Abdullah (horse)

Abdullah (December 7, 1970 – January 5, 2000) was a Trakehner stallion ridden by Conrad Homfeld. He won many international titles in the sport of show jumping, and is considered by some to be the best Trakehner ever to compete in the show-jumping ring.[1] Abdullah was inducted into the United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame in 2009.[2]

Medal record
Olympics
	1984 Los Angeles	Team Jumping
	1984 Los Angeles	Individual Jumping
World Championships
	1986 Aachen	Team Jumping
	1986 Aachen	Individual Jumping
FEI World Cup
	1985 Berlin	Individual Jumping

Life

Abdullah was purchased by Williamsburg Farm in 1973 as a three-year-old from Gerhard Schickedanz in Unionville, Ontario, Canada. He was originally bought as an event prospect and breeding stallion,[3] and proved himself first in the dressage arena and then in eventing before becoming a world-class show jumper.[1] He was ridden by Debbie Shaffner, Joe Fargis and Conrad Homfeld.[3]

Breeding career

Abdullah was approved for breeding by the United States, Canada, Selle Francais, Sella Italiano, Anglo European Studbook, Irish Sport Horse, Hanoverian, Trakehner, Belgium Warmblood, Belgium Sporthorse, and Oldenburg studbooks.[1] His progeny were extremely successful, including seven United States Equestrian Federation Horses of the Year in both the Hunter and Jumper disciplines. He ranks third place in money won by offspring in the International Jumper Futurity and International Hunter Futurity. He is the sire of showjumpers competing internationally in the Olympics, World Championships and World Cup Finals.[4] Due to frozen semen, it is still possible to breed to the legendary stallion.[5]

Eventing career

During his eventing career, Abdullah was awarded the American Trakehner Association (ATA) Trakehner Förderverein Award in 1976 and '77.[6] This award is given annually to the ATA-registered purebred Trakehner who is the most successful in combined training.[7]

Show-jumping Career

Abdullah had an extensive international level career for fourteen years between 1979 and 1989. He won the American Trakehner Association (ATA) Open Jumper Championships for 8 consecutive years between 1979 and 1986, as well as in 1988 and 1989. He was also awarded the ATA Palmenblüte Award in 1980, '82, '84, '85, and '86.[6] The Palmenblüte trophy is awarded to the "ATA purebred Trakehner who has contributed the most in competition to promote the breed in North America." After Abdullah won the trophy for the fifth time, the first trophy was retired, with an acknowledgement of Abdullah's tremendous contributions to the Trakehner breed throughout the world, and a new trophy was put into place.[7]

He helped the United States to the team gold, and took an individual silver at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He won the 1985 World Cup Final in Berlin. Abdullah also helped the United States to the team gold, taking individual silver, at the 1986 Show Jumping World Championships in Aachen, Germany. Abdullah also won or placed at numerous other international level Grand Prix events.[6]

Retirement

The stallion died January 5, 2000, due to colic.[6] The Chronicle of the Horse recently honored Abdullah as one of the top 50 horses of the century.[3]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Abdullah[8]

Sire Donauwind Trakehner 1965	Pregel Trakehner 1958	Tropenwald Trakehner 1941	Termit - 1933
			Tropenglut - 1932
		Peraea Trakehner 1943	Hirtensang - 1929
			Per Adresse - 1939
	Donaulied Trakehner 1960	Boris Trakehner 1956	Gabriel - 1950
			Bea - 1940
		Donau Trakehner 1951	Hansakapitaen - 1941
			Donna - 1939
Dam Abiza Trakehner 1963	Maharadscha Trakehner 1957	Famulus Trakehner 1938	Fetysz - 1924
			Faschingsnacht - 1931
		Marke Trakehner 1941	Marktvogt - 1936
			J Feldrose - 1934
	Abendrot Trakehner 1949	Absalon Trakehner 1937	Poseidon - 1925
			Abfahrt - 1923
		Arbeitgeberin East Prussian 1938	Alaskafuchs - 1923
			Arbeit - 1924

References

1. "Abdullah" Archived January 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Sporthorse Breeder. Referenced February 3, 2008.
2. "Show Jumping Hall of Fame Welcomes New Inductees". Equisearch. Referenced May 4, 2009.
3. "The Abdullah Story" Archived August 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Williamsburg Farm. Referenced February 3, 2008.
4. "Abdullah" Archived December 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. The Chronicle of the Horse. Referenced February 3, 2008.
5. "Abdullah Frozen Semen" Archived October 25, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Williamsburg Farm. Referenced February 3, 2008.
6. "Abdullah". American Trakehner Association. Referenced February 3, 2008.
7. "Merit Awards". American Trakehner Association. Referenced February 3, 2008.
8. "Abdullah". All Breed Pedigree. Referenced February 3, 2008.