Der Löwe xx

1944 – 1973, Thoroughbred, Dark brown,
1.58 m (15.2 hands)

Der Löwe was bred by the Röttgen stud, but was enormously successful when purchased by the State Stud Celle. He was stationed at the Hanoverian stallion breeding centre of Großebworden from 1951 to 1961. He later stood at Luhmühlen (1962-68), Otterstedt (1969-71), Sottrum (1972), Bargstedt (1973).
Der Löwe was by Wahnfried but on his dam sire, represents the great Bay Ronald line of athletes. His grand-sire, Dark Ronald (son of Bay Ronald) was sold to the German state stud at Graditz after a successful racing and breeding career in the United Kingdom. In Germany, Dark Ronald was the most successful imported stallion of all times, thanks largely to his outstanding sons, Prunus, Herold and Wallenstein and through Prunus’ son, Oleander.

Just in case you think that Der Löwe was typical of Thoroughbreds of
his time, look at his dam-sire, Herold…

Der Löwe produced horses with great expression, with the drawback that they were very noise sensitive. Still he produced some good dressage horses, including Liostro (Karin Schlüter), Löwenherz (Erika Scharzkopf), Lanthan (Carola Lampe), Lady Lou (Holger& Inge Schmezer), Leopardin (Hans-Jürgen Armbrust), Lucky Boy (Marjolyn Greeve) and Leopardi (John Winnett). In jumping, Hartwig Steenken had great success with Der Lord and Loriot, while Löwenstern was an eventing star with Nils Haagensen.
His most significant sons were Lugano I, who produced rideable dressage horses and international showjumpers, and the full-brother, Lugano II who produced Lombard, the sire of Lanthan and Leubus. In all Der Löwe produced six state stallions, 158 registered mares and 314 competition horses with winnings of about DM750,000. Der Löwe was considered the most important Thoroughbred of his generation and in the early 80s there were ten of his grandsons or great-grandsons at the Celle State stud. His line has not bred on. For a while it looked as if his great grandson, Lanthan was going to be a star dressage sire, but that early promise has not been fulfilled, and indeed in the 2005 Hanoverian stallion book, Lanthan is featured on none of the top sires ranking lists. Der Löwe probably has had more lasting influence in Belgian jumping breeding where his grandson, Lugano van la Roche has been a major sire.
Der Löwe was put down at the age of 29 and his skeleton is preserved in the excellent Verden horse museum.