named the National Hanove- rian Junior Champions for 2013. In 2014, Raegan and Duke traveled down to Florida
letic ability with great success over the following two years. Duke’s training with Raegan was not at a fancy hunter show barn, but rather in a two-stall barn in Raegan’s back- yard. Raegan did all of the care for Duke during those years and rode Duke in a small outdoor ring behind her house. Raegan boasts that Duke has a great brain and a huge heart. He is also a good traveler, particularly during the cold winter months in Kansas when Raegan has loaded Duke into the trailer for lessons with Kansas hunter/jumper trainer Jane Schweiger and later also took a few dressage lessons with Emily Wagner.
64 March/April 2015 SPECIAL HANOVERIAN SECTION
and showed in the prestigious hunter shows in Wellington, Florida at WEF. Tere they were class winners in both under saddle and over fence in the Large Junior class and took ribbons in many of the over-fences classes they en- tered. It also was in Florida that Raegan “paid it forward” with Duke. Tanks to Raegan’s great work bringing Duke along, to Duke’s show success and particularly to Duke’s reliable and loving personality, Raegan sold Duke to be ridden by ten-year-old rider Mimi Gochman. (And for folks who might think that big Hanoverian horses can’t be ridden successfully by small children, check out this video of very petite Mimi, keeping up Raegan’s winning ways by doing more winning with Duke: www.youtube. com/watch?v=4986KaeMtvs .) Raegan is very proud of her successful years with Duke, the big chestnut Hanoverian hunter who continues his own very successful career as a children’s show hunter. v
Rachel Kruse
American Hanoverian Society
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