Desperados FRH – The Horse Magazine

Stallion Black 2001 – 2020 1.70
Breeder: Herbert Schütt

The 2016 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year title went to the black stallion, Desperados.

Desperados proved himself as an exceptional competitor with his young rider Kristina Bröring-Sprehe. Desperados won Team Gold and Kür Bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Desperados FRH was born on 2 June 2001 at Herbert Schütt’s yard in Hemmoor, Germany. He was by the great dressage sire, De Niro, out of a mare by the best son of Weltmeyer, Wolkenstein II, out of a mare by the French Anglo Arab, Matcho, which perhaps accounts for his lovely black coat.

In 2017 THM asked Hanoverian Verband breeding expert, Ludwig Christmann what made De Niro such an exceptional sire:

“I think you should probably talk to the riders and trainers of the progeny, I think it is the minds that they like. When I talk to Mr Sprehe about Desperados and he says the horse is always working, even if it is 35 degrees like in Rio, he always does his job. They have the talent for collection and the higher movements, but it is the mind that makes them so special.”

Herr Schütt presented the black colt at the Hanoverian Licensing, but like so many of the very best Warmblood stallions, he was rejected.

(see http://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2010/11/salon-de-refuses-the-stallions-that-almost-werent/)

Desparados became the most expensive, non-licensed stallion at auction and sold to Gestüt Sprehe – the stud in owned by Kristina’s father and uncle. One year later Desperados was licensed at the approval under saddle in November 2004. He also received a premium then. He completed his 70-day performance test in Schlieckau.

Dr Roland Ramsauer, the former breeding director of the Oldenburg Verband, who advises the Sprehe Stud tells the story:

When did you first see Desperados?

“I saw him when he was two-and-a-half years, Paul Sprehe asked what about this stallion? It’s a super stallion, I said. And he was at that time not licensed! I said you can buy him, he’s a super dressage horse. So Paul bought him for 105,000 deutschmarks. He was the most expensive unlicensed stallion at that time.”

He’s been a fabulous competition horse but how do you think he’ll rate as a breeding stallion? What will he give?

“He was a super type and he was moving like that when he was free running – we couldn’t believe that the Stallion Committee of the Hanoverians rejected him. The head was my friend from university days, ‘Johnny’ Wilkens, and I said to him, thank you, you had such blind eyes this day!”

What mares do you think Desperados fits best with?

“He should have mares that have Thoroughbred blood, that is most important. They should be medium size, not too big, not too small and they will inherit, of course, the movement, so the mares can have not so much movement because he will improve the movement of the offspring.”

Desperados at the Bundeschampionate as a three-year-old

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Desperados went on to win the 2004 Bundeschampionate as a 3-year old and bronze at the 2005 Bunderschampionate. Trained and competed by Falk Rosenbauer, he moved up to Grand Prix level and won the 2010 Hamburg Dressage Derby. In 2011 Kristina Sprehe took over the ride and they became the Otto Lorke Prize recipients. They won medals at the 2012 London Olympics, 2014 World Equestrian Games and 2013 and 2015 European Championships.

As a breeding stallion Desperados received the Grande Prize in 2012. Desperados’ son Destacado won the 2016 Bundeschampionate for 3-year old stallions.

Destacado at the Bundeschampionate

Desperados has sired 13 licensed Hanoverian sons so far, of which five were Hanoverian premium stallions. Daughter, Doris Day was the 2010 Hanoverian Mare Champion and Bundeschampion winner in the 3-year-old mare class.

Desperados at Rio

The 2021 Hanoverian Stallion book records Desperados’ personal winnings at €590,149, while his 349 progeny in competition have won between them €255,842 with 58 of them competing at Advanced level. He is the sire of 13 licensed sons. He has a Hanoverian breeding value of 119 for dressage, 82 for jumping and 128 for type. He scores highly for frame – 150. Desperados is the sire of four horses that have won more than €10,000, the most successful of which is Destiny with €17,588.

On the 2021 German FN breeding values based on young horse classes, he had a value of 129 on the basis of highest level achieved, 120.

His last competition appearance – Desperados at Frankfurt
(Photo Kenneth Braddick dressage news)

Desperados returned from injury to compete at the 2018 Frankfurt show, where two of his progeny shone: Descolari was second in the Nürnberger with Isabell Werth.