STAGSDEN ADONIS

Donnie gained his place in the Lifetime Ridden Performance Awards by gaining:-
Category 1 – six wins in Dressage classes, five wins in Ridden classes and a win in Dressage to Music.
Category 2 – a win in show jumping and two wins in WHP.
Category 3 – a win in RDA, a win  in Gymkhana and a win in Western Trail.
Donnie’s dam, Schona was a daughter of Evers Schon, who produced four stallions for the Coombe Wood Stud.  Her great grandmother was Schatzel imported in 1968.  His sire Oxnead Aristocrat was an outstanding performance stallion, Aristocrat was mulit talented and excelled in all discipline, excelling in the field of dressage at national level.

Donnie’s story

Donnie has had a fabulous Competition Career and will try his hand at anything, always giving his very best and behaving impeccably even at the biggest of shows.  During the 12 years that I’ve owned him he has rarely come home from a show without a rosette.

Donnie’s real talent is his dressage, which has led to a career with three different riders (myself, Danielle Cannon and Harriet Ireland).  He is currently working at Medium Level for competitions and Advanced Level at home.  He is loved and admired by some famous dressage trainers – John and Charlotte Lassetter.  

Donnie has competed at show jumping and cross country and has had many successes even though we often have to persuade him that he doesn’t have to do it all in an outline!  His ability to take off anywhere and never stop at anything has taken many unsuspecting riders by surprise!
 
Along with his famous father Oxnead Aristocrat, Donnie has represented the Haflinger Breed at the Royal Show, the Exeter Equine Event and the World Haflinger Show in Austria in 2000.  More recently he was selected to demonstrate a private lesson at Your Horse Live in front of a very large audience!

Donnie is an excellent schoolmaster.  He has recently taught two young people to ride up to advance level dressage showing them how to do (and how not to do!) half pass, flying changes, piaffe, collection and extension.

At home Donnie is a real character, who can go from sleeping to jumping six foot in the air in a second.  It has been a surprise to all who have ridden him that he is able to compete (and get placed) in Western Trail and RDA and yet be unable to walk down the road without spooking!

At 18 years old Donnie is still at the height of his career, winning Royal Windsor (ridden class) last year and many Championships at local shows and at the Breed Show.  We all love him to bits and are looking forward to the next 10 years!!

Kim Ginns

PHOTOS

 

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