Shakespeare RSF and Marcus Orlob Compete In The 2014 CDIO Nations Cup

Shakespeare RSF, 10 years old, (Sandro Hit x EM Acapella (Arrian-EM Papagena/Pablo) competes this week in the 2014 CDIO Nations Cup with Marcus Orlob, at the major atmosphere of the International Arena at The Stadium at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, Florida. Successful in showing dressage from 2010 and winning championships from second level on up to his present level of PSG- Intermediare 1, Shakespeare is now being trained by Marcus Orlob. A recent partnership, together only 9 weeks, their success in the show ring in Florida continues to be a pleasant surprise. Marcus and Shakespeare build their base to form a good combination for high perfomrance competition. Orlob's successes in the show ring so far this year in Wellington with Shakespeare RSF have included scores up to 79% at PSG. Marcus and Shakespeare make Germany proud of their selection to the Nations Cup Team. Quickly puting together a musical freestyle, Marcus pulled all of this together at the last minute. They are ones to watch. The first day of the Nations Cup, through the highest atmosphere in the international arena, they scored a 66.421%. This is what Marcus had to say about Shakespeare, “He loves to work. He’s always there for you, sometimes too much. If he knows he’s made a mistake, then he worries. He’s smart. He really wants to work for you, to please you. His character is fantastic. We go on Sundays for a hack with my fellow teammate here at the Nations Cup who has a mare. He has no problems. He’s never spooky. He’s sensitive in a good way. His personality is great. I would breed my mare to him. The quality is all there.”

From Slatington, Pennsylvania, Maurine (Mo) Swanson, the breeder and owner said, “Shakespeare seems to like Marcus and that is so important when dealing with a stallion. Marcus and his wife, Shannon Stevens own Elite Expression Dressage in Annandale, New Jersey, located only one hour from my farm. Marcus, a native German, studied and trained under Hubertus Schmidt, one of Germany's top professionals. He also worked for Johan Zagers, coach of the Brazilian Olympic team. Last year, he was a demonstration rider at the USDF FEI Trainers Conference with Steffen Peters and Scott Hassler on the horse Et Voila owned by ET Adventure, where he received compliments on his riding from both clinicians.”

She continued, “I will be at home in PA, battling the weather and biting my nails during the Nations Cup. We hope that they will do this honor proud. Marcus is in the process of becoming an American citizen, so my hope is that someday, Shakespeare RSF and he can represent American breeding on the world dressage stage. As a breeder, I am proud of my stallions’ accomplishments, and despite the difficulty in maintaining a breeding and showing career for them, when at all possible, I am 100% behind proving their worth both at home in the breeding shed, and in the show ring.”

Shakespeare’s story (Mo Swanson):

“I had fallen in love with his sire, Sandro Hit when I saw a video of him being ridden by Ulf Mueller, so I bought a dose of his frozen semen. He was conceived on our property- Rolling Stone Farm in Slatington, PA. I even thawed the frozen doses and did the inseminating myself. He was foaled into my arms in the middle of the night. I had bought his mother as a weanling from breeder friends of mine. She grew up on my farm and she did the American Hanoverian Society Mare inspection and Mare Performance Test, obtaining a high enough score to become an Elite Mare. Her mother line has produced three approved stallions and her grandmother is a full sister to Sherlock Holmes, a stallion that stood in Germany at Celle, the center for Hanoverian stallions. Shakespeare RSF was special from the day he was born. I had to hide him when buyers came because he stood out in the group of foals I had and he was not for sale. He was named the top colt at his Hanoverian inspection by Dr. Ludwig Christmann. That was just the first step. He was easy to handle, always a gentleman, and still is. Most people at shows don’t realize he is a stallion in the ring or in the stabling area. We broke him ourselves and he was super to ride, always a volunteer, offering things he learned under saddle to his rider. He was licensed in 2007 by the American Hanoverian Society which required him to be shown under saddle and free jumped, for which he also showed a talent. He was later licensed by the Oldenburg Horse Society (GOV). I held him back from doing the stallion test right away. The test was undergoing some growing pains at the time, and I wanted to be sure that the test would be a good experience for him. He went in 2009 as a 5 year old to the new testing site in Oklahoma, along with my other 5 year old stallion Fhitzgerald. He ended up as overall winner with a score of 130.53, and winner of the dressage with a 136.10 despite having a 5% deduction in his score for an age penalty. Fhitzgerald came in 5th overall, so it was a successful test for us. What a relief! The next hurdle for a breeding stallion is the evaluation of his offspring. Shakespeare RSF has produced 37 Premium GOV foals out of 46 presented, 1 top inspection colt for the AHS, 13 Foals of Distinction, 1 licensed stallion son, 4 Special Premium Mares, and 2 Verbands Premium Mares, and a colt and a filly each placing second with the colt named Reserve Champion at Dressage at Devon. His offspring are as good to ride as he is. His success is not only as a breeding stallion.” 

Mo Swanson on Rolling Stone Farm:

http://www.rollingstonefarm.com

"We have produced 37 Elite Mares and Elite Mare Candidates, and a State Premium Mare for the Hanoverian Society, 11 Special Premium mares, 7 Verbands Premium mares, a fully licensed and approved stallion named Shakespeare RSF - winner of the 2009 70 day stallion test, a licensed stallion named Somer Hit, 3 licensed stallions in 2012 (one from the first foal crop of Shakespeare RSF), two top 5 Young Horse Champions and multiple HOY winners in hand and in dressage, and five winners of the Young Hunters Under Saddle at Hunter Devon.  We stand 4 stallions:  Shakespeare RSF (Sandro Hit/Arrian), Fhitzgerald (Florencio/Weltmeyer), Sir James (Sir Donnerhall/Feiner Stern), and Dheputy (Dauphin/Rotspon).  In 2010, 22 out of 24 foals presented to the GOV were premium and our German foal was 5th in the German Foal Championship. In 2011, 18 foals were named Premium, with 5 Foal of Distinction ribbons awarded. In 2012, we produced 19 premium foals, with 8 Foals of Distinction and 3 Stallion Prospects named, plus we had the top Hanoverian filly at the large Hilltop Farm inspection. In 2013, 12 premiums were awarded to our foals, with two being selected as Foals of Distinction and one named Champion Foal. In 2012, I bred three stallions which were licensed (one in Germany). We own and bred the mare EM Rheporter (Royal Prince/Weltmeyer)- 2011 Grand Champion at Dressage at Devon, the Reserve Champion foal, and two foals which placed second in their classes there, all by Shakespeare RSF. In 2012, we owned and bred the Filly Champion, Young Prospect Champion and Reserve Champion Young Horse at Dressage at Devon. Sir James was Stallion Champion and Reserve Grand Champion at two dressage breed shows in 2012. In 2013, homebred offspring were Grand Champion at 3 Dressage Breed Shows (Shyriana, Dheputy and Rhaisonette) and one was Reserve Grand Champion at 2 shows (Dheputy). At Dressage at Devon 2013: two Reserve Championships with all 4 horses we brought placing in every class entered. I won and placed 5th in the Breeder’s Group. Dheputy (Dauphin/Rotspon) is the 2013 Stallion of the year for the USDF and placed 4th overall at his 70 day stallion test, 3rd in dressage. For 2013, I was the USEF Reserve Champion Dressage Breeder of the Year for the nation! A daughter of Shakespeare RSF was the Reserve Champion Young Horse Prospect at 2013 Dressage at Devon. This is awarded as a combination of the in hand (3rd place) and material class (3rd place) for three year olds. Her name is Shyriana (Shakespeare- EM Fhrance/ Fabriano). Another Shakespeare 3 y.o mare was 2nd in the Suitable to Become a Dressage Horse- 3 y.o. Her name is Shundance (Shakespeare- EM Chee Chee/Contucci). They are now Verband Premium and Special Premium mares, respectively."