08/01/2026
Interesting read about Don Frederico whose dam was a Trakehner mare by EH Consul. I know another stallion whose dam was by EH Consul, Odin SR *Ps*! Combine that with the blood of his sire, Kostolany, and you have a royal pedigree for dressage or jumping! If you are looking to breed to a true athlete, check out Odin. He comes by it very honestly!
# 🐴 Don Frederico: The Black Diamond of Dressage ✨
*Donnerhall x Consul*
**1997 – 2022**
When we talk about the titans of dressage breeding, we talk about bloodlines that have shaped the sport for generations. One such titan, who left an indelible hoofprint on the sand of the international arena, is **Don Frederico**. Standing proud at 169 cm, this black stallion wasn't just a pretty face; he was a genetic powerhouse whose story is one of triumph, adaptation, and enduring legacy.
# # 👑 The Golden Pedigree
Let’s be real—if you have a pedigree like this, you’re born to be a superstar. Don Frederico was the son of the legendary **Donnerhall**, a name synonymous with modern dressage breeding. Donnerhall was a World Champion and a sire of sires, arguably one of the most influential stallions in the history of the sport. But Don Frederico had a secret weapon on the dam’s side: his mother, **Cleopatra**, was by the Trakehner stallion **Consul**.
Here’s where it gets fascinating. While Donnerhall brings the modern, powerful movement we see in the arena today, **Consul** introduced that touch of "jumping blood." The horse breeding expert Ludwig Christmann noted that a little jumping lineage can add elasticity and athleticism to a dressage horse—and that cross was gold. In fact, the Donnerhall x Consul cross also produced Don Vino, the champion of the Verden stallion licensing in 1999.
# # 🏆 From Champion Foal to Stallion of the Year
Don Frederico's life was marked by accolades. He was the **Champion of the 1999 Hanoverian Stallion Licensing** in Verden, a title that set the stage for his career. He later completed his performance test in Adelheidsdorf, securing the runner-up spot but earning an incredible dressage index of 151.67 points. If you look at his scores, they are the stuff of dreams: **Walk (9.0), Trot (9.33), Canter (9.33), and a staggering 9.5 for rideability**.
He was the first state stud stallion to compete in the Nürnberger Burg-Pokal in 2006, and he earned the titles of "Grande Prize" winner and, in 2012, the **Hanoverian Stallion of the Year**.
# # 🧬 The WFFS Complication
We can’t talk about the legacy of Don Frederico without addressing the elephant in the room. In 2018, it was publicly announced that Don Frederico, along with several other prominent stallions, tested positive for **WFFS (Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome)**.
This revelation caused a bit of a stir in the breeding community. However, the Celle State Stud, where he stood, issued clear guidelines recommending mares be tested to avoid crossing two carriers. It’s a crucial part of responsible breeding today. While it may have affected some breeders' choices, it did little to diminish his status as a top producer, thanks to his incredible performance results.
# # 🧠 A Late Bloomer? The "Foal Producer" Myth
Interestingly, Don Frederico wasn't always the popular choice. His first crops of foals weren't the flashiest or the most "typey" (meaning they didn't have the perfect, elegant appearance breeders sometimes look for). In fact, his breeding stocks reportedly plummeted after his first foals hit the ground.
Breeders initially weren't convinced.
But then... they rode them.
As those foals grew up, they proved to be exceptional riding horses with outstanding dressage talent. They might not have been the prettiest babies, but they had the heart, the movement, and the trainability that makes a champion. The mares started flowing back, and Don Frederico’s career skyrocketed.
# # 🌟 The Legacy of the Black Giant
Don Frederico's influence on the sport is monumental. The stats are jaw-dropping:
- **🏅 Progeny Winnings:** His offspring have won over **€1.8 million** in prize money, with over 1,450 progeny placed in S-level dressage.
- **🏇 Licensed Sons:** He sired **41 licensed sons**, including top performers like Don Darius, Don Henrico, and Dramatic.
- **👸 Elite Broodmares:** He produced **167 State Premium mares**—a testament to his ability to pass on his superior genes.
- **⭐ The Stars:** His offspring roster reads like a Who's Who of Dressage. There's **Don Johnson FRH**, ridden by Isabell Werth; **Diva Royal**, ridden by Dorothee Schneider; and **Don Diego Ymas**, among many others.
# # 🤔 The Question of the "Ugly" Foals
The narrative of Don Frederico is a beautiful lesson. It’s a reminder that **a "good" foal isn’t always a "good-looking" foal.** In an age where we scrutinize conformation photographs, Don Frederico reminds us that the horse’s true value lies in its rideability and trainability. He is proof that a sire who produces slightly "plain" babies can actually be a goldmine for producing Grand Prix superstars.
Don Frederico was not without his complexities. He was a carrier of a genetic defect, and his foals weren't always easy to ride or the most beautiful at first glance. But he was a horse that rewrote the rules. He proved that athleticism, a fantastic brain, and that magical "Donnerhall" magic, tempered with the versatility of Consul, could create a dynasty.
Don Frederico may have passed away at the age of 25 in October 2022, but his blood runs deep in the veins of the modern dressage horse. He truly was a black diamond in the world of equestrian sport. 🖤🐎
