HOCKEY: BRED STRICTLY ACCORDING TO THE GOLDEN RECIPE.
by Elena Zobova

Evidently, Hockey was one of the best breeding stallions at Kirov horse stud in Russia. During the long and prolific life he produced more than 350 offspring by natural covering, including 70 broodmares, which are used in breeding not only in Russia, but all over the world. At the present time six sons and eight grandsons of Hockey are the breeding stallions in Russia plus seven stallions, which are available for breeding in Europe and North America.
Hockey was foaled on February 25, 1973 at Kirov horse stud, located in the south of Russia in Salsk prairies about 140 kilometers far from Rostov-on-Don. His dam Haza was 16 years old, when the bay stallion, primarily named Hljupik, was born. This bay elite mare had a very sweet disposition and embodied the powerful, full-bodied, large-framed and elegant mare model, but looked a bit on the heavy side – just the way all horses from Kupferhammer sire line were. Her sire Hrizolit, the son of German bred Hitrets and Angara by Alibi, started his career in sport rather successfully, but his life ended very early due to indirect inguinal hernia. Hrizolit left 58 foals, who had a lot of blood and desired type, including three excellent sport horses and breeding stallions: chestnut Hohot (out of Hvala by Hyperion) competed in show jumping, chestnut Hrip (out of Paklja by Pythagoras) was high class dressage stallion, while dark bay Hrust (out of Tma by Termit) was sold to Dnepropetrovsk horse stud, Ukraine. Haza’s dam East Prussian mare Zapadnja by Sund established her own dam family in Russian Trakehner breed, which produced numerous breeding stallions, to name but a few - Sapros by Pepel approved in Germany, Zaslon by Sezam xx, standing at Kirov horse stud and early deceased black beauty Zevs by Eh-Ma. Haza left for the breed six elite daughters, including bay Tihonja by Topol ox – the dam of approved stallion Trafaret by Almanach I, 16 granddaughters and three breeding stallions. They are show jumping champion and Kirov elite stallion Herson by Eol, who was highly estimated by German Trakehner Verband as well as his recently approved son Heops out of Olimpiada by Pavich, elite stallion Haymat by Maat, who was sold to the Ukraine, and Hockey.
Narrow, large-boned and elegant was the way Hockey looked at one and a half, when he arrived at the racing stable of Rostov Hippodrome and was broken under the saddle to be tested in flat races, like any over colt, bred at Kirov horse stud at those times. But, unfortunately, flat racing was not his fancy. In the mean time his contenders strived for victory, Hockey amazingly cantered with excited tail swishing, turning his noble head from the left side to the right side, curiously looking at the spectators, who shouted from the tribunes. Hockey raced insufficiently, winning none of three races he took part in.

Arabian influence
Pomeranets ox – the sire of Hockey – was legendary Arabian stallion, who had huge influence on Arabian and warmblood breeds in Russia. This representative of Piolun ox sire line inherited specific chestnut color, bright koheilan-siglavi type and excellent basic gaits. Pomeranets ox was strong large stallion (height in whithers – 157 cm, girth – 182 cm, cannon bone – 19.5 cm) with noble head, favorably shaped long neck, nice whithers, shoulders, ribcage, loins and croup; his foundation was very solid, strong-boned and powerful in all parts. Pomeranets ox’s sire chestnut Priboy ox was the best son of Polish bred Piolun ox by Koheilan I, chestnut stallion born in 1934 and brought to Tersky horse stud in 1939, where he was used only for three years until his death in 1944. His dam Dziewanna ox was the daughter of remarkable Bakszysz ox, famous as the sire of grey Fetysz ox, foaled in 1924 at Janov Podlasky horse stud in Poland, who was active at the Main Stud Trakehnen from 1937. Bakszysz ox also sired excellent mare Elegantka ox, whose particularly beautiful and relatively large chestnut son Lowelas ox by Koheilan I ox, foaled in 1930, came to the Main Stud Trakehnen in 1940. Of six races Piolun ox ran, he won three and was placed second in three. At Tersky horse stud Piolun ox gave excellent offspring not only from Polish, but also from French and English mares. One of the mares, purchased in England, was chestnut Rissalma ox, who turned to be outstanding broodmare and produced brilliant racing horse and breeding stallion in Priboy ox. The dam of Pomeranets ox bay mare Mammona ox by the very typical koheilan stallion Ofir ox was the best and most prolific among broodmares brought from Poland. She established her own dam family at Tersky horse stud, but before Mammona ox was used in breeding, she had to cover the distance of 1800 kilometers from Janov Podlasky horse stud to Tersky horse stud. Her dam Krucica ox by Farys II ox was the maternal grand daughter of Bakszysz ox.
For the first time Pomeranets ox – the champion of Arabian breed in 1955 and 1956 – was taken on lease by Kirov horse stud in 1959. In 1960 dark bay stallion Paket was born out of Emblema I by Eifel. At the Olympic Games 1968 in Mexico this 8 years old stallion finished the cross-country course with 37.91 points under the saddle of Pavel Deev, just 0.97 points ahead of the French rider, who even did not hope to win, because he knew how easily the Russian jumped. But during the last day of competition Paket was eliminated, because of a mistake made by his rider on the show jumping course. Only a few breeders and riders knew how much the wonderful dark chestnut could achieve in equestrian sport. Since 1973 Paket became the breeding stallion at his native horse stud and during 7 years sired 73 offspring, including bay stallion Poputchik born in 1975 out of Petunja by Piligrim and maternal half brother to Almox Prints J bay stallion Poplin, born in 1976 out of Pavana by Welt, who showed the outstanding results in the same tough discipline as his sire.
For the second time Pomeranets ox arrived at Kirov horse stud in 1965. His progeny born in 1966 included three elite broodmares: chestnut Monopolija out of Molodost by Mius xx – the dam of two very good breeding stallions and full brothers Mezon and Mramor by Ostrjak; chestnut Tropa out of Tahta by Termit – the dam of elite black stallion Topki by Ostrjak, incredible jumping horse with dream like pedigree, team gold medalist at the Olympic Games 1980 in Moscow, chief sire at Kirov horse stud since 1977 and bay Epika out of Emblema I by Eifel – the dam of elite chestnut stallion Espadron by Pamir, individual silver and team gold medalist at the Olympic Games 1980 in Moscow, main sire at Kirov horse stud since 1981.
Two years before his death in 1972 Pomeranets ox returned back to Kirov horse stud for the third time to sire his most prominent son Hockey as well as bay stallion Vyhlop out of Velikolepnaja by Plafon xx, who was used in breeding of Budyonny horses. Without doubt, Pomeranets ox was very influential because of his genetic dominance and distinctive type, the willingness to perform was the most significant trait of this impressive sire. Pomeranets ox not only strengthened readiness to perform and health of Russian Trakehners, he brought new important genes to the breed.
In 1976 three years old Hockey was approved for breeding and arrived to Kirov horse stud to be used for selected mares and continue the dynasty of noble warmblood horses of Trakehner origin. Hockey was 167 cm high in whithers and had the beautiful head and neck of the Arabian, the well defined handsome face, the fine harmony of the entire body, which impacted a natural balance in any time and in any position. Hockey was the stallion of excellent character, always whether he was being groomed or ridden or even when he was breeding, he was like a lamb. In 1994 Hockey was sold to Denmark, where he spent the last months of his life under the best of care and loving conditions with Palle Thisted, the breeder of Trakehner horses from Aarhus; his life ended in December 1994 at the age of 21 years.

Famous offspring on the dressage and show jumping scene
Hockey’s get are of very correct and stylish exterior with delicate faces, even better than their sire as regards trotting. Hockey produced horses that could be ridden by all and sundry, level headed, easy to get along with, prepared to perform and endowed with a high rideability. The first famous dressage horse sired by Hockey was bay gelding Zaporozhets foaled in 1980 out of Zabota by Almanach I. During many years he performed in the competitions of Grand Prix level together with his rider Inessa Poturaeva. Always ready and willing, in good mood every day Zaporozhets could passage with or without bridle and saddle. He died in January 2000 at the age of 20 years during his training in the field. In 1987 bay gelding Podhod out of Povestka by Papirus and dark chestnut stallion Arlekin out of Avtomatika by Vympel were born. The latter was successful in the dressage ring up to Intermediare I and now is used on Hannoverian mares at “Progress” horse studfarm in Belarus, while Podhod, ridden by Elena Sidneva, represented Russian dressage team at European Championships in Verden (1997) and Aarhus (1999), World Championship in Rome (1998) and Olympic Games in Sidney (2000). Podhod with his beautiful exterior and eye-catching movements captured the hearts of numerous dressage fans. One of the former top horses at the stables of Ulla Salzgeber bay stallion Perechlest, born in 1989 out of Pepela by Papirus was a mount with unbelievable elasticity, an excellent passage and piaffe. Perechlest is approved by German Trakehner Verband and being back from Switzerland found his new home at Gerard Geling new breeding station Gestüt Hohenschmark in Grebin. The elegant, thoroughly harmonius appearance of chestnut stallion Oskar, born in 1990 out of Obitel by Blesk, always caused the American audience to be spellbound. In the hands of Hokan Thorn this diamond, approved by the American Trakehner Association with great score for type, conformation and gaits, is master scholar, who easily learned even the most difficult dressage lessons. Tatyana Yanson from Moscow can thank her successful results in Grand Prix of Lipica, Brno and Jozefin to her bay gelding Prokaznik, born in 1992 out of Prosba by Brezent xx.
But it has not been just the international dressage arenas, where Hockey has proved his consistency. His offspring stood out in the show jumping courses as well. The mighty power and charisma of Almox Prints J made him completely different from other horses. The secret of this dark bay stallion, approved by German Trakehner Verband, was his character and the will to do everything and to jump anything. Almox Prints J won several Nations Cups, Grand Prix of Wiesbaden and Rotterdam as well as took part in the Olympic Games 1992 in Barcelona. Another of the successful jumping horses by Hockey was bay gelding Pahar, born in 1981 out of Pepela by Papirus, who won several advanced level jumping tests under Vladimir Voshchakin. Chestnut stallion Bokal, born in 1988 out of Bahroma by Blesk was rather successful under a jumping saddle until he started breeding mares at Kaliningrad horse stud, Russia. Unfortunately, he died last year because of a heart attack.

Breeding
Hockey’s sons breed in practically all breeding areas. The bay Oreh, born in 1986 out of Optika by Prospekt, who radiates the same presence his sire had, is the breeding stallion at Kirov horse stud and has already sired nice dressage horses. His half brother bay Skif, born in 1994 out of Saklja by Sargan xx, is also stationed there. At Zlynsk horse stud, Russia there is dark bay Orsk, born in 1983 out of Ovsjanitsa by Welt, who has sired bay stallion Otschag out of Hannoverian mare imported to the USA. In St. Petersburg region at “Zevs” horse stud farm bay Piket was used, the full brother of Almox Prints J, who finished his breeding career last year at the age of 22 years. On the starting block is another bay Hockey’s son Shol, foaled in 1987 out of Strogaja by Ostrjak, who has already produced nice foals at “Koloss” horse stud in Krasnodar, Russia. “Sovetsky” horse stud owns chestnut stallion Peshehod, born in 1989 out of Povjazka by Vyhodets, whose first crop is already 3-years old.
At the Trakehner Hengstmarkt 2003 in Neumünster one stallion got a lot of attention: the most stunning Hockey’s son Lowelas out of Lugowen by Inster Graditz, who is a highly correct stallion with a strong foundation, with movements that just blow away and jumping abilities above average. Lowelas is the best combination of elegance and caliber. Only his weak walk kept this chestnut from being the champion in Neumünster 2003. The future of the stallion is in reliable hands of dressage rider from Great Britain Fiona Bigwood. Canadian Trakehner Association has three Hockey’s sons approved. They are show jumping champion of Russia grey Balkhash foaled in 1990 at Kirov horse stud out of Babochka by Brezent xx, who was gelded, but there is plenty of frozen semen left, and two stallions born in Denmark from artificial insemination - chestnut Kirov in 1996 out of La Coco Chanel by Bergsturm and black brown Olympic Touch in 2000 out of Ognennaja by Egoist.
It was not just his sons that made Hockey so precious. Having a Hockey broodmare in their stables has been the source of successful offspring for many breeders. At Kirov horse stud Hockey’s daughters Oblozhka gave birth to chestnut Otradnaja by Topki in 1983, while Etiketka foaled in 1987 dark bay Efedra by Erot xx. Both mares were very good jumping horses under the saddle of Nataliya Simoniya. Since Dr. Reiner Klimke rode on the ingenious dark bay stallion from Kirov horse stud, it was hard for the brilliant rider from Münster to think about leaving the international dressage arena. Biotop (born in 1985, Blesk – Plaksa by Hockey), who motivated the rider-legend newly and brought fun to him, now stays at the family as a spectacular will of Dr. Reiner Klimke. Bay mare Prjaha by Hockey produced show jumping horse and German Trakehner Verband approved stallion Long Deal, ex Parus, by Alarm in 1988, who shares the same stable with Perechlest, and the year after dressage jewel in dark bay stallion Quixotte Priboy by Blesk.
In Russia, when we consider a stallion of the century, we refer to Hockey. His hereditary transmission is unequalled in respect to rideability, seating comfort, affability and preparedness to perform. Truly a legendary stallion, bred strictly according to the golden recipe and already part of the annal of history.