Photos: Tina Bonfig
The OHD Foal Show was part of the Franconian Foal Championships in Höchstadt an der Aisch, organised by the Franconian Horse Breeders’ Association and the Original Haflinger Deutschland e.V. association, and superbly organised and hosted by the Hock family in Höchstadt an der Aisch.
As soon as the entry list went online, the event was eagerly anticipated, as the ‘who’s who’ of Haflinger breeding in southern Germany had entered an interesting selection of their promising young horses, born in 2026, for the show.
On 26 July 2026, the big day finally arrived. We were delighted to welcome the renowned Italian breed expert Günter Dejori from South Tyrol as a guest judge. Together with the regular judges at the Franconian Foal Championship, the Bavarian breeding director Torsten Große-Freese and the Franconian chairman Andreas Meyer, the high-calibre panel certainly had no easy task in correctly ranking the fine collection of foals presented. For what had already given great cause for hope in the run-up to the event ultimately exceeded all expectations in terms of quality. It is fair to say that, from the first to the last foal, a truly high-quality collection was on display, one that impressively represented the current state of Haflinger breeding in southern Germany. The foals impressed across the board with outstanding quality of their gaits, and in terms of type and modernity, they demonstrated impressive breeding progress that can certainly stand up to any international comparison.
The winner in the colt class was a son of the stallion Maximum’s first crop, which had already been the subject of much discussion amongst breeders in the run-up to the event. The dam of this colt, bred and presented by Matthias Aignern from Fischen im Allgäu, is none other than the highly successful National Reserve Champion Wayana, by Starkwind. It came as no surprise, then, that this worthy winner impressed the judges with top marks across all criteria, leaving the panel in raptures.
The runner-up was a well-developed son with plenty of type out of the same first crop of Winterprinz and out of Nanette, by Maxwell. Bred and owned by Robert Meier in Schrozberg, this pedigree was no stranger to insiders either, as the dam, Nanette, had left the 2023 International OHD Show of the South as the resplendent overall champion mare. The third place went again to a son of Maximum, out of Hera by Wintersturm. Having already been highly decorated in Saxony as the winner of the Saxon Foal Championships, he impressed with his outstanding stallion conformation and a physique that was already well developed. Bred and owned by Sabine Mross, our congratulations go to Breitenbrunn in the Ore Mountains.
Among the fillies, the daughter of Maximum – bred and owned by Stefanie Obermeyer in Leutershausen – captivated the audience with her very feminine appearance and powerful gaits. It is no surprise that this foal possesses such impressive qualities, given that her dam, Nabella by Bellissimo W-Q, was celebrated as the movement champion at the Bavarian State Show two years ago.
The runner-up was the filly presented by Haflingerhof Karlsbad, sired by the proven sire Liz. Starkwind and out of Maxima, by Maxwell. A foal that shone in top show condition thanks to its type and modernity. Here, too, a successful dam and, in particular, a mare line that has consistently produced outstanding winners at national and international shows time and time again over the decades are key factors.
The third place was secured by a daughter of W-Generation-C, out of Namira, by Bugatti, who displayed outstanding type and gaits. Here, too, the dam’s line features a succession of top-class mares across the generations. The host himself, Alexander Hock, deserves congratulations not only as the breeder and owner of this lovely filly, but also for an all-round successful event at his stud in Höchstadt.
As well as a top-class foal show, the large crowd was treated to all manner of culinary delights and entertainment. The finest Franconian cuisine, an equestrian flea market, market stalls, pony rides, face painting for children and a spectacular show programme rounded off the day perfectly, making the event well worth the trip for both industry professionals and those outside the Haflinger scene.
In addition to the Hock family and the judging panel, special thanks are due to Jutta Palm, Gabriele Niebisch and Hannah Schuchter from Franconian Horse Breeders’ Association and the Bavarian State Association of Horse Breeders, respectively, for their consistently friendly and dedicated support, always with the breeders’ best interests at heart!
Last but not least, we would also like to thank our sponsors, who have made it possible for us to present all participants with attractive and high-quality prizes.
