Behind the scenes at Westfalenpferden

In this first episode we would like to introduce ourselves. Britta Knaup is assistant auction manager at the Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch and talks to Managing Director Carsten Rotermund, Auction and Breeding Manager Thomas Münch and Breeding Manager Katrin Tosberg about the association's main tasks. We take a look behind the scenes with you and provide insights into planned campaigns, new trends at auctions and valuable tips for the start of the breeding season. Find out more about the careers of the team members and look forward to insights about the association.

With Lucie-Anouk and Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel

In this episode, Britta Knaup from the Westphalian Studbook is a guest at the Freiberger Hof. The sisters Lucie-Anouk and Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel live with their parents Beatrice and Lars Baumgürtel and their brother Linus on the Freiberger Hof in Nottuln. The whole family is closely involved in equestrian sport and horse breeding. Both sisters have already won numerous medals at European Dressage Championships for young riders. Their philosophy in training: without pressure to perform and with fairness to success!

In conversation with breeding manager Katrin Tosberg

Breeding your own foal is the dream of many equestrian athletes. Spring is approaching and with it the first foal births and the next mating decisions. What do I need to consider when breeding my first foal? How do I choose the right stallion for my mare and what formalities do I need to observe before covering and after the birth? How will my foal be registered in the Westphalian Stud Book and what costs will I incur?

We talk to Katrin Tosberg, Head of Breeding at the Westphalian Studbook, about all the questions that arise around the topic of "My first own foal - from choosing the right stallion to the foal show".

E-mail address for health data: gesundheit(ät)westfalenpferde.de

Guest of stallion trainer Stefan Holtwiesche

Preparing young horses for licensing and mare performance tests is his speciality. Stefan Holtwiesche was responsible for preparing the Westphalian champion dressage stallion for two years in a row.

Britta Knaup talks to him about his day-to-day work and his experiences around the licensing of riding horse stallions. How does he recognise a good stallion at foal age and how does it feel to present the champion stallion two years in a row?

with auctioneer Thomas Münch

Auctions are held regularly at the Westphalian Stud Book. Foals, riding horses and unridden youngsters are for sale several times a year. Once a year there is also a stallion market for licensed and unlicensed stallions. Finding your future top horse or loyal leisure partner at an auction? Quite normal for some riders, others are sceptical.
What happens at an auction? What are the advantages of buying at auction? What criteria must a horse fulfil in order to be admitted to an auction? What costs will I incur and what happens behind the scenes?

We talk to the Westphalian auction manager and auctioneer Thomas Münch about the various Westphalian auctions and his very personal experiences in the auction business.

...and here is the link to the auctioneer song that inspires Thomas Münch.

With marketer Florian Buck and Carsten Lenz

How does a horse become an auction horse? What does it have to bring with it to be included in the lot of a Westphalian auction? What is the procedure and who do I contact if I want to sell a horse at one of the many Westphalian auctions?

Britta Knaup talks to Florian Buck and Carsten Lenz, who are mainly responsible for marketing the dressage and show jumping horses of the Westphalian Studbook, about how and where to find the right auction horses and the process leading up to a successful sale.

Family success "Made by Westphalia"

Philipp Schulze-Topphoff is one of the current shooting stars of the young show jumping scene. He lives with his parents Bernd and Katja on a small farm in Havixbeck in Münsterland. The family also includes his sisters Lisa and Marie. The whole family is passionate about horses. Sister Marie is also currently riding from success to success in difficult competitions.

We talk to the Schulze-Topphoff family about the secret of their successes, their philosophy of horse training and the very special history that links the Schulze-Topphoff family to the Westphalian Studbook.

With breeding director Katrin Tosberg and her deputy Franziska Pellengahr-Gröblinghoff

The mare show season is in the starting blocks. Young mares are currently being prepared for the mare show and mare performance test. The aim is to qualify for participation in the Westphalian Elite Mare Show in Münster-Handorf and, of course, the title of "State Premium Mare". What is the process like? What requirements must my mare fulfil in order to be successful? Britta Knaup talks about this with breeding manager Katrin Tosberg and her deputy Franziska Pellengahr-Gröblinghoff.

With State Stable Master Dr Felix Austermann

"Preserving what is good and creating something new together": this is the motto of the German State Studs. The ten main and state studs spread across Germany stand for lasting values and security. With their centuries-long tradition, they are the cradle of German horse breeding. The North Rhine-Westphalian State Stud in Warendorf was founded in 1826 at the request of breeders from Westphalia. The main task of this traditional institution is to provide horse breeders with high quality and genetically interesting stallions.

Dr Felix Austermann is the head of the state stud in Warendorf - the so-called Landstallmeister. Britta Knaup talks to him about the tasks of the State Stud, the selection and purchase of stallions as well as his personal opinion on the selection of stallions and the timing of licencing.

Life as a horse influencer

In this episode, Britta Knaup meets 18-year-old Lia Julie Beckmann. She is known on Instagram under the synonym Lia & Alfi and talks about her path to success in the saddle and on social media, the daily challenges of a horse influencer and how she discovered and bought her successful horse Las Dallas at the Westphalian Auction.

With Wibke Hartmann-Stommel

Wibke Hartmann-Stommel completed her apprenticeship as a horse manager specialising in classical riding training with Nina and Heiner Rohmann in Marl. She then worked as an auction rider in Münster-Handorf. She is now best known for her numerous victories and medals at the national championships - the showcase of German horse breeding. She runs her own training stable in Greven, not far from Münster. Her husband Philipp Hartmann is a rider at Beerbaum Stables in Riesenbeck.

We talk to Wibke Hartmann-Stommel about her time as an auction rider at the Westphalian Studbook, her successes at the Bundeschampionat and how equestrian sport is a family affair for her.

With Larina Schimanneck and Marc-André Ridder

The joy is great! After long months of waiting, the foal was born healthy. Now it needs a passport, a chip and its own life identification number. But which steps have to be taken in which order, how does the chip get to my foal and who is my contact person? Who is authorised to chip a foal, what exactly is a farm appointment and how is the number in my horse's life identification number actually made up? These and other questions are answered today by Larina Schimannek and Marc-André Ridder from the studbook of the Westphalian Studbook in conversation with Britta Knaup.

With Jolina Klapdor and Marco Zimmermann

Turning a hobby into a profession. This is what many young "horse people" dream of when they embark on the path to becoming a rider or, more correctly, a classical riding instructor. Several young people start their training at the Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch every year. The riding horse auctions, which take place four times a year, are a speciality for horse managers at the Westphalian Stud Book. The horses are only ridden by the staff in Münster-Handorf for a short period of time. A great deal of sensitivity and quick adjustment to the individual needs of the auction candidates is required here.

In an interview with Britta Knaup, Marco Zimmermann and Jolina Klapdor talk about the challenges involved in the day-to-day running of the auction, how to adapt to the different horses in the shortest possible time in order to present them in the best possible way and what is special about training at the Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch.

With Hedda Droege-Ottmann and Franz-Georg Ottmann

What breeder doesn't dream of breeding horses for top international sport? Giving birth to a foal and appearing as a breeder in the results lists of international championships a few years later - that is the wish of many riding horse breeders. For this dream to come true, it requires not only a little bit of luck, but also the right touch in the breeding and rearing decisions, as well as good management in the training of the young horses.

The Ottmann breeding family lives in Saerbeck. Hedda Ottmann-Droege and Franz-Georg Ottmann are carrying on their respective family traditions of Westphalian horse breeding with passion and success in the second generation. On the one hand, there is the Droege family's Dalmer estate in Lippetal, where the broodmares are based, and the Ottmann farm, which specialises in training young horses. Hedda and Franz-Georg have brought their breeding programme together under the motto "From foal to Grand Prix" - and with great success!

In this episode, Britta Knaup is a guest of Hedda Ottmann Droege and Franz-Georg Ottmann in Saerbeck. They talk about the history of their horse breeding, their philosophy in breeding and training sport horses and their recipe for success.

The 1st Chairman of the Westphalian Studbook

The Westphalian Studbook is a registered association that is managed by its members. The management works closely with the executive board, which is made up of honorary members and makes the important decisions for the future of the Westphalian Studbook. As in every regional riding club, there is also a 1st chairman who looks after the interests of the members. Ralf Johanshon has held this role at the Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch for over 10 years.

Britta Knaup talks to the President of the Westphalian Studbook about his motivation to fulfil this office alongside his main job, about the changes in horse breeding, about good and bad times at the Westphalian Studbook and the public perception of equestrian sport.

Special episode with auction manager Thomas Münch

Riding horse auctions are held four times a year at the Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch. They used to be divided into Elite Auction and Handorf Extra Auctions. Today, the auctions are named after the four seasons in which they take place. They take place as on-live or online auctions and offer a wide range of riding horses and riding ponies so that every rider can find the right horse for their requirements.

Today, Britta Knaup talks to auction and marketing manager Thomas Münch in an exclusive auction special about the lot of the current summer auction of the Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch, who can find the right horse here, how to become an auction rider at the Westfälisches Pferdestammbuch and how bidding at an online auction generally works.

The home of several Westphalian champion stallions with Wilhelm and Simon Holkenbrink

In addition to the State Stud in Warendorf, there are many private stallion owners in Westphalia and beyond whose stallions have characterised Westphalian horse breeding in the past and will continue to do so in the future. Selecting new stallions and making them available to Westphalian breeders for modern riding horse breeding is the goal of all of them. Of course, we would like to introduce you to the unique philosophies of the stallion stations in stallion purchasing and horse breeding, as well as the people behind the scenes, one by one.

Today we start with the Holkenbrink stallion station in Münster Albachten, not far from the Westphalian Studbook. It was founded in 1982 by Wolhelm Holkenbrink and his father. It is home to several champion stallions from Münster-Handorf in recent years. Britta Knaup talks to the current owners, Wilhelm and his son Simon Holkenbrink, about their stallion station, their philosophy in stallion rearing and which stallions they associate with very special memories.

With Wibke Hartmann-Stommel and Melissa Pander

Golden ribbons, sashes, medals and titles at major tournaments: These are milestones that the public recognises in professional athletes. It takes more than talent, and not just in equestrian sport! Only diligence, perseverance and a lot of hard work make success possible. However, every success is also characterised by setbacks and dry spells. The pressure to succeed, keeping an eye on the competition and the goal of always being a little better than the rest characterise the everyday lives of professional athletes and riders, regardless of age. What happens when the pressure is too great and ultimately unbearable? And who or what can help to find a way out so that you can get back to normal and enjoy everyday life with your horse?

Britta Knaup talks to Wibke Hartmann-Stommel and her mental coach Melissa Pander about the dark side of success in equestrian sport. Wiebke Hartmann-Stommel talks about the pressure to succeed, her fear of starting competitions, the feeling of not being good enough, not being able to cope with everyday life and how she found help in Melissa Pander's mental coaching, among other things.

120 years of the Westphalian Studbook and 100 years of the Equestrian Sports Association

The Westphalian Studbook was founded on 3 March 1904. The statutes state: "The purpose of the breeders' association is to pursue and perfect the breeding of a Westphalian horse in two breeding directions through the careful selection of mares and stallions. The breeding direction is a warm-blooded and a cold-blooded horse breed." This was 120 years ago and the Westphalian Stud Book is celebrating its anniversary this year. Together with the Westphalian Equestrian Sports Association, which is 100 years old, the anniversary festival "The Future of Horses" will be held on the grounds of the Westphalian Horse Centre in Münster-Handorf from 12 to 14 July to mark the occasion.

Britta Knaup talks to the Managing Director of the Westphalian Studbook, Carsten Rotermund, about the history and future of the Westphalian Studbook and which very special anniversary festival will be celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Westphalian Studbook this year.

Pony derby winner Mats Buck
 

The equestrian sport scene comes together in Hamburg every year.. The Hamburg Derby is unique in the world. This competition has been held since 1920. The German Dressage and Show Jumping Derby is thus a true show classic. In the dressage arena, the derby final takes place between three participants with a change of horses. A real challenge that the U16 pony riders also face every year. Winning the Derby - whether in show jumping or dressage - is a title you keep for life! Mats Buck celebrated this very special victory in Hamburg this year with his Westphalian riding pony Dancing Sun NRW.
Britta Knaup talks to Mats Buck about his career in pony sport, his connection to the Westphalian Studbook, his success in Hamburg and his very special relationship with his successful pony Dancing Sun NRW.

Assenmacher stallion station

As promised, we would like to gradually introduce various stallion stations in our podcast that have shaped and will continue to shape Westphalian horse breeding with their stallions. The Westphalian Studbook not only maintains the studbook for riding horses. It is also the largest breeding organisation for riding ponies in Germany, which is why we do not want to withhold these stations from you. After the Holkenbrink stallion station, which has been well known and proven for over 30 years, has kicked off the riding horse programme, we are starting with a very young station for riding ponies. The Assenmacher family's Burghof stud farm has not only been breeding riding ponies for three years: Stallions have now also found their home here and are enjoying great popularity.
 

Britta Knaup talks to Silke and Michael Assenmacher about their still young stallion station, their visions when they founded it, the challenges posed by the current market and their philosophy on horse breeding.
 

https://www.reitponyzucht-assenmacher.de/

What else did the auctioneer know

The first Westphalian riding horse auction took place in 1954 in the Halle Münsterland. Since then, the auction business and horse breeding have come a long way. One person who has shaped the Westphalian auction business for decades is Bernd Richter. From 1994 to 2019, he was in charge of horse sales at the Westphalian Studbook, sifted through and selected riding horses and foals for the auctions and then auctioned them off as auctioneer. He handed over the reins in Münster-Handorf in mid-2019. However, he remains loyal to the Westphalian Studbook as a breeder and auctioneer.

Britta Knaup talks to the former auction manager and auctioneer of the Westphalian Studbook, Bernd Richter, about his experiences and adventures in the Westphalian auction business, the changing times in horse breeding and horse sales and how Bernd remains loyal to the Westphalian auction business even in his retirement.

Stable management at the Westphalian Equestrian Centre with Marina Laumann

The Westphalian Horse Centre is, among other things, a training centre for horses and riders. In more than 80 boxes, the young horses of the members of the Westphalian Studbook find space to learn their first steps as riding horses and to be prepared for upcoming tasks such as a Westphalian auction or a mare performance test. Every year, prospective riders and grooms also begin their training in the fields of classical riding training or service at the Westphalian Horse Centre. In addition to the day-to-day work of looking after the riding horses, the staff at the equestrian centre are also involved as helpers at the various events. As stable manager, long-time employee Marina Laumann keeps track of everything at the Westphalian Equestrian Centre. 

Today, Britta Knaup talks to Marina about her career, her time at the Westphalian Equestrian Centre and her daily tasks between the stables and the office.

Breeding family Sterthoff

The foundation stone for the success of horse breeding in Westphalia is laid by the breeders! With a lot of passion and love, they make mating decisions year after year and accompany the newborn foals as they take their first steps. The aim of every breeder is to breed healthy and performance-orientated horses. But of course every breeder also has the dream of producing a foal that will later be the talk of the town. The Sterthoff family from Hamm has been loyal to the Westphalian Studbook for over 50 years. Over 200 Westphalian-registered foals have already been born to the breeders family. This year, Heinrich and his son Philipp Sterthoff not only produced the champion mare at the Westphalian Elite Show, a short time later their breeding product Vayron won the team silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris.
 

Today, Britta Knaup talks to Heinrich and Philipp Sterthoff about their horse breeding, the successes of their home-bred horses and what makes them particularly proud.

Olympic Gold Medallist Checker and Christian Kukuk

A few weeks ago, THE major sporting event of the year took place in Paris: The Summer Olympics. Just taking part in the Olympics is a dream come true for many athletes. Winning a medal and then a gold medal is the biggest sporting highlight an athlete can have. Christian Kukuk, the rider from Ludger Beerbaum's stables, managed to win the individual gold medal in the show jumping competition this year with his Westphalian gelding Checker. A success that can almost be described as historic: The last time a German rider won the individual gold medal in show jumping at the Olympic Games was around 30 years ago. That was in Atlanta 1996 when Ulrich Kirchhoff rode his Jus de Pommes to gold.

Britta Knaup talks to the newly crowned individual Olympic gold medallist Christian Kukuk about his success in Paris, the emotions behind it, what makes his successful horse Checker so special and what actually makes a true Westphalian.

Westphalia's Golden Autumn - Handorf Auction Festival

From foal to Olympic competitor, from amateur horse to top athlete: that is the motto at the Westphalian Studbook these days. An unprecedented three-day auction festival is about to begin. The event will kick off on Friday evening with an exclusive lot of young show jumping talents. Around 30 show jumpers and youngsters will be for sale in the auction hall. On Saturday evening, the youngest Westphalians will take to the big stage for the first time. Around 30 foals will then be for sale on the outdoor arena at the Westphalian Horse Centre. On Sunday, everything in the auction hall will revolve around the dressage specialists. Around 50 dressage horses and unridden youngsters will round off the Handorf Auction Festival. The weekend will be rounded off by the Handorf Oktoberfest on Saturday evening. The auction festival is embedded in the German Amateur Championships. This is the fifth time that the championships have been held at the Westphalian Horse Centre.

Britta Knaup talks to the Westphalian Auction Manager Thomas Münch and the marketers Florian Buck and Julius Reinacher about this unique auction festival, how the idea for this major event came about, how the lot of riding horses, youngsters and foals is made up and what very special horses are up for sale in the various auctions.

The lot of auction candidates can be found at: onlineauction.westfalenpferde.de.

Contact:
Thomas Münch: +49 170 5649051
Florian Buck: +49 172 7221394
Julius Reinacher: +49 160 7821720

Westphalia's Golden Autumn - Handorf Auction Festival

From foal to Olympic competitor, from amateur horse to top athlete: that is the motto at the Westphalian Studbook these days. An unprecedented three-day auction festival is about to begin. The event will kick off on Friday evening with an exclusive lot of young show jumping talents. Around 30 show jumpers and youngsters will be for sale in the auction hall. On Saturday evening, the youngest Westphalians will take to the big stage for the first time. Around 30 foals will then be for sale on the outdoor arena at the Westphalian Horse Centre. On Sunday, everything in the auction hall will revolve around the dressage specialists. Around 50 dressage horses and unridden youngsters will round off the Handorf Auction Festival. The weekend will be rounded off by the Handorf Oktoberfest on Saturday evening. The auction festival is embedded in the German Amateur Championships. This is the fifth time that the championships have been held at the Westphalian Horse Centre.

Britta Knaup talks to the Westphalian Auction Manager Thomas Münch and the marketers Florian Buck and Julius Reinacher about this unique auction festival, how the idea for this major event came about, how the lot of riding horses, youngsters and foals is made up and what very special horses are up for sale in the various auctions.

The lot of auction candidates can be found at: onlineauction.westfalenpferde.de.

Contact:
Thomas Münch: +49 170 5649051
Florian Buck: +49 172 7221394
Julius Reinacher: +49 160 7821720

Stallion Station Danica Duen with Danica and Sophie Luisa Duen

Danica Duen's stallion station in Bad Oyenhausen is home to several generations of successful pony stallions. Champion stallions at the licensing, champion mares at the Westphalian Elite Show and numerous Westphalian and Bundeschampions arose of the well-kept lines. It is not unusual for the breeder, owner and rider of one of these champions to be the lady of the house herself, Danica Duen. Daughter Sophie Luisa Duen is also highly successful in the dressage saddle and strives to rival her mother in the riding pony arena. This year, the mother-daughter team presented all three Westphalian-bred Bundeschampions in Warendorf. 

Today, Britta Knaup talks to Danica and her daughter Sophie Luisa Duen about their stallion station, their Bundeschampions of 2024, their collaborations with other stallion owners, their very personal relationships with their stallions, the special mother/daughter relationship they have and their visions and goals for the future.

Stallion Station Mathieu Beckmann

Mathieu Beckmann's stallion station is located in Wettringen in the centre of the main breeding areas of the largest German breeding associations. The stud is based on the four pillars of breeding, training, sales and stallions. The flagship of the stallion station today is undoubtedly the Grand Prix successful stallion Benicio and his Westphalian son Be my Dancer. But other stallions, such as Fürst Samarant, who issuccessfully competing in advanced level dressage competitions, also began their careers at the Westphalian main licensing and are now at home as sires at the Beckmann stallion station. Mathieu Beckmann is not only a stallion owner, but also a discoverer of young talents: Numerous stallions have grown up with him, been trained for the Westphalian main licensing under his guidance and then sold to other hands. These include the former champion stallion Danciero and the successful show jumpers Karajan and Ebanking.

Today, Britta Knaup talks to the owner of the Beckmann stallion station, Mathieu Beckmann, about the course of the recent stallion pre-selection at the Westphalian Horse Centre, the young horses' journey from foal to stallion candidate, his personal philosophy in buying and selling horses, the development of his stallion station and what makes it special, and his opinion on the current licensing procedure.

From the stallion preselection to the Westphalian main licensing with the Westphalian breeding managers Katrin Tosberg and Thomas Münch

The highlight in the breeders' calendar every year is the stallion licensing, which traditionally takes place at the Westphalian Horse Centre at the beginning of December. The performances of the potential young sires are eagerly awaited. After the in-hand, free-running, lunging and free-jumping presentations, everyone eagerly awaits the licensing decisions. The decision as to whether a stallion is licensed or not is made by a committee of selected representatives of the breeding association. Head of this committee is the breeding director. In Westphalia, these are Katrin Tosberg and Thomas Münch.

Britta Knaup talks to the two Westphalian breeding directors about their tasks in the context of stallion pre-selection and licensing, the 2022 stallion vintage, which stallions have particularly impressed as sires at the current preselection and their very personal experiences and challenges in the context of the Westphalian main licensing.

Stallion performance tests for various horse breeds with deputy breeding director Franziska Pellenghar-Gröblinghoff

A positive licensing decision for a young stallion is only the first step towards a successful career as a sire. In order to be listed in the stallion book I of the breeding association in the long term, the stallions still have to successfully pass a stallion performance test. Here the stallions are assessed in various sub-tests. The Westphalian Studbook maintains stud books for a wide variety of horse breeds. The stallion performance tests, the various sub-disciplines and the requirements placed on the stallions are as varied as the breeds themselves.

Britta Knaup talks to Franziska Pellenghar-Gröblinghoff, Deputy Breeding Director of the Westphalian Studbook, about the stallion performance tests for the various breeds, the demands placed on the participating stallions, the challenges that need to be overcome, the differences between Stallion Book I and II and the benefits of the stallion performance tests for the stallions' future careers as sires.

Westphalian main licensing 2024: Champion stallion jumping with Joachim Hufenstuhl

The 2024 Westphalian main licensing is over. A total of 88 dressage and show jumping stallions faced the judgement of the Westphalian licensing committee led by breeding directors Katrin Tosberg and Thomas Münch. The decision as to who will be the new Champion Stallion of the Year is always eagerly awaited at the end of the licensing days. Among both the dressage and jumping stallions, the stallion who has shown himself best through all three presentations is honoured once again. In the end, it is often close and nuances decide who comes out on top. Receiving the title of ‘Champion Stallion’ is a great honour for everyone involved and the stallion keeps this title for the rest of his life.

Britta Knaup talks to the breeder and exhibitor of this year's champion stallion of the jumping stallions, Joachim Hufenstuhl, about his joy and his feelings at the announcement of who the new champion stallion, how the mating decision for the Chaccothage Blue PS son came about, his interest in horse breeding and equestrian sport, the family business in Lindlar and the future of equestrian sport and horse breeding from his point of view.

Westphalian review of the year 2024: Carsten Rotermund, Katrin Tosberg and Thomas Münch

With the 33rd episode of this podcast, we end the year 2024. This year, the Westphalian Studbook celebrated its 120th anniversary with a huge jubilee festival. Many other events also took place on the grounds of the Westphalian Horse Center on the Sudmühlenstraße in Münster-Handorf. In addition, the association's employees are on the road at various national foal and mare shows or external foal auctions at major showgrounds throughout Germany. The westphalian horse breed is also well known and popular beyond the borders of Germany. Foals are registered and horses are sold abroad. What were the highlights of 2024 and what is in store for the Westphalian Studbook in 2025?

At the end of the year, Britta Knaup speaks once again with the management trio of the Westphalian Studbook, Managing Director Carsten Rotermund, Head of Breeding Katrin Tosberg and Head of Breeding and Marketing Thomas Münch. In the interview, they talk about their personal Westphalian highlights of the past year, their plans and visions for the Westphalian Studbook in 2025, highlights behind the scenes that nobody has heard of and their assessment of horse breeding and equestrian sport in the future.

Title hero Shiva NRW and her rider Nadine Plaster

The cover of the Westphalian auction catalogue is traditionally always adorned with a very special horse that was also sold at a previous Westphalian auction. At the 2025 Westphalian Winter Auction, Shiva NRW is pictured here on the cover of the auction catalogue as a representative of the successful former auction horses. As a three-year-old the daughter of Sir Heinrich/Fürst Grandios, bred by August-Wilhelm Schmale, changed hands at the Westphalian Autumn Auction. Nadine Plaster has been in the saddle of the talented mare ever since, and has trained her up to advanced level. The pair recently achieved their greatest success to date in the Frankfurt Festhalle. They ended the 2024 competition season with a third place in the final of the prestigious Louisdors Prize.

Britta Knaup talks to Nadine Plaster about her Shiva NRW, the pair's career, their experience at the 2018 Westphalian Auction, how they found each other, what makes the mare special and what other plans and goals they have for the future.