The legendary stallion Stakkato (Spartan x Pygmalion, bred by August Meyer) has at the age of 29 passed away, Celle State Stud in Niedersachsen, Germany, announced today.

As a five-year-old, Stakkato won the German Bundeschampionat with Eva Bitter in the saddle. As a six-year-old, Stakkato continued his success and was crowned vice-champion. With Bitter, Stakkato recorded countless wins and top placings at the highest level, and the two were crowned German Champions in both 2003 and 2010, before Stakkato retired from the sport in 2011. 

On the 2022 WBFSH Sire Ranking (with validated FEI results from 1.10.2021-30.9.2022), Stakkato was ranked no. 53 – with his current top offspring including Souper Shuttle, Gotcha, Marciano MFV and Sama Dubai – while his son Stakkato Gold was rank 27. Other famous Stakkato-offspring include Spartacus TN, Satisfaction I, Souvenir, Filou de Muze and Ukato. 

On their website, the Celle State Stud paid tribute to Stakkato and wrote:

“You would have been 30 years old on April 4th, but instead we had to say goodbye to you yesterday.

As a young stallion, Stakkato by Spartan – Pygmalion (breeder: August Meyer, Süstedt) was discovered at the Hanoverian licensing in 1995 and from there on his great career as a state stud stallion in Celle began. 

The only 1.63m tall bay had his sporting breakthrough with his rider Eva Bitter in 1998 at the Bundeschampionat, where he impressively won among the five-year-old showjumpers. A year later he was narrowly beaten, and finished second among the six-year-olds and many other international placings and titles, such as at the German Championships, followed. 

His breeding career was also a success. Since 2001, Stakkato has been among the top jumpers on the breeding index, which he owes to his great offspring. His breeding achievements include a total of 76 licensed stallions, 104 state premium mares and 246 successful offspring performing at S-level. He was also awarded the title "Hanoverian Stallion of the Year" in 2007. 

We are very sad about the loss of this legendary sire and would once again like to thank Eva Bitter and her team for the decades of excellent care! 

Farewell Stakkato!” 

At World of Showjumping, our thoughts are with all those close to Stakkato.