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Graf Gotz died at age 26 at his retirement home at Ellen Ziemer's North Carolina Farm. The famous chestnut stallion captured the hearts of dressage fans in the early 90's under trainer Steven Wolgemuth. The pair were elected most successful AHSA competitors in 1990, were long listed with the USET in 1992 after winning their first 6 Grand Prix's and in 1993 were the 4th highest ranking combination in the US coming into the tryouts for the North American Championships. Graf Gotz was imported by Hans Dressler of Princeton, NJ and purchased by sponsor Simon Musser (Owner of Charles Chips, Corp) for rider Steven Wolgemuth who later purchased the stallion from his sponsor. Graf Gotz was one of the few stallions that was approved two times by the same breed organization. The American Hanoverian Society approved him first as a four year old after his in hand inspection and performance requirement - then required inspection and approval again in 1990 as a punitive action against Musser who had not paid stallion dues to the organization. At the stallion's 2nd inspection the German Verband gave their stamp of approval as well, and by the end of that year Graf Gotz was breeding for mares in the fast growing Oldenburg studbook as well. Graf Gotz produced many amateur horses throughout the United States who typically had his large expressive eye, superb walk and affectionate and outgoing personality. His handsome presence has been used for artist sketches, paintings and a popular dressage license plate. Graf Gotz stood at stud at Graemont Farm in Manheim, PA until he was purchased by the late Reto Engler in MD. After Reto's death, Wolgemuth undertook to find him an excellent home with Cindy Wilkes' On The Bit Farm in GA and later with Ellen Ziemer in NC who provided a worthy retirement for this noble dressage star. Graf Götz made himself an outstanding career in the US, trained and ridden by Steven Wolgemuth. Since his pedigree is more directed to the jumper division, Steven and Graf Götz have proven that rideability and athletic ability are the foundation of any kind of training in any discipline. Graf Götz is by Götz, who comes from the old foundation lines of Goldfisch II, who sired the exceptional Grand Prix jumper Gladstone ridden by Hugo Simon, with whom he won the first Volvo World Cup in 1979. Gladstone and Hugo Simon were over a decade nearly invincible in the international Grand Prixs. The dam's sire of Götz, the Thoroughbred stallion Adlerschild xx, is equally important. He is the dam's sire of the most successful jumper in the world in the 1980's, Deister, the three time European jumper champion, ridden by Paul Schöckemohle. They both won nearly every Grand Prix around the world. The Goldfisch II line has a tremendous influence in the international shows in dressage and jumping. Gigolo, the multiple winner of international dressage Grand Prixs, winner of the Olympic Gold Medals, is an offspring of this Hanoverian G-line. His sire Grenadier is by Grande, who traces back to the foundation sire Goldfisch II. Graf Götz's dam's sire is the Hanoverian stallion Wotan, who comes from a second important Hanoverian foundation stallion line, the F-line. Since Wotan was born in 1947, he is mostly only found in the third generations of approved stallions or sporhorses. He is the grandsire of stallions like Akteull, who sired very successful dressage horses and high-priced auction horses for the Hanoverian and Oldenburg Elite Auctions. He is the grandsire of Gutenberg, who sired the the international Grand Prix dressage horse Good Mood ridden by Susan Dutta in international shows in Europe. He also is the grandsire of the exceptional stallion Raphael by Ramiro, who sires international competitors for both disciplines. Graf Götz's third generation of pedigree includes the stallions Ablegar, who is from the very old foundation line of the Thoroughbred stallion Adeptus xx, who sired the Hanoverian A-line. Graf Götz has a pedigree with the best of the Hanoverian foundation lines. He certainly will have an impact in producing solid and athletic sporthorses for the shows in the next millenium! Graf Götz is a true gentleman with three spectacular gaits.
Copyright and credit: Rougemont Sport Horses
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