16.1-1/2H  Steel Gray Oldenburg Stallion Foaled:  April 27, 1999 Approved Rheinland Pfalz Saar International (SBI until 2006/7) and AWR (2003 only) EVA Negative/ Vaccinated 1/03 Homozygous for BLACK

Fall 2001, 2-1/2 years old A scopey and athletic jumper! Click Here for More Jumping Photos  Or see his video

Free Jumping, December 2001 Standards are 7' tall, jump is set at 4' Photos were taken off the video tape Sorry about the poor quality.

Remarkable

Photo by Amy Allen

Remarkable is a beautiful, modern type stallion.  With his handsome face, wonderful neck, long legs, and beautifully modeled top line, this young stallion already has the characteristics of an impressive sire.   Like his sire, Remarkable is an ideal Model stallion, consistently earning scores of "8" for his type. He has fluid, powerful movement, excellent gaits, and a sweet disposition.  He offers his modern type, presence, jumping technique, and athletic ability.
 

We are pleased that our lovely stallion is approved with the RPSI, the American extention of PRPS (Pferdezuchterverband Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar e.V.) in Germany.  RPSI uses only the top educated and qualified representatives directly from the German Verband at its North American Inspections.  Using the same representatives here and in Germany assures more correct and ethical Keurings.  As in Europe, approved mares and stallions are entered directly into the Mare and Stud Books in Germany, and foals are given a registration number at birth.

RPSI and AWR are members of the WBFSH.  Offspring of Remarkalbe are eligible for international futurities including the WBFSH Championships.
 

"Indy" was inspected and approved as a two-year old by Otto Schalter, the Breeding Director of the Pferdezuchterverband Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar e.V..  He received excellent marks for his type and conformation, movement, and free jumping.  He earned scores of 8 on his beautiful type, his developement, and his outstanding canter.  We also presented Remarkable to the AWR, where he received wonderful scores on his type, conformation, and free jumping.

Several top trainers have called him an "upcoming hunter and jumper sire."  The AWR noted they expect him to become an outstanding jumper sire.

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Pedigree:
We feel that the pedigree in a horse is a large indicator of the future success of the individual.  It is important to consider the ancestors in the pedigree of each horse to determine their value and potential for future successes.
 

His sire, Riverman, has gained influence across America as a producer of beautiful, talented offspring.  He has produced five approved sons in North America (Hilltop owns three), including Remarkable.  Riverman has consistently produced horses that have brought him into the ranks of the German FN rankings for production of jumpers.  Riverman stands 2nd in the FN's Jumping Index and 3rd in the Overall Index for stallions of his age group, due to the success of his offspring in both dressage and jumping.

Remarkable's grandsire, Rebel IZ, was himself a superlative jumper (See photo left).  Bred by Leon Melchior of Zangerheide. He stood at the famous VDL Stud in Holland

Ramiro was the most popular distributor of the Ramzes blood and the most  frequented sire in Germany. He stood at stud in Westfalia, Holstein, Zangersheide (Belgium), and Holland. Numerous sons and daughters conserve and pass on the valuable genes that stand for rideability and jumping talent. Therefore, it is not a surprise to find Ramiro's  children and grandchildren at the top levels of show jumping and dressage.   Ramiro's influence on the Dutch Warmblood breeding was, and still is, of utmost importance. The Dutch bestowed the title - 'Horse of the Year' - on Ramiro in 1992.  For Leon Melchior's performance breeding program at Zangersheide (Belgium), Ramiro became the strongest and most successful pillar. (see- Rebel I Z and Ratina Z)

Also in Remarkable's sire line is the world reknown stallion, Landgraf I (video link). Landgraf I has produced a tremendous number of successful sons, daughters, and grandchildren.  Landgraf I is a known producer of fabulous jumpers.  Landgraf I is probably the most influential half-Thoroghbred stallion to date in Warmblood breeding history.  Over 100 approved sons. Considered to be one of the "Stallions of the Century!!"

Calypso II (video link), one of the most influential sons of Cor de la Bryere.  Shown very successfully as a show jumper under Dr. Michael Ruping.  He exerted his influence in the Holsteiner breed mainly through his sons Contender and Coriolan (and his sons, Coriander, Coriograph, and Cordial Medoc).

Cor de la Bryere (video link)-- His impact on Holsteiner and Oldenburg breeding will be felt for generations to come.  He was the 1971 Champion of his stallion 100-day test approval.  At his death, he had 85 approved sons, and 65 States Premium daughters, as well as countless approved grandsons and great- grandsons.  Corde is probably one of the most famous and influential half-Thoroughbred stallions in Holsteiner breeding (second only to Landgraf I).  Considered to be one of the "Stallions of the Century!"

Remarkable's dam, I Must Fly, is a Canadian Thoroughbred.  Her bloodlines are excellent, tracing back to Man 'O War, War Admiral, Ribot, Princequillo, Nasrullah, Nearco, Black Toney, Bimelech, St. Germans, Royal Minstrel, and others.  These bloodlines are proven to produce outstanding sport horses.  Her grandsire, In Reality, won 14 races of 27 starts and earned nearly $1M on the track.  She produced two Midwest Oldenburg Foal Champions before her death in 2001.  She produced 7 premium foals. Her offspring are in competition and are consistently winning.

Dr. Hanfried Haring, General Secretary of the German Equestrian Federation (FN) spoke of the Thoroughbred influence in modern sport horse breeding, while judging at Dressage at Devon in 2001:
"The influence of the thoroughbred, whether it comes from the dam side or the sire side, is always a positive one, and much needed.  That is why the selection of thoroughbreds, whether mares or stallions, for sporthorse breeding programs must be done very carefully, employing the highest standards.  Here [Dressage at Devon] I got the impression that once in a while this influence was handled a bit too generously.  It's not enough to know 'this is a thoroughbred mare with a good pedigree.'  You need to evaluate the conformation and the horse's movements and have the courage to say: 'sorry, but this mare is not good enough for sport horse breeding."  -- Dr. Hanfried Haring.

I Must Fly was approved by the Oldenburg Registry and Hanoverian Registry as Premium.   I Must Fly produced 7 premium foals before her death in 2001, including Remarkable, and was a grandmother to another premium foal.  Two of her foals were Foal Champions and ranked Nationally as Top Foals the year they were born!  She was very well known for passing on her lovely modern type and topline, as well as a fantastic mind.  Her sons and daughters are proving to be very successful both in jumping and dressage.

Remarkable, just born, with his famous Premium dam

 
One daughter of I Must Fly, Wynovation, was overall Grand Champion Jumper for the 1999 Vancouver Island Winter series. She has won multiple championships over fences.

Another daughter, Wrayn, is in Colorado and will be trained as a show hunter, while continuing to produce foals via embryo transfer.

Lizette, I Must Fly's last filly, was second in Zone 5 for Yearling Hunter Breeding in 2001.  She was Oldenburg NA Grand Champion Filly, Midwest in 2000 and was the second highest scoring foal in the nation in 2000!

I Must Fly's pedigree contains all the popular bloodlines for producing sporthorse types, including Princequillo, Nasrullah, Nearco, Blenheim, Bimelech, Dark Ronald, Bay Ronald, Key to the Mint, Galopin, Black Toney, Ribot, and others.

Some of the most influential and successful stallions ever in the sport horse breeding world were half thoroughbred or more, including the great Landgraf I, Cor de la Bryere, Pik Koenig, Furioso II.

Some of the most influential thoroughbred stallions in past sport horse breeding were Rantzau (Corde), Cardinal (Cordial), Ladykiller (Landgraf I and Lord), Furioso (Furioso II), Pik As (Pik Koenig), Cottage Son (Corporal), Der Lowe (Lugano I), Sacramento Song (Sandro), Marlon (Manchester), and Papayer (Paradox).   These stallions were the foundations for the modern sport horse.

Today we see many more warmblood stallions by or out of Thoroughbreds: Noble Champion, Ex Libris, Londonderry, and Longchamp.

As a result of this excellently bred damline, this significant Riverman son should be a real alternative for your breeding requirements.  We expect Remarkable to be a fantastic producer for the hunter, jumper, eventing, and dressage market.
 

Click here for the pedigree of Remarkable

Temperment:

Remarkable was started under saddle during the months of Feb - April 2002.  He had the summer of 2002 off and was started back in training in December 2002.  He is proving to be a smart and willing horse.  He is showing excellent engagement with his hindquarters and a natural lightness of the forehand.  Remarkable has been a real pleasure to start under saddle and looks to be off to a fabulous start to his riding career!
 

Offspring:

The first foal by Remarkable was born on May 10, 2003.   A beautiful bay filly out of the Holsteiner mare Zeanna by Condino.  This filly's name is Reanna.  

He also had a colt born, named "Remarkably Fine," out of the Throughbred mare Ashtabula Mary, who sadly passed away when this colt was only 2 days old.  Remarkably Fine was adopted by a 35-year old gelding.

Both foals earned Silver Premiums at their RPSI inspections.

In 2004 there was one foal born, a colt aptly named "Reflection."  Owned and bred by Pam Prince of Wisconsin.  Reflection was the Champion colt of his RPSI inspection!  Pam has had several standing offers from riders and trainers, to purchase Reflection, although he is not for sale at this time.

Reflection by Remarkable.  Site champion colt!
Below, Reanna by Remarkable.  Look at those gorgeous long legs and her super type and topline!!
Reanna, shown at 5 months Reanna died tragically in a barn fire on December 31, 2003.	Reanna (above)
Remarkably Fine shown with his 'Grandpa' This colt was orphaned at only a few days, and was raised by an old gelding.	Look at those long legs!  We see a pattern here!
This is Reflection, a colt conceived via frozen semen, bred by Pam Prince of Wisconsin.  Reflection is out of the Westfalen mare, Patrice, by Puritano.  Champion colt of his inspection. Long legs, super type, strong topline, beautiful face.  Everything we expected from Remarkable.  Born May 16, 2004 ----->        |        |        v
And here again is Remarkably Fine, shown as a yearling!
Royal Champion and Reflection (right)

 

Show Results:

Remarkable as a Yearling
Colt Champion and Young Horse Champion

• 1999 -- Premium Foal, 8.5 on type & conformation
• 1999 -- Grand Champion Colt, ISR Midwest Foal Championships
• 2000 -- Colt Champion, Sorensen May
• 2000 -- Young Horse Champion, Sorensen Dressage and Sporthorse--May
• 2000 -- First Place, Breeder's Group, Sorensen Dressage and Sporthorse--May (with Replikah)
• 2000 -- First Place, Yearling Colts, Sorensen Dressage and Sporthorse--June
• 2000 -- Qualified for USDF Breeders Championship
• 2000 -- Second Place, Yearlings, Summer's End Hunter Breeding at Andelain Farm
• 2000 -- First place, Yearling colts, Dressage at Lamplight
• 2000 -- Remarkable was shown in Warmblood Magazine's Nov/Dec issue "What's my Conformation" by Hilda Gurney.  Hilda's comments were:

"This yearling colt has a wonderfully round topline for this age...This colt has a nicely wedge shaped head and a lovely expression on his face. His neck sets beautifully onto a long sloping shoulder with long withers that lay well back for good saddle position. His forelegs are set well forward on his body, an advantage for reaching well forward with his forelegs in extensions. A well muscled loin, well developed gaskins and very correctly angled, strong looking hocks complete the whole picture of this very well conformed yearling."

2000 -- Wisconsin Dressage & Combined Training Association 2000 Grand Champion Yearling
2000 -- Winner of the Peace & Plenty Perpetual trophy for Champion Yearling with WDCTA
2001 -- Hopeful Farm relocated, Remarkable was not shown.
2001 -- Stallion approval, Rheinland Pfalz Saar International, excellent scores on type and conformation, movement, and free jumping.
2002 -- Begin under saddle training, first season at stud, Stallion Approval American Warmblood Registry.
December 2002 -- Begin training with Ken Borden, Jr.
2003 -- In training with Ken Borden, Jr.  Begin under saddle show career!
2003 -- First foals are due.
2004 -- Second foal crop due.

Breeding

Remarkable is no longer available for breeding.
 

A Successful first year of breeding!

Reports are in that Remarkable achieved 100% pregnancies in his first year of breeding (2002).  One mare has resorbed her pregnancy at about 40 days.  We are receiving wonderful news from the mare owners who have had such nice comments:
 

Martha M.:  "Jim [our vet] said once again yesterday how good Indy's sperm was.  He was very impressed, also mentioned how good you were to work with.  He pointed out that not all breeders are so good.  All I know is that you have been super to answer all my questions, and I know you are as excited about  this baby as I am.  We will have a gorgeous baby.   Mary is still pregars.  It was so cool, saw the umbilical cord and the heart beat yesterday.  Jim said it looks like a normally progressing pregnancy.  I was about jumping for joy. "

In 2003 after the death of Remarkable we tested his frozen semen with two breedings, both on warmblood mares. One mare was quite a bit older with numerous cysts in her uterus. One conceived, the other did not.

Update, 2005:  We bred one mare this year with one dose of his frozen semen. A 19 year old TB mare, who conceived on one dose. She foaled a gorgeous filly in 2006!  

Their owner reports:
"I love my Riverman grandson. And my Riverman Granddaughter. I'd breed to Remarkable again in a heartbeat, if he were still available. Both babies are bright, easy to handle, willing to please, and superior movers."

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Click on the brand for information about the Rheinland Pfalz Saar International:

Click on the brand for information about the American Warmblood Registry:

"Just wanted to let you know that I saw the pic of your new stallion and he is GORGEOUS.  If I were breeding a mare next year I would definately be checking him out... congratulations and good luck with him.  Can't wait to see some of his babies!"
--Gayle D.