The American bred and foaled Trakehner stallion Davidas jumped his way into the history books last weekend when he was approved as a premium stallion by the German Trakehner Verband at their annual stallion inspection and auction held in October in Northern Germany. He was also named “Best Jumper” of the inspection earning his breeder/owner Dr. Margaret MacGregor, Holders Hill, Auburn, IL, an engraved crystal vase for the honor.

“I was honored to have him be accepted through the pre-selection process for Neumünster and thrilled beyond belief when he was approved with premium status and awarded ‘Best Jumper,’” said MacGregor.

  “The colt was seen at my farm by a German visitor, Erhard Schulte, and he asked if I would consider exporting him to Germany. We knew that the dam line genes no longer existed in Germany. Also there currently there were no Horalas approved sons standing in Germany, so this influenced my decision to send him. “

Davidas was the first American-born Trakehner stallion to be approved at the Verband’s main inspection held every fall in Neumünster. He attracted much attention from the German audience who quickly dubbed him the “U.S. Boy” according to the Verband press releases. He sold in the stallion auction on Sunday for 93,000 Euros ($117,180 U.S.) to a German-based group consisting of the Bruch Family, Welvert Stud, St. Wendel, Saarland, and the German State Stud at Moritzburg, Saxony. Bidders from China also indicated their strong interest in Davidas during the auction driving up the price.

Plans are for Davidas to be started under saddle this winter and he will stand at the Saxony State Stud for next three years. After that his new owners intend to compete on the jumper circuit in Europe.

Davidas, foaled in 2012, is by the Lithuanian-bred Trakehner stallion Horalas *Pg*E* (Veimeras – Gret), who was the Lithuanian National Jumper Champion twice, then was imported to the U.S. by Diane Rushing and was a successful Grand Prix show jumper in the U.S. with Francie Steinwedell-Carvin or Hap Hansen in irons from 2003 - 2006 . Horalas is owned by Jim Rushing, Equibalt, Woodside, CA, but stands at MacGregor’s farm in Illinois. Davidas’ dam, Devi Danae, is by the Show Jumping Hall of Fame member and Olympic and World Cup medalist Abdullah *Pg*E*. 

Two other North American-bred stallions were previously approved in Germany:  Lord Luciano (Enrico Caruso *Ps*E* - Unkenruf *Pg *E*, bred and owned by Debra Tyler, Tylord Farm, Benson, VT) and Amiego *Ps*E* (Händel – Donauwind *E*,  now deceased, bred by Gerhard Schickedanz, Markham, Ontario, Canada, and owned by John Krenger, Woodstock, IL.) Lord Luciano was approved by the Trakehner Verband in Germany in the spring of 2006 at an inspection in Mönchengladbach-Wickrath; he is currently being competed in Europe in Grand Prix dressage by Terhi Stegars, Luxemburg.  Amiego, a half brother to Abdullah out of the same dam, was approved at a special inspection in Germany in December 1989 and returned to North America after standing at stud for one year at the Poll family farm in Germany.