Gotthard was approved in 1951. Gotthards competeing progeny eventually reached 398. Gotthard is truly one of the greats, for seven years he was the leading sire of showjumpers in Germany - and his influence continues to the present day. During his time he sired over 34 licensed stallion sons - the most highly rated of which was Goldberg who was based in Westfalia alas for only four seasons. In Hanover, Gardestern I was the most important, while the private stallions, Goldpilz, Goldstern and Godehard were all influential.
Gotthard was also influential as a mare sire and he was responsible for 26 States Premium mares. He was the sire of international showjumpers, Goya, Goldika, Gonzales, Galipolis, Queensway Big Q, Goldfink, Golden Gate, Graf Sieno and Graf 2. Gotthard’s son, Genever sired Genius, the World Cup Showjumping Champion of 1992. Another son, Goldpilz is the sire of John Whitaker’s Gamon. Gotthard has also been influential as a broodmare sire, another World Cup winner, The Natural (by Diskus) is out of a Gotthard mare, and Voltaire, the hugely influential Dutch based Hanoverian jumping sire, was similarly out of a Gotthard dam. Gotthard was by Goldfisch II who was the sire of nine licensed stallion sons and who is the grandsire of another great, Grande. Goldfisch II descends from the nineteenth century Thoroughbred sire, Goldschaum. Goldfisch II had a reputation for producing beautiful horses and good movers, yet neither of his most famous sons had exceptional conformation - Graf was a small chestnut, like his son Grande, while Gothard was not the most elegant of horses. On his mother's side is Amateur I-the same blood as Agram's dam- and one sees again the Arabian characteristics of the Amateur I influence.
In his time, Gothard was known as the best producer of jumping horses in the world and his influence continues. Type-wise, Gotthard descendants have continually improved over the generations, without losing the jumping ability.
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