1985 – 2013 170 cm Black
Breeder: Otto Langels
For a while it seemed Trakehner breeding had lost its way, with the emphasis on producing pretty but not very rideable horses. There were a few exceptions like Otto Langels of Haemelschenburg Stud.
According to German equestrian journalist, Jan Tönjes:
‘Langels is well known for his breeding policy that doesn’t necessarily goes hand in hand with what is in vogue at the moment. Himself a Grand Prix rider, Langels was never fond of the small handsome and beautiful Trakehners so popular in the 70’s and 80’s. Horses bred at his farm are mostly not so refined. Kostolany is no exception from this rule. The black was champion stallion in 1987 and owes a lot of his popularity not only to his offspring that show various talents (Grand Prix dressage horses, eventers and 1.50m showjumpers) but to the fact that Langels perfomed the equine version of the ‘Phantom of the Opera.’ To the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Kostolany would not only do piaffes and passages but also sit and lay down. When the show was first presented at the Equitana the audience was thrilled. In the past 20 years Kostolany has covered more mares from the Trakehner breeding programme than any other sire. ”
Kostolany’s sire Enrico Caruso was the premium stallion of the first Federal German Stallion show, and was a successful Advanced dressage horse before he was sold to the United States in 1984. His dam sire Falke also emigrated to the States, where he too was successful in Advanced dressage classes. His grand-dam, Karben bred to Arogno, produced the premium stallion, Karon – sire of another influential Trakehner, Caprimond. Kostolany’s mare line descends from the mare Kassette (born at the principal stud of Trakehnen in 1937 and by the Shaya Arab, Harum Al Raschid). This line also produced the stallions Kassiber, Karneval, Kastilo, Kassius and Karneol. Immanuel, a full-brother to the great-grandam, Kaprice II, competed in the dressage at the 1972 Olympics.
Kostolany produced nine licensed sons, including reserve licensing champions Hofrat and Hoftänzer. His son, Silvermoon (out of a Mahagoni mare) was a premium stallion, but fell from grace and was being used as the personal riding horse of a Thoroughbred stud owner, that is until his daughter, Blue Hors Matiné astonished the world in the Freestyle at the 2006 WEG. Silvermoon is the sire of the stallion, Cadeau who was awarded the ‘elite’ title at the 2009 Trakehner licensing.
In all over 140 daughters of Kostolany are registered as broodmares in Germany, among them many mare show champions and National Champions.
Kostolany was proclaimed Trakehner Stallion of the Year 2009 and was honoured for his achievements in the breeding world at the 2009 Trakehner Stallion Licensing in Neumunster.
