Don Primero
Dark brown stallion, born 1985, 1.65 cm

Breeder - Henrik Schulte-Frohlinde

Stood at: Groenwohld 1991 - 2001; Markebaecks Gard (Sweden) 2002 - 2003; Schockemöhle 2004-2005

This stallion has been arguably the most successful son of Donnerhall, despite spending a fair proportion of his breeding career in Sweden.
His sire Donnerhall needs little introduction, and it is in combination with Pik Bube that the magic seems to happen. Don Primero adds yet another dressage dimension with the Trakehner sire, Unkenruf, who was schooled to Grand Prix level, but is best known as the sire of Christine Stückelberger’s Grand Prix horse, Rubelit.
Don Primero’s great grand-dam, Fabiola (by the Trakehner stallion, Herold) was a top international showjumper. Fabiola was out of Fischerin who was in turn a daughter of Finnländerin – a very famous Hanoverian mare. Finnländerin was the great grand dam of Josef Neckermann’s Olympic dressage horse, Mariano. She was also the great grand dam of the Westphalien stallion, Radetzky – both of these horses were by the Anglo Arab, Ramzes.
In 2005, Don Primero once again headed both the Hanoverian and FN dressage stallion rankings. In the Hanoverian rankings, Don Primero has a dressage score of 186 with a very mediocre jumping ranking of 67. He receives 116 for type (the top score in this category is Caprimond with 181), and 129 for fundament or limbs (again the highest ranking in this category is Wolkentanz on 162). In recent years he has slipped right down the standings, however in 2007 still has an FN dressage ranking of 156.
Interestingly in the breakdown of the Hanoverian rankings based on the results of the mare performance tests, and auction inspections, Don Primero is very equally scored in all three gaits: 163 for trot, 172 for canter, 180 for walk, and 174 for rideability.

As of 2007, Don Primero has produced 559 registered competition horses with winnings of euro 386,292 – 361 in dressage (63 to advanced). His most successful progeny are Karin Rehbein’s World Young Horse champion, Cherie (euro 33,117) and Dow Jones with euro 17,934. He has been very successful as the sire of Bundeschampionate stars like Devil’s Bride, Dynamico, Dimaggio (also a World Young Dressage Horse Champion) and Don Larino. Cherie has certainly made the step up to FEI ranks and has been virtually unbeatable at Prix St Georges level.
Don Primero was the Champion 5 year old Dressage horse at the 1990 Bundeschampionate and went on to compete at Grand Prix level with Karin Rehbein. He is a full brother in blood to the Danish based stallion and Grand Prix performer, Don Schufro (whose dam Fiesta is a full sister to Fantasia).