All the foundation mares at Hawtins stud are State Premium (St.Pr.St.) Hanoverian mares. This means that they are members of the select group of Hanoverian breeding mares that have been evaluated and performance tested to a high standard to achieve this award. All the mares have bloodlines which can be traced back over many generations and which contain famous names from the Hanoverian stud book. The mares are of the modern sport horse type. They are well suited to the current and rising stars of Hanoverian licensed stallions. At Hawtins Stud we believe that the quality of the mare is equally, if not more, important as the stallion in producing the very best sports horses.

A careful assessment is made when matching stallions to mares, taking into account bloodline compatibility, movement, conformation and temperament. Our goal is to produce horses with high performance matched with rideability.

We are continually upgrading our mare base by keeping top quality daughters of our foundation mares. These daughters are graded into the Hanoverian stud book and then performance tested to ensure that the highest standards are maintained. In the UK, top mares achieve the State Premium equivalent status of Elite. The criteria for achieving Elite status is demanding and the same as in Germany. The Performance test is judged by senior members of the German Hanoverian society. The mares are judged on their style and scope in loose jumping. They then take part in a ridden test, during which they are also ridden by one of the judges. Their paces and rideability are assessed.

We are proud of the fact that almost all our mares put forward for grading have become Elite Candidates as this is a very tough standard to achieve. In the 2009 mare performance test, our only entrant, Fiorenza, achieved Elite Candidate status.

We are also very keen to enable certain of the mares that we have bred to have a career competing in dressage to underpin our commitment to proven performance in the sport.

Brentina came from the well-known breeder Rolf Woeste in Geeste, Germany. As a two year old, she was part of the winning family at one of the top Hanoverian shows in Germany. She is closely related to the winning family of mother and two daughters, and the champion mare, at the prestigious Ratje-Niebuhr show in Verden in 2000. Her sire, Brentano II (by Bolero), was champion of the stallion licensing in 1985 and vice-champion in the stallion performance testing in 1986. He has so far sired 20 licensed Hanoverian stallions and 98 state premium mares. Daughters of Brentano II have proved to be a good match for a number of top stallions including Weltmeyer and Sandro Hit. One of his most famous daughters is also called Brentina, ridden by Debbie McDonald of the USA. Many other Grand Prix horses descend from this line including Barclay, Breitling and 2008 German Olympic gold medal dressage team member Bonaparte.

Since coming to Hawtins Stud, Brentina has produced Wurlizer by Weltmeyer who, at 8 years of age, became the 2008 National Advanced Medium restricted champion. She has also produced two mares who have gained Elite status in their mare performance test, Delizia, by DiMaggio, who was also champion of the October 2007 test and Siena, by Sandro Hit, who became Elite at the annual British Hanoverian show in September 2008.

Cardinal Virtue was bred by Hawtins Stud and is out of the State Premium mare Walida II. A young mare, she has had three foals so far by the stallions Belissimo M, Fifty Cent and San Amour. Her 2009 San Amour foal was second in the filly foal championship class at the British Hanoverian Horse Society Show. Her foals are all elegant and long-legged. The first of her off-spring under saddle is Belissima, who is now four and who qualified for the 2009 BD Regional Championships.

Bred by Hawtins Stud, Donna Lisa is by Don Frederico out of St.Pr.St. Worlds Finest. Donna Lisa gained Elite Candidate status at the 2008 BHHS mare performance test. Donna Lisa has bred two foals, her first by London Swing and her 2009 foal is by Samarant. They certainly have her type and temperament.

By DiMaggio out of St.Pr.St. Brentina, Delizia was bred by Hawtins Stud. Delizia won the October 2007 BHHS mare performance test. Delizia has had two foals so far, one by Show Star and another by Daddy Cool. They have definitely inherited her top paces.

Hitscha belonged to the Celle state stud for many years, during which time she bred a licensed son and state premium daughters. Her off-spring reflect her presence. Her sire, Hitchcock (by the thoroughbred stallion Hill Hawk), was best stallion of his age group in 1987. On her dam side, Hitscha has a classic pedigree. Her dam sire, Salut, was considered one of the best sons of the famous Sender. Her grand dam sire, Wendekreis, was one of the most successful sires of modern Hanoverian breeding because of his versatility.

Hitscha, unfortunately, had only a short period of time with the stud. She has, however, made a lasting impression. Her daughter, Winters Tale by Wolkentanz, was the highest placed filly at the 200  Brightwells Best British Foal show. She also produced Frascati, by Florestan, who is competing successfully with Sara Branch, owner of Cool Equestrian.

Elite Ravenna, by Regazzoni out of St.Pr.St. Worlds Finest, bred by Hawtins Stud. A beautiful black mare who has inherited her dam’s active paces. She has had two foals to date, a similarly stamped filly by Show Star and a top class colt by Diamond Hit.

Having bred two foals by the time she was six, the decision was made to give her an opportunity to have a competition career before returning to stud duties due to her fantastic movement.

In a few years she reached Advanced Medium level and qualified for winter and summer Regional Championships at Novice, Elementary and Medium level. In the last few years we have carried out embryo transfer in order not to miss out on her valuable breeding potential and from 2007 she has now returned to the stud. Her first embryo transfer foal, by Belissimo M, as a two year old won a high scoring First Premium at the BEF Futurity evaluation in 2008. Santina’s 2008 embryo transfer foal, by Riccione, was the highest place colt foal by a German based stallion and reserve colt foal champion at the annual British Hanoverian show.

Santina’s sire, Sherlock Holmes, by Salvano, was vice-champion of the stallion performance testing in 1992. Sherlock Holmes is a popular breeding stallion in Germany as his progeny have shown a versatile pre-disposition for both dressage and show jumping, and he has already sired eight licensed Hanoverian stallions and 41 state premium mares.

Walida’s sire, Werther (by Wendekries), was one of the most successful sires of modern Hanoverian breeding because of his versatility. He was voted Hanoverian stallion of the year in 1992. During his lifetime he produced 41 licensed Hanoverian stallions and 90 state premium daughters. He also produced a considerable number of high-earning dressage horses and show-jumpers.

In 2004, Walida produced the highest placed colt foal at the 2004 Brightwell’s Best British foal show which was then sold for the highest price at the subsequent auction.

Weltspitze is by the incredibly pre-potent sire, Weltmeyer (by World Cup I). Weltmeyer was champion of the 1986 stallion licensing and champion of the stallion performance testing in 1987. He was voted stallion of the year in 1998. He has currently produced 85 licensed Hanoverian sons and 404 state premium Hanoverian mares. Weltmeyer has had a major influence not only on the Hanoverian breeding population, but also other breeding areas across Germany and in other countries. At the annual German Federal equestrian championships, Weltmeyer’s impact, both directly and through his sons’ off-spring, has been enormous. Brood mares by Weltmeyer have proved to be a particularly good breeding ‘base’.

Weltspitze was champion warmblood mare and overall champion warmblood at the 2000 Royal Show. Her offspring are all powerful, elastic movers.

Winters Tale was bred by Hawtins Stud and is by the top State Stud stallion Wolkentanz out of St.Pr.St. Hitscha. Winters Tale was the highest place filly foal at the Brightwells 2003 Best British foal show, scoring 9.5 for her paces. Unfortunately, an accident as a youngster has prevented Winters Tale from pursuing a ridden career, but she is following in her mother’s footsteps by becoming a top producer herself. Her two foals to date by French Kiss and Belissimo M are very exciting prospects.

World’s Finest also has an impressive pedigree. She is also by the stallion Weltmeyer, as described above. On her dam side is Bolero who was a prolific sire of successful dressage horses and dressage breeding stallions including the incredibly successful Brentano II. In his time he produced 47 licensed Hanoverian stallions and 98 state premium mares. World’s Finest’s Grand dam sire is Woerman, sire of 28 licensed Hanoverian stallions, including the World Cup I-IV brothers, and 40 State premium mares.

Worlds Finest has twice won her respective age class at the annual Hanoverian show. She was described as “the clear winner”. Her beautiful looks are passed on  to all her off-spring. World’s Finest has so far produced four Elite and Elite Candidate Daughters.

Worlds Finest and two of her daughters, Hawtins Fiorenza (by French Kiss) and Hawtins Floriana (by Florestan) won the mare family award at the 2009 annual Hanoverian show.