Corner T
By Judy Wardrope Donnerhall’s Structural Influence
here is no doubt, from a pedigree perspec- tive, the Oldenburg stallion Donnerhall has founded a dressage dynasty despite not
really being thought a likely candidate for such honors. His sons and grandsons have met with considerable com- petition accolades as well as breeding success, and his fe- male descendants are also showing up in the pedigrees of world class horses. (Charlotte Dujardin’s current horse, Mount St John VIP, is out of a Donnerhall daugh- ter.) All one has to do is look at the blood- lines at any major international dressage competition to see the Donnerhall influence, sometimes with as much as one quarter to one third of the world’s best touting his blood. In addition, a perusal of the lists of leading sires for the sport over the last de- cade or more would show a near dominance of Donnerhall and his male descendants. But what makes his lineage so prevalent at top
competitions? I believe it is likely his prepotency for certain physical characteristics. Let’s examine that theory by analyzing the construction of the horses in these photos.
Donnerhall His lumbosacral gap (LS) was positioned for maximum athleticism, meaning that a line drawn from the top of one hip to the top of the other hip would bisect the gap created by the change of articulation in the spine that is located just in front of the high point of croup. The ability to pass on this trait alone would have led to a stellar breeding career. As we have come to expect in dressage, his ilium
side (point of hip to point of buttock) is shorter than the femur side (point of buttock to stifle protrusion) when viewing the rear triangle. But
54 May/June 2019
when considering his stifle protrusion’s placement compared to most dressage horses, we find that is farther below sheath level than we usually encounter. It is not as low as most jumpers, but it is lower than the placement found in his competition contemporaries as well as in subsequent stars such as Rembrandt, Salinero, Ravel, Brentina, etc. This lower stifle placement expanded the range of motion of his hind legs, giving him great ability in extension; however, it may have hindered him slightly in the half- pass or in sustained collection. His pillar of support
shows a major factor for lightness of the forehand based on how far in front of the withers it emerges, leaving little horse in front of the line. It also emerges into the rear quarter of his hoof for a solid aid to soundness. His humerus rises steeply from his elbow,
producing a high point of shoulder, which not only adds more lightness to the forehand, but allows for elevation of the knees. Plus, his base of neck is well above that high point of shoulder for even more lightness of the forehand. Add to that a huge range of motion to the top of the scapula and you have the forequarters to match the superior extension of the hindquarters.
1 De Niro He is a direct son of Donnerhall, was an excellent international competitor, is a leading sire of dressage horses and is also becoming known as a sire of dressage progenitors. The key elements in his conformation are very
similar to those of his sire except that the difference in length between ilium and femur is not quite as pronounced and the bottom of the pillar of support just touched the rear of his hoof.
Conformation Courtesy Oldenburg Verband
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