Vollkorn xx

German performance horse breeding has always returned to the Thoroughbred for soundness, quality and athleticism, and it is not surprising that Vollkorn should have been as successful as he was. He has three close crosses to the Bay Ronald blood through Arjaman (a Dark Ronald grandson), through Aventin (by Teddy who is out of a mare by Bay Ronald) and Prunus, a son of Dark Ronald. Foaled in 1961, Vollkorn raced well enough to reach the then Hanoverian benchmark of a weight allowance of 86.5 kilos.

Neckar - one of Germany's greatest Thoroughbreds

Vollkorn's sire, Neckar was a superstar on the track. As a three year old he was unbeaten in five races, winning the Henckel-Rennen, the Union, the Deutsches Derby and over 3000 metres, the Prix de Chantilly in Longchamp. Retired after injury, he was even more successful as a sire,winning the most successful sire title five times, twice second, three times third, once fifth and once sixth. He sired three winners of the Deutsches Derby (Zank, Wilderer and Waidwerk) along with the winner of the Italian Derby, Hogarth.Neckar also sired Waidmannsdank who stood successfully as a sport horse sire in Hannover and another performance horse producer, Vierzhnender.

Vollkorn stood as a sport horse sire for 16 seasons, from 1966 to 1981, producing 13 licensed sons, including Viktor, Vivaldi, Volaro, Volturno, Votltreffer, Varus (a champion of his Performance Test at Medingen in 1978), Van Gogh and Vagabund.

His Oldenburger son, Volturno (out of a mare by the Thoroughbred, Manolette) was Champion of his licensing, and went on to be a member of the German Silver Medal winning Eventing team at the 1976 Olympic Games - and a member of the team at the following Games. Volturno won over 20 international events before retiring to stud where he produced a number of licensed sons, including Voltur, Voltaire, Volturnus and Valeur. The Vollkorn daughter, Vallauris was a successful international dressage competitor in the 1980s with Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff.

Perhaps Vollkorn's greatest legacy in modern times is through the remarkable breeding program of Mrs Harli Seifert, who bred her top eventing mare, Chica (Rudilore II) to Volturno, twice, to produce two broodmares, Ruling Chica and Voilà - these two mares then established a dynasty that has produced such important stallions as the dressage gun, Rubin Royal, and the exciting young showjumping stallions, Conterno Grande and Couleur Rubin.