Abdullah (December 7, 1970 – January 5, 2000) was a Trakehner stallion ridden by Conrad Homfeld. He won many international titles in the sport of show jumping, and is considered by some to be the best Trakehner ever to compete in the show-jumping ring.[1] Abdullah was inducted into the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2009.[2]
Life
Abdullah was purchased by Williamsburg Farm in 1973 as a three-year-old from Gerhard Schickedanz in Unionville, Ontario, Canada. He was originally bought as an event prospect and breeding stallion,[3] and proved himself first in the dressage arena and then in eventing before becoming a world-class show jumper.[1] He was ridden by Debbie Shaffner, Joe Fargis and Conrad Homfeld.[3]
Breeding career
Abdullah was approved for breeding by the United States, Canada, Selle Français, Sella Italiano, Anglo European Studbook, Irish Sport Horse, Hanoverian, Trakehner, Belgium Warmblood, Belgium Sporthorse, and Oldenburg studbooks.[1] His progeny were extremely successful, including seven United States Equestrian Federation Horses of the Year in both the Hunter and Jumper disciplines. He ranks third place in money won by offspring in the International Jumper Futurity and International Hunter Futurity. He is the sire of showjumpers competing internationally in the Olympics, World Championships and World Cup Finals.[4] Due to frozen semen, it is still possible to breed to the legendary stallion.[5]
Eventing career
During his eventing career, Abdullah was awarded the American Trakehner Association (ATA) Trakehner Förderverein Award in 1976 and '77.[6] This award is given annually to the ATA-registered purebred Trakehner who is the most successful in combined training.[7]
Show-jumping Career
Abdullah had an extensive international level career for fourteen years between 1979 and 1989. He won the American Trakehner Association (ATA) Open Jumper Championships for 8 consecutive years between 1979 and 1986, as well as in 1988 and 1989. He was also awarded the ATA Palmenblüte Award in 1980, '82, '84, '85, and '86.[6] The Palmenblüte trophy is awarded to the "ATA purebred Trakehner who has contributed the most in competition to promote the breed in North America." After Abdullah won the trophy for the fifth time, the first trophy was retired, with an acknowledgement of Abdullah's tremendous contributions to the Trakehner breed throughout the world, and a new trophy was put into place.[7]
He helped the United States to the team gold, and took an individual silver at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He won the 1985 World Cup Final in Berlin. Abdullah also helped the United States to the team gold, taking individual silver, at the 1986 Show Jumping World Championships in Aachen, Germany. Abdullah also won or placed at numerous other international level Grand Prix events.[6]
Retirement
The stallion died January 5, 2000, due to colic.[6] The Chronicle of the Horse recently honored Abdullah as one of the top 50 horses of the century.[3]
Pedigree
Pedigree of Abdullah[8]
Sire
Donauwind
Trakehner
1965
|
Pregel
Trakehner
1958
|
Tropenwald
Trakehner
1941
|
Termit – 1933
|
| Tropenglut – 1932
|
Peraea
Trakehner
1943
|
Hirtensang – 1929
|
| Per Adresse – 1939
|
Donaulied
Trakehner
1960
|
Boris
Trakehner
1956
|
Gabriel – 1950
|
| Bea – 1940
|
Donau
Trakehner
1951
|
Hansakapitaen – 1941
|
| Donna – 1939
|
Dam
Abiza
Trakehner
1963
|
Maharadscha
Trakehner
1957
|
Famulus
Trakehner
1938
|
Fetysz – 1924
|
| Faschingsnacht – 1931
|
Marke
Trakehner
1941
|
Marktvogt – 1936
|
| J Feldrose – 1934
|
Abendrot
Trakehner
1949
|
Absalon
Trakehner
1937
|
Poseidon – 1925
|
| Abfahrt – 1923
|
Arbeitgeberin
East Prussian
1938
|
Alaskafuchs – 1923
|
| Arbeit – 1924
|
References
- ^ a b c "Abdullah" Archived January 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Sporthorse Breeder. Referenced February 3, 2008.
- ^ "Show Jumping Hall of Fame Welcomes New Inductees". Equisearch. Referenced May 4, 2009.
- ^ a b c "The Abdullah Story" Archived August 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Williamsburg Farm. Referenced February 3, 2008.
- ^ "Abdullah" Archived December 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. The Chronicle of the Horse. Referenced February 3, 2008.
- ^ "Abdullah Frozen Semen" Archived October 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Williamsburg Farm. Referenced February 3, 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Abdullah". American Trakehner Association. Referenced February 3, 2008.
- ^ a b "Merit Awards". American Trakehner Association. Referenced February 3, 2008.
- ^ "Abdullah". All Breed Pedigree. Referenced February 3, 2008.
