Le Noir (Archived)

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When Uta Gräf talks about her “sweetheart” one could easily assume she is referring to a cuddly Shetland pony, but the verbal caress is directed at a mightily handsome licensed Holsteiner stallion with a shiny black coat and eyes who sets the hearts aflutter of every horse lover. Le Noir has been owned by Christiane and Hans Herzog from Ockenheim in Rhineland- Pfalz since he was a foal, and he has been living at Gut Rothenkircherhof since 2008 where he is Uta Gräf’s undisputed top horse. ”Leo’s” excellent character, his limitless commitment, and his high rideability – inner values which were validated with the dreamlike score of 9,5 during his stallion test in 2006—enabled him the rise from M- level to Prix St. Georges within only half a year. During his first CDI at Lipica in 2009 he promptly won all of his classes in the small tour. In 2010, Le Noir, who is available via frozen semen, made the premier league, won more than 20 Grand Prix competitions nationally and internationally, and was selected for the 2011 German National Dressage B Team.

Although being the secret king of Rothenkircherhof, Leo leads a normal horse’s life. Throughout the year, he goes out in the fields daily, sometimes with the company of a donkey, to chat a bit with his stable neighbors or enjoy being cuddled by his groom, Jasmin Simon. With his exceptional character, this stallion shows his settled piaffe with the same brilliance and great calmness in the arenas of Europe as he does in a wood glade or in an open field.

His even temper makes Leo an ideal partner at every show. The bigger the hustle and bustle around him, the calmer the stallion gets, being a reliable horse in every aspect. Those who watch Le Noir in a training session at home, during a demonstration at EQUITANA, or at an FN- seminar might be amazed that he is not always ridden in the traditional double bridle, but is also able to prove his rideability by doing all of the Grand Prix movements in a bitless bridle. Because of this, Uta Gräf and her “sweetheart” have become ambassadors of classical dressage in Germany and beyond.

Le Noirs Greatest Successes:

2009
Winner of the Nürnberger Burgpokal qualifier.
Three wins in the small tour at the CDI Lipica.
6th place in the Nürnberger Burgpokal finals in Frankfurt.

2010
2nd place in the Mediencup Grand Prix qualification at CDI Hagen.
Winner of the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Spécial at CDI Lipica.
Winner of the Grand Prix Spécial at CDI Strassen.

2011
8th place in the German National Championships Balve.
3rd place in the Grand Prix Kur at CDI Wiesbaden.
5th place in the Grand Prix Kur at CHIO Aachen.
Winner of the Grand Prix Kur at CDN Münster.
Listed on the German B National Dressage Team.

2012
2nd place in the Grand Prix Special at the Peterhof Dressur Gala CDI4*