THE HANOVERIAN

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Breeding Proven in Competition He is successful in the jumper saddle and in breeding Hanoverians; he knows exactly what he wants: Frank Johannsen from Daensen. By Britta Züngel St. Pr. aspirant Can Caipy by Canstakko/Cheenook placed very well twice in the Free-Jumping Competition, participated in the Herwart von der Decken-Show and was a member of the jumping cadre at the 128 th Elite Auction. Photo: privat You will not find Frank Johannsen in the barn during the day. That‘s when the 45-year old is on the golf course. He is not practicing his drives on the fairway however. Instead his expertise is in demand. He is a specialist for golf course maintenance, renovation and regeneration of the noble green. Ten employees and highly sophisticated machinery help him in the family business his father started in 1985. Walter Johannsen gave up his trucking company almost 30 years ago when the golf course was built just a stone-throw away in Buxtehude. He invested in a new company. His son Frank is a trained ‘green’ keeper and has managed the business since 1999 and has expanded the business to include footing management for riding rings and maintenance of athletic fields. Playing golf is still a hobby, “After all one should know what it is all about!” says Frank Johannsen. He knows that all too well when talking about the breeding of jumpers. His ideas are clear and his goalis, too, “I want to breed an internationally interesting sport horse with a good attitude!” Frank Johannsen was eight years old when his father bought him his first pony that he set out with together with his three-year older sister and Walter Johannsen. Walter Johannsen always supported his children and had ridden jumpers at a young age. Later on a Thoroughbred mare came to the barn. Frank competed it at the E- and A-level. It became really interesting for the talented boy when his cousin Cord Matthies gave him 14-year old Britta by Bleep xx/Steinbock (breeder: Heinrich Clüver, Völkersen). “At the time my dad thought that the mare was too old. So I paid for her with money I had received at my confirmation,” Frank Johannsen smiles. The pair were a perfect match. Britta competed Maren, Jan-Luca, Frank, Thies, Walter and Renate Johannsen (from right to left) with a three-year old filly by Acorado/Stakkato. Photo: Züngel at the S-level at the age of 18. The family looked for a good-quality prospect in 1987. Nobody foresaw that Fürstin by Ferdinand/Don Carlos (breeder: Leon Melchior, Zangersheide) would turn into a jewel. “I called her ‘Flotte Deern’. She had just been broken to saddle but you could already see her ability in the free-jumping chute. She had great papers, too! We thought that she would be good for breeding, too.” The fact that she had already had a foal was another plus. This foal was no one less than Esprit FRH by Eiger who became Olympic team champion with rider Lars Nieberg. A severe riding accident delayed the career start. Frank Johannsen had a rotational fall with a young horse during a training session, broke his femur and was laid up for a long time. Britta was unsuccessfully covered by Wendekreis. Flotte Deern had a year off. The minute Frank Johannsen was back in the saddle he placed in an M/B-level jumper class with Flotte Deern. The pair collected more than 20 S-level placements – all in northern Germany. “I could have sold Flotte Deern many times but wanted to keep her for my own breeding program.” He retired the mare from competition after a victory on the Dobrock in 1994. At that time the legendary For Pleasure stood at stud in our neighborhood at Heinrich Platte’s farm in Hollenstedt. “Even as a young horse For Pleasure had a wonderful attitude and never made a mistake.” The result of this most successful combination was For Fantasie. She competed internationally with Luciana Diniz. Two fullbrothers by Esprit called Emilio and Esteban follo- 18 The Hanoverian 05|2013
Breeding wed in 1998 and 1999 and presented Frank Johannsen with one of his first greatest breeding successes. The two brothers were the vintage champions at the Free-Jumping Competition of the Program for Hanoverian Jumper Horse Breeding in Verden in 2002. Emilio was licensed and went to the barn of Lars Nieberg. Frank Johannsen competed Esteban at the M-level. Flotte Deern was artificially inseminated by Hanover’s foundation sire Stakkato the following year. “Because of the reflexes!” St. Pr. mare Stakkato’s Deern placed third in the free-jumping in 2004, won jumper horse classes at the L-level with his breeder and is the declared favorite in the barn of Johannsen. “We planned to go straight back into competition after one foal,” says Frank Johannsen. But then her first son was so interesting as a yearling that we continued breeding her.” Her first son was privately owned sire Canstakko. Frank Johannsen looked for performance when selecting the sire, “I saw the stallion Canturo at the Derby in Hamburg.” The decision was made after the bay had finished the Grand Prix without a fault. Canstakko received a premium award at his licensing. Frank Johannsen refused numerous offers but sold a share to the Station Hell. The stallion was a hit from the get go at the Hell Station and at the insemination station in Bargstedt. Two sons from his first vintage called Concours Complet and Cansendo were licensed. His success story continued in 2012: premium sire Cantolar was licensing champion in Denmark. Two descendants won their divisions at the free-jumping competition in Verden. A lucky hand In addition to Flotte Deern St. Pr. mare Madonna by Madison/Derwisch (breeder: Heinrich Cohrs, Wenzendorf) also stood in the breeder’s barn. “She was beautiful so we bred her,” Frank Johannsen narrates. Two For Pleasure-foals were born: The stallion Futurist was sold to Canada. St. Pr. mare For Loveley remained on the farm. Frank Johannsen once again proved to have a lucky hand at the auction in Kutenholz, when he brought a grey mare home called Glücksfee by Glücksgriff/ Arkansas (breeder: Hermann Feldmann, Bramstedt) with a foal at her side by Calido. “She represented the modern sporthorse type and jumped with a strong push-off. She always gave it her best,” Frank Johannsen remembers. She won jumper horse classes at the M-level during her first show season. The mare broke her ankle that winter. Frank Johannsen believed in the mare. So he had surgery performed and then bred her to the Holstein sire Acorado. The result was the licensed sire Adorado who sold on the stallion market to Belgium. Donaat Brondeel rode the grey into third place in the World Championships for young jumper horses in Lanaken four years later. He competes in Nation Prizes now. “That is a real highlight!” “Our boarders trust our judgment as we ride successfully; this is important. It helps to be successful,” Frank Johannsen is glad. His equestrian facility started out with two box stalls that were attached to his parents’ home. The family bought an empty farm in very close proximity in 1994. In less than two years an indoor arena, outdoor rings and a home were added. The number of boxes raised from 28 to 68. Around 30 boarders moved in. “It must work financially!” The sign “Frank’s nursery” leads to a run-in stall where the hopeful youngsters grow up. It was built in 2006. Frank Johannsen is someone who does not leave anything to chance. He has a plan, “I have the great advantage of having ridden all my mares. I know about their strengths and weaknesses. I try to compensate for the latter by using an appropriate stallion. I prefer a compact horse with a strong back. The jumper courses have become more technical and call for rideability and power.” It is also important to keep up with the times; the breeding program must be interesting; that will make it desirable. His five broodmares are in the Hanoverian Jumper Horse Breeding Program; three of them are St. Pr. mares. Frank Johannsen’s agenda is full. “You go out and show the horses and they will learn something at the same time.” It is important to him. He also finds time to be the President of the Horse Breeding Club Hollenstedt and to serve on the board of the Riding Club Estetal, “I am interested in motivating breeders. They must become more active and seek the connection to the sport. I would be glad, if we had more younger breeders and if they would cooperate more closely with riders. The equestrian sport would become more affordable for both.” The entire family supports Frank Johannsen. Walter Johannsen (78) fed the horses every day up until a year ago. Now he predominantly cares for the youngsters. Mother Renate prefers playing golf however she gladly accompanies the rest of the family. Wife Maren descends from a breeder’s family and has ridden competitions. Twelve-year old son Thies has his own show ponies. “He knows all the pedigrees and rides successfully,” his father says with pride. The two-year younger brother Jan-Luca prefers the round leather! Horses are to remain a hobby. The secret of the success: “The whole family participates! The most beautiful thing in the world for me is to be able to ride both my jumpers at night in total peace.” • Top producer out of a strong performance damline: Canstakko by Canturo/Stakkato. Photo: Beelitz The Hanoverian 05|2013 19
Page 1 and 2: 05|2013 THE HANOVERIAN No. 5 | May
Page 3 and 4: Auction From Top-Sellers to Good-Bu
Page 5 and 6: Auction purchase as an opportunity
Page 7 and 8: Auktion Frédéric Pignon. Gala-Eve
Page 9 and 10: Hannoveraner Verband ner Schade ela
Page 11 and 12: Hannoveraner Verband Interview with
Page 13 and 14: Sport Salinero said goodbye to his
Page 15 and 16: Sport with rider Diana Creech. The
Page 17: Sport Second place in Oliva Nova fo
Page 21 and 22: Training sentation. The Chinese rid

THE HANOVERIAN

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