1954-1979 163 cm chestnut
Breeder: Richard Kords, Achthöfen, Germany
Lugano I was foaled in 1954 and before his death produced progeny with winnings of DM773,000 in a time when prize money was nothing like it is today.
Lugano was by one of those great Thoroughbred stallions that shaped the modern Hanoverian, Der Löwe (1944 – 1973). During his time at Celle, Der Löwe sired progeny with winnings of DM845,000 – including the dressage stars Liostro (a silver medallist with Karin Schlüter at the 1972 Games), Löwenstern (N. Haagensen) a member of the Danish dressage team and Lucky Boy (M. Greeve) a member of the Dutch team.
Lugano I and his full brother Lugano II were two of the most significant sons of Der Löwe xx. Their dam, Altwunder was sired by the Alpenflug II grandson, Albaner. Further stallions on the dam line were Friesenkönig and Dolman. Richard Kords, who also bred the great Gotthard, was the breeder of both Lugano I and II. Lugano I had a successful breeding career, he produced almost 30 approved stallions and more than 70 state premium mares. In his book, The Great Stallions of Hanover Werner Schockemöhle described him as a beautiful stallion, with the Thoroughbred type of his sire and a good conformation courtesy of the maternal line. From the beginning Lugano I produced fine-looking horses with nice movement, suitable for young horse classes. He was standing at stud in Nesse for a long time before he was moved to Altenbruch in 1972, where he was said to have paired well with Dwinger mares.
Like his sire Der Löwe, Lugano I was especially known as a maker of dressage horses. In 1978 he was third behind his father and Wunsch II in the rankings for most successful dressage stallions in Germany and a year later he climbed to top spot. Some of his better-known progeny included Lido, ridden by dressage legend Harry Boldt, the showjumpers Lisander, Larga, Lunebotin, Lenard and Lucky. Of all of Lugano’s sons, Lukas was possibly the most famous. Bred by Heinrich Schröder, out of the state premium mare Dünenhalle (Dwinger), Lukas himself became the sire of multiple outstanding broodmares and 17 licensed stallions.
Leibwächter, by Lugano I out of a mare by Wöhler, made his mark with excellent rideability and dressage scores, delivering a very good stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf. Schockemöhle believed him to be well suited to Absatz mares. The stallion Lugano van la Roche in Belgium is another son of Lugano I, having produced a very good horse in Porche, who won the Bronze medal with the Belgian team in showjumping at the Montreal Games. Lugano’s progeny was well regarded in Belgium for their abilities and motivation to perform.
Other sons by Lugano I included Lotse, born in 1960 and considered as a producer of good riding horses, and his full brother Lutzow. Both were out of Dünenflora, a daughter of Dwinger, who was bred by Walter Wiechert. Lukant (Lugano I/Dwinger) stood in Oldenburg as a private stallion. He sired the talented chestnut Lupus (Perser xx/Wöhler), who was sold through the 1977 Verden auction for the then record price of DM83,000.
Lugano II produced the stallion Lombard, making him grand-sire to Lanthan and Leubus.
Lugano I has had a more lasting impact on the breeding of Belgian jumpers, through his son Lugano van la Roche and grandson Darco.
