Voltaire (horse)
Encyclopedia
Voltaire was an influential sire of show jumpers
and dressage horses
. Additionally, he competed successfully at the international level in show jumping.
, a stallion whose offspring include over 200 state premium mares and at least 70 approved sons, who are stood across the world. Furioso II was full-brother to the French stallion Mexico (sire of Le Mexico, who has produced numerous Grand Prix show jumpers). Furioso II was also the sire of the Olympic gold medal winners Lutteur B and Pomone B.
Voltaire's dam, Gogo Moeve, was also the dam to such horses as Fandango R, PS Falkan and Petite Fleur. She was sired by the great Gotthard, a stallion who has made his mark in the Hanoverian breed. Gotthard is seen in the pedigree of such horses as Goldika, Goya, Queensway, Genius, Grundstein and Grannus. Gogo Moeve's dam-sire was the Thoroughbred
stallion More Magic, who also sired the 1980 Moscow Olympics dressage gold medalist, Mon Cherie, ridden by Elisabeth Theurer
.
Pedigree for Voltaire
1979 Bay colt
, competing over 1.50 meter courses as an eight-year-old. He was especially successful in 1988, winning Nations Cup classes at Calgary, Stockholm, Lanaken, Helsinki, Wiesbaden and Wembley. In 1989 he ended his competitive career with a win at the Grand Prix of Berlin and a 2nd place in the Grand Prix of Leeuwarden.
Voltaire is said to cross well with French Thoroughbreds, such as the female offspring of Furioso
and those of Furioso's sons Le Mexico and Purioso.
Voltaire had over 30 approved sons in Europe. He is found in the pedigrees of 28 jumpers of the 2000-2001 World Breeding Federation for Sport Horse standings, was ranked 9th in the Federation's top 50 sires for the years 1991-2000, and finished second in 1999 in the list of show jumpng sires. Additionally, Voltaire had the most offspring at the 1996 Olympic Games that any other stallion.
Voltaire has also been a great sire of show hunter
s in the United States. He was awarded the title of "Huntersire of the Year" for 2001, 2002, and 2003. In 2003, he not only finished as the USAEq leading hunter sire, with 33 offspring, but also as the USEq leading jumper sire, having 25 offspring who earned a total of $176,189. Notable hunters with include Popeye K
, Nobleman, King de Coquerie and Mandkind.
Generally, the sons and daughters of Voltaire have scope, power, and a tight front end. However, they often have a short back, and may not have perfect technique with their hind end. Although they have a good galloping stride, they may be slow and have a slightly too-straight hind leg. But they are very careful jumpers, generally want to go clean (a very important trait in a show jumper), and are brave.
, Blink, High Cotton, King de Coquerie, and Moriah.
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
and dressage horses
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
. Additionally, he competed successfully at the international level in show jumping.
- Lived: 1979-August 13, 2004
- Height: 16.2 hh
- Color: Bay
- Markings: blaze, snip, stockings on both hind legs
- Breed: Dutch WarmbloodDutch WarmbloodA Dutch Warmblood is a warmblood type of horse registered with the Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland A Dutch Warmblood is a warmblood type of horse registered with the Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland A Dutch Warmblood is a warmblood type of horse registered with the...
(KWPN) - Approved Studbooks: KWPNDutch WarmbloodA Dutch Warmblood is a warmblood type of horse registered with the Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland A Dutch Warmblood is a warmblood type of horse registered with the Koninklijk Warmbloed Paardenstamboek Nederland A Dutch Warmblood is a warmblood type of horse registered with the...
, HanoverianHanoverian (horse)A Hanoverian is a warmblood horse originating in Germany, which is often seen in the Olympic Games and other competitive English riding styles, and have won gold medals in all three equestrian Olympic competitions. It is one of the oldest, most numerous, and most successful of the warmbloods...
, Selle Francais, OldenburgOldenburg (horse)The Oldenburg is a warmblood horse from the north-western corner of Lower Saxony, what was formerly the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. The breed was built on a mare base of all-purpose farm and carriage horses, today called the Alt-Oldenburger... - Breeding: By Furioso IIFurioso IIFurioso II is one of the most influential sires in sport horse history. His offspring have performed well in all disciplines of show jumping, including at the Barcelona and Sydney Olympics.-History:...
, out of Gogo Moeve by Gotthard - Breeder: E. Kuwet
- Rider: Jos LansinkJos LansinkJozeph Johannes Gerardus Marinus Lansink is an equestrian from The Netherlands, but currently representing Belgium, who competes in the sport of show jumping....
Breeding
Voltaire (originally called "Vertuoso") was by the influential Furioso IIFurioso II
Furioso II is one of the most influential sires in sport horse history. His offspring have performed well in all disciplines of show jumping, including at the Barcelona and Sydney Olympics.-History:...
, a stallion whose offspring include over 200 state premium mares and at least 70 approved sons, who are stood across the world. Furioso II was full-brother to the French stallion Mexico (sire of Le Mexico, who has produced numerous Grand Prix show jumpers). Furioso II was also the sire of the Olympic gold medal winners Lutteur B and Pomone B.
Voltaire's dam, Gogo Moeve, was also the dam to such horses as Fandango R, PS Falkan and Petite Fleur. She was sired by the great Gotthard, a stallion who has made his mark in the Hanoverian breed. Gotthard is seen in the pedigree of such horses as Goldika, Goya, Queensway, Genius, Grundstein and Grannus. Gogo Moeve's dam-sire was the Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
stallion More Magic, who also sired the 1980 Moscow Olympics dressage gold medalist, Mon Cherie, ridden by Elisabeth Theurer
Elisabeth Theurer
Elisabeth Theurer is a horse rider from Austria, who is known as Elisabeth Max-Theurer after marriage.-Biography:...
.
Pedigree for Voltaire
1979 Bay colt
Show jumping career
Voltaire had a successful career as a Grand Prix show jumperShow jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
, competing over 1.50 meter courses as an eight-year-old. He was especially successful in 1988, winning Nations Cup classes at Calgary, Stockholm, Lanaken, Helsinki, Wiesbaden and Wembley. In 1989 he ended his competitive career with a win at the Grand Prix of Berlin and a 2nd place in the Grand Prix of Leeuwarden.
Breeding career
After his competitive career, Voltaire was retired for breeding, standing at Dutch veterinarian Jan Greve's stud De Watermolen. Voltaire was a Keur and Preferent stallion with the KWPN, and was one of the top KWPN jumping sires during his life. Voltaire stood at the stud until his death at the age of 25, when he suffered from a heart attack while covering a mare.Voltaire is said to cross well with French Thoroughbreds, such as the female offspring of Furioso
Furioso
Furioso was an influential sire of jumping horses, and is found in the pedigrees of many top show jumpers today.-Life:Furioso was a terrible racehorse, with zero wins out of 21 starts. However, he was a fantastic sire of jumping horses, standing in France...
and those of Furioso's sons Le Mexico and Purioso.
Stallion approval
With his small size and a large hoof crack, Voltaire was originally rejected by the Oldenburg licensing commission. The KWPN commission was also not thrilled, and graded him 14th out of 14 horses in the performance test (despite his excellent jumping marks). However, he was eventually approved with several studbooks, including the Oldenburg.Success of offspring
Voltaire produced numerous international-caliber horses during his lifetime. From his first crop, he sired the approved stallion Concorde. Concorde went on to compete internationally in show jumping, including the 1994 Dutch Championships, and is now a well-known breeding stallion who has sired Viktor, ridden by McLain Ward, and Conquest, ridden by Todd Minikus and Beezie Madden.Voltaire had over 30 approved sons in Europe. He is found in the pedigrees of 28 jumpers of the 2000-2001 World Breeding Federation for Sport Horse standings, was ranked 9th in the Federation's top 50 sires for the years 1991-2000, and finished second in 1999 in the list of show jumpng sires. Additionally, Voltaire had the most offspring at the 1996 Olympic Games that any other stallion.
Voltaire has also been a great sire of show hunter
Show hunter
The show hunter is a type of show horse that is judged on its movement, manners, and way of going, particularly while jumping fences. The horses are shown in hunt seat style tack, and are often of Warmblood or Thoroughbred type, though a hunter-style pony is also seen in youth classes...
s in the United States. He was awarded the title of "Huntersire of the Year" for 2001, 2002, and 2003. In 2003, he not only finished as the USAEq leading hunter sire, with 33 offspring, but also as the USEq leading jumper sire, having 25 offspring who earned a total of $176,189. Notable hunters with include Popeye K
Popeye K
Popeye K is a well-known stallion that competes on the "A" circuit in show hunter classes.*Foaled: May 22, 1997 on Ashland Farm in Canada*Color: Bay*Markings: blaze, stockings on all four*Sex: Stallion*Height: 17.1 hh...
, Nobleman, King de Coquerie and Mandkind.
Type produced by Voltaire
Voltaire's offspring were generally late-maturing, not showing their jumping abilities until the age of five or six after correct riding had helped to develop it. According to Jacques Verkerk of the KWPN: "Voltaire produces roughly two types of horse; rather square exteriors with an articulate top-line or big rectangular horses with a lot of bone."Generally, the sons and daughters of Voltaire have scope, power, and a tight front end. However, they often have a short back, and may not have perfect technique with their hind end. Although they have a good galloping stride, they may be slow and have a slightly too-straight hind leg. But they are very careful jumpers, generally want to go clean (a very important trait in a show jumper), and are brave.
Offspring
Voltaire has sired offspring that have gone on to be successful in both the show jumping and dressage arenas. Voltaire sired such horses as Concorde, Response, Finesse, Play it Again, Altaire, Especiale, Kannan, Lemato, Mezcalero (represented Mexico in the 1998 World Equestrian Games, and jumped in many Nations Cup competitions under rider Frederico Fernandez), Farmer (sire of Olympic reserve Lowina), Ecuador (sire of 2004 Dutch Olympic dressage team member Idocus), Lancelot KWPN (ex Nimmerdor, and sire of Pavorotti, Tristan, Parcival, SF Sadin,and many more international horses), and One More Look (high-scoring foal at the NASFA 2002 Foal Evaluations). Other notable offspring include Foltaire (international dressage horse ridden by Guenter Seidel), Helios, Electro, Danta, and Kahlua. Some of Voltaire's successful hunter offspring include: Winston Churchill, Popeye KPopeye K
Popeye K is a well-known stallion that competes on the "A" circuit in show hunter classes.*Foaled: May 22, 1997 on Ashland Farm in Canada*Color: Bay*Markings: blaze, stockings on all four*Sex: Stallion*Height: 17.1 hh...
, Blink, High Cotton, King de Coquerie, and Moriah.