His sire Donnerwetter already mastered the higher orders of dressage at an early age and often won Grand Prix events with Herbert and Karin Rehbein. In 1990 Donnerwetter was sold to the USA. In addition to Donnerhall, his approved sons Donnerkiel, Dobrock and Don Wienero L acquired renown. His dam Ninette was mated with Donnerwetter and produced further successful competition horses. Her daughter Noblesse ( by Pik Bube I ) together with Caprilli presented the premium stallion Certus.

Donnerhall is the most successful dressage horse in the world and looks back on an exemplary career. He managed like no other sire of his generation to combine success in breeding and in sport alike. In 1986 Donnerhall was the German DLG Champion in Hanover. After many wins in Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and freestyle classes at International level he became German champion in Mannheim with his constant rider Karin Rehbein in 1994, team world champion and individual bronze medal winner in The Hague. This was followed by another climax in 1997: Team gold and individual bronze at the European Dressage Championships in Verden. In 1998 he was once more included in the German world championship team and with Karin Rehbein was a member of the gold medal team in Rome, where he attained fourth place in the individual results. Donnerhall won the World Cup European League, as well as being the Oldenburg dressage stallion of the year in 1997 and 1998 respectively. At the end of 1998 he farewelled himself from competition sport. “fresh as a daisy” at seventeen years of age and was frenetically applauded at all stages of his farewell tour.                

It is nearly impossible to provide a complete survey of Donnerhall’s breeding record here, as it would necessitate the writing of a separate book. In Germany alone he has produced over 50 approved stallion sons and more than 35 State Premium Mares. His son Davignon I was the Federal Riding Horse Champion of 1992. His daughter Primavera was the champion mare of the Oldenburg elite mare show in 1992 and in the same year she was champion riding horse and also third in the federal championships. His daughter Hallo won the elite mare show in Rastede in 1994. Deutsche Einheit was second in the Federal Championships in Verden in 1992 and in the same year she was top-priced lot of all the German Breed Societies auctions reaching DM420,000 (£147,000). Her full brother Duntroon was vice-champion stallion of the Oldenburg approvals in 1993 and in 1994 he won the stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf. Another top-priced lot of the Vechta sales was the approved stallion Donnerschwee. The approved stallion Don Primero and the mare High Noon 15 made their careers as outstanding dressage horses. High Noon 15 is a full sister to the elite mare Hallo. In 1996 Donnerhall presented Germany’s highest priced auction horse Donatello. For years now Donnerhall has been at the very top of the FN (German) breeding value rating for dressage. His latest highlight was in 1998 where he presented the most expensive foal of all the breed association auctions: Deinhard was sold to The Netherlands for DM 155,000 (£54,500) at the Vechta foal auction.

Donnerhall produces foals with big flowing movements. They show his sire’s extreme presence, beautiful carriage, intelligence, and charisma.