This 17 hand chestnut, with beautiful markings on a deep auburn coat, was the prized stallion in Iron Spring Farm's uniquely successful sport horse breeding program. He is the first horse to be inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame due to his breeding record. He joins dressage stars Gifted, Graf George, Keen, and Seldom Seen in the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame. Read more
Roemer was born on February 24, 1975 in Germany, was exported to the Netherlands where he stood at stud, was the top producer of dressage horses in Holland for over seven years, and campaigned as an international Grand Prix jumper. He began his dressage career when he was imported to the U.S. by Mary Alice Malone in 1985. When Mary Alice first saw Roemer, she said, "I thought he was just the prettiest horse I'd ever laid eyes on. His movement, his manners, his kind expression—everything about him was special."
He proceeded to make his mark competitively in the dressage arena by quickly progressing to the FEI levels with Mary Alice after being in dressage training in the U.S. for only three months. She and Belinda Baudin trained him to Grand Prix in only three years. He may be the only stallion to be the Grand Champion of The Dressage at Devon Breed Show while competing at the Grand Prix Level. He earned a USDF performance certificate at Grand Prix, with more than 10 scores over 60% at that level.
According to Mary Alice in 1988, "Roemer is actually extremely easy to ride, he is intelligent, so I only have to show him something once before he understands. He doesn't make an issue over doing it again even if it's difficult for him. He has such an honest character, and really tries."
As the first KWPN stallion living outside of the U.S. to be awarded the Preferent Predicate by the KWPN, Roemer set himself apart from all other stallions in the U.S., and distinguished himself as one of only three other stallions in the world awarded this status. This predicate was based upon Roemer's dressage competition record as well as the international success of his offspring. Roemer was the leading sire in the USDF Horse of the Year standings over an eleven year period.
Over the years, many of Roemer's get blossomed into talented performance horses. To date, he has produced four approved sons (Winston, Darwin, Boy B, and Einstein), one licensed son, five Preferent mares, 111 Star mares and geldings, 27 Keur mares, 211 Stud Book mares, 75 First Premium foals, and 627 registered Dutch offspring. He was an approved breeding stallion by the KWPN, Westfalen, and Oldenburg registries. His talented offspring have competed successfully in dressage through the Grand Prix Level. Trainability and outstanding temperament became synonymous with the sire Roemer.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation lists 48 offspring on Roemer's stallion report. A sampling includes the following horses at the FEI levels: Sea Fox (who qualified for the 1996 Olympics with Canadian Leslie Reid), Casanova, Escado, Jakarta, Joshua, Magnolia, Tango, Winston, Zaire, and Zenobia—and at the national levels: First In Line, Goodwill, Homer, Jericho, Intrepid, Kashmir, Jaegermeister, Isosceles, Fandango, Ginosko, HRH Nimble, Jubilant Dancer, Kingston, No Questions, and Opera.
A trailering accident cut his career short when he suffered a broken shoulder. He recovered after surgery and became a fulltime breeding stallion. But despite his early retirement as a competitor, he continued to build a lasting legacy through his sons and daughters. Roemer was honored after his death at age 21 by winning the Get of Sire class at the 1996 Dressage at Devon Breed Show.
The breathtaking nature of this wonderful stallion delighted audiences up and down the East coast with his larger than life presence, physical beauty, and harmonious work at the Grand Prix Level. Roemer's strength of character, intelligence, beauty, and sensitivity made him a legend in his own time. His breeding record was truly outstanding, and his many sons and daughters excelled in both jumping and dressage competition. I am honored to induct Roemer into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame.
Samuel J. Barish
USDF President
In recognition of his legendary international record as a breeding stallion. This 17-hand Preferent Dutch Warmblood, 1975-1996, was the top producer of dressage horses in Holland for over seven years. He was the leading sire in the USDF Horse of the Year standings over an eleven year period. His talented offspring have competed successfully in dressage through the Grand Prix Level.