Kovington *Ps* - a 16.2 Black Stallion by Enrico Caruso *Pg*E* out of Karline by Schwalbenherbst - is one of the last approved sons sired by Enrico Caruso and descends from Count Dohna’s famous K-family from East Prussia. Recent members of this family include Neumuenster approval champions King Arthur and Kennedy. The family consistently produces correct and durable horses with laid-back temperaments and powerful movements. He was approved by the ATA in 2003, Kovington has been trained as a dressage horse with great success at Young Horse FEI classes and championships in Devon.
Dam Karline was bred by the Ellerman family from Steinhagen and came to the US as a five-year-old mare. After she had two outstanding fillies by Kostolany, Kontrapunkt and Koeur d’Alene, they moved to the United States in 1995 and brought all three with them. Because Karline crossed so well with the Enrico Caruso sire line, Susanna Heidemann-Harfst bred her to this stallion himself twice and was rewarded with two outstanding colts, Classic Rock and Kovington. Both big movers, both highly intelligent and very people oriented, both with athletic abilities one could wish for, and combined with the temperament and willingness to live up to the highest exceptions.
Because of this, it was crucial to place Kovington into the right hands, where his potential would be recognized and utilized. Susanne then placed him with Kumi Smedley from Austin, Texas. Not only did she recognize Kovington's potential but she also was able and willing to give him all the time he needed to mature and develop into the reliable performer he has become today. He started under saddle and was taken to his first breeding show by Russell Oden of Texas. Kovington finished 8th on the USDF Breeding Horse of the Year List for 3 year-old colts and geldings in 2001.
Under the masterful eye of Bob Orton from Buck Branch Farm in Gladys, Virginia, Kovington continued his education in 2002. He won every single class entered at the region 1 Raleigh, North Carolina, finishing as the Grand Champion, then placed Second at prestigious Dressage at Devon in the class for a 4-year-old and older stallions under saddle, Third in the stallion championship and Third in the general championship. Ridden by Bob’s student Sherra Kosch, Kovington also took to the dressage arena from the start, winning ribbons first at Training Level, then at First Level, and showing potential for much, much more.
Kovington ended the year 2002 with his approval as a breeding stallion by the American Trakehner Association during the ATA’s annual meeting in Florida.He started the year 2003 with a bang, winning all of his First Level classes, being awarded high point first level horse and collecting his first points towards the FEI Young Championship at his first show. In April, he was part of the USDF Symposium at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky with clinician Kyra Kirkland, representing First Level. In 2003, Kovington was approved as a breeding stallion by another Warmblood stud book, IRS/Oldenburg, while receiving some of the highest scores of the approval for his conformation and movement.
Kovington and his rider Sherra Kosch spent the winter of 2003/2004 in Florida, training with Sue Blinks. Both were selected again to take part in the USDF Symposium, this time with Klaus Balkenhol. In the fall of 2004, Kovington competed at Fourth level for the first time, and he won both classes entered. Only a few weeks later he went to Dressage at Devon, where he competed against the best young horses in the country. In the FEI Young Horse Test for Six Year Olds he finished Third in very tough company. The class was won by the Danish Olympian Lars Petersen and his recently imported new superstar Darco.
In the fall of 2006, Kovington went to his first show after a busy breeding season, competing in four classes at the Fourth level and winning them all. In 2007, Kovington competed at PSG level, scoring above 60% every time and earning the title Kovington *Ps* as the youngest stallion within the ATA. I have been blessed and so thankful to have the opportunity to pass down this amazing stallion bloodlines and look forward to seeing his offspring and continuing his legacy in my breeding program.
2007
Debut at Prix St. Georges with scores in the 70’s
NEVADA Spring Dressage, May 2007
VADACC Summer Dressage at ARIA Farm, June 2007
EEMI Dressage Summer Classic, July 2007
EEMI Summer Fling Dressage, August 2007
VA Dressage Assn Fall Dressage, September 2007
2003
2003 5-Year Old FEI Young Horse East Coast Championships
Qualified for 2003 5-Year Old FEI Young Horse National Championships
Qualified for 2003 5-Year Old FEI Young Horse North American Breeders Futurity
Demonstration horse for Kyra Kyrklund National Dressage Symposium (1st level)
2002
Consistently receives 8’s & 9’s on gaits from FEI Judges
2002 Breed Show at Raleigh, NC
Champion Stallion
Champion Mature Horse
Grand Champion of Show
(under Hilda Gurney)
2002 Dressage At Devon
Reserve Champion
Stallions 4 Years & Older Under Saddle
20th CBLM Championships, VADA Fall Show
1st & 2nd Place in First Level
70+% in Training Level Finals
The Annual Meeting of The American Trakehner Association was held in Wellborn, Florida at Valhalla Farm, October 31 through November 2, 2002, featuring their annual Stallion Approval, and Mare Inspection. The gorgeous 4-year-old black stallion Kovington, by Enrico Caruso out of the Schwalbenherbst mare Karline was one of only two stallions approved at the Valhalla inspection.......
SEE COMPLETE STORY AT HORSESDAILY.COM
2001
2001 Silver Hill Sport Horse Breeder’s Extravaganza I & II
• Champion Young Horse
• Champion Stallion
• Grand Champion of Show
