Figaro R

2001, Hanoverian, approved Swedish, 16. 1 1/2 H, dark bay

Owner: Margot Brady, Breeder: Michael Schenk, Germany, Breed Approvals: VHW, AHS, and SWANA

Think about it, how many horses win 1st place at the Hanoverian stallion approval AND 1st place at the Swedish stallion approval tests? Well, there's only ONE first place winner, so all those breeders bragging that their stallion was in the top 10, Figaro WAS the TOP FIRST PLACE winner in TWO stallion tests!

Bred for rideability! Figaro R, by Friendship (by Florestan), out of Florida, by Feiner Stern-Werther-Grunewald, was Premium stallion at the Hanoverian Licensing in Verden 2003. He was sold to Sweden and was Champion of the 2005 Swedish Warmblood Stallion Test with the highest dressage index (22.0 points) ever achieved with perfect scores of 10 for rideability from two German test riders, Hella Kuntz and Heiner Sudowe, whose comments were "Gives a very good feeling in all three gaits. Very attentive to the aids and perfect contact with the mouth. Nice horse to train!" and "Very good to ride, well trained horse. Three good and easy gaits. Good increases where the horse will go forward from behind." Figaro has placings in Prix St. Georges before an injury discontinued his show career.

Figaro has been a successful breeding stallion with over 400 offspring in Sweden, including two finalists in the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Verden. He has an approved stallion son and grandson in Sweden. Figaro's breeding value for dressage in the Swedish BLUP system is well above average, 129 in 2014 (the mean is 100, standard deviation is 20). He has now been awarded "Premium A" status as a breeding stallion by the Swedish Warmblood Association indicating his heritability for dressage talent is clearly above average.

In Sweden, Figaro was the Breeder's Trophy Stallion of the Year in dressage in both 2011 and 2012. He was also on the list of the Top 20 Most Used Dressage Stallions in 2010

Friendship  Florestan I  Fidello  SPS Raute  Domäne  Diamantino  Gracia  SPS Florida  Feiner Stern  Frelherr  Goldbatt  Wendy  Werther  Grazie

The day I met Figaro in Sweden

Figaro R was purchased by Gränsbo Stuteri of Sweden in 2003 in Verden, Germany just after taking first place at the Hanoverian stallion approvals. He was schooled to Gran Prix by Rose Mathisen and competed through Prix St. Georges before sustaining an injury. Although this took him out of competition in Europe, Figaro is sound for riding and is willingly teaching all of his riders the Gran Prix moves, especially passage where he loves to float around the arena.

"We are very grateful to Gränsbo Stuteri for sending us this fabulous stallion. He is a world class stallion with a true gentleman personality. He is an absolute joy as a stallion and a family horse. ANYONE can ride him. His incredible temperament shows as he is a schoolmaster for my daughter, a beginning dressage rider, and for myself as well."

Read the Valley Equestrian Newspaper article where Margot Brady was interviewed about her experience in finding and importing Figaro.

Inspection Scores
Stallion Inspection scores 2005

Conformation Total	Type	Head, Neck, Body	Legs	Walk	Trot
43 (out of 50)	9	8	7	9	10

Gaits (under rider)	Walk	Trot	Canter	Test Rider Dressage	Test Rider #1	Test Rider #2
8	9	8	8	10	10	10

Breeding Stallion Class: Premium A (awarded in 2015)

Proven Sire
Semen has been 90% motility with good results. He has 432 offspring in Sweden with over 100 in competition. Visit this site on the Swedish BLUP to see how many breedings he's done and how many foals were registered the following year. This site also has his inspection scores. As a breeding stallion in Sweden, more than 25% of Figaro's offspring have received Diplomas for Gaits at their Three Year Old Inspections.

Barcelona Winner of the Breeder's Trophy final for 6-yr-olds in 2012 and also a finalist in the World Young Horse Championships In 2013, she placed fourth in 7-yr-olds at Falsterbo.	Faustino 1244 Approved stallion Winner of Breeder's Trophy Finals first as a 4 year old in 2011 and then as a 5 year old in 2012 First place WCYH in Dressage at Flyinge with score of 79.2
Barcelona winning the Breeder's Trophy final as a 6 year old	Faustino winning the Breeder's Trophy final as a 5 year old
Barcelona and Faustino are full siblings by Figaro out of a mare by Bernstein. Bernstein is the sire of Bayron, the stallion we imported from Sweden in 2007. We are looking forward to breeding Figaro to some Bayron daughters as this is a bloodline with proven success in dressage.  Figaro R 1085  Friendship  Florestan I  Domäne  Florida  Feiner Stern  Wendy  Ballerina (SWB)  Bernstein  Napoleon  Bristol Cream  Dancing Lady xx  Toe Hold xx  Cosmic Lady xx

Highland Park BREAKING NEWS: Figaro's 6 yr. old son, Highland Park, has qualified for the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany for August 2015! Highland Park was bred by Vemmentorps Stuteri in Sweden and is owned in Finland.

Temperament
Margot Brady states, "Meadowe and I have been riding Figaro almost every day and he is an absolute joy, such a forgiving schoolmaster, like a gelding! He is truly a world class breeding stallion and world class family horse. We are so blessed to have this stallion in our lives! He is truly a once in a lifetime horse."

For informal cute photos and videos of Figaro at home click here.

Figaro in the News
Read about Figaro winning the 2005 Swedish stallion test (he was 1st place at the German Hanoverian stallion approval in 2003 as well).

See an article published in Ridsport magazine, the national riding newspaper in Sweden the day after he shipped out to the USA. The photos will scroll through a little slide show from the stallion show in 2014.

Here is the translation:

	Rose Mathisen schooling Figaro
Mia Runesson competing on Figaro