2005 chestnut Hanoverian-Arabian filly

Sire line: Ilderim DB
Dam line: Semrie DB

CONTESSA ORZEL is a daughter of the popular Hanoverian stallion, Contucci, who was the dressage champion of his 100-day test in Germany. Since 2002, he has sired the most top-placing offspring in the Cosequin/USDF Breeders Series. Contucci's sire, Caprimond, an Elite Trakehner stallion, has been used extensively in Hanoverian breeding. Contucci's dam, Laureen, is by Lungau, who is the damsire of Olympic dressage competitors Salinero and Brentina. Interestingly, Contucci traces in tail male to the desert-bred Arabian Ilderim through Fetysz, a Polish Arabian who has had a great influence on various warmblood breeds. Contessa's dam, LA Orzel's Rose, is by the FEI dressage stallion Brusally Orzetyn, sire of numerous champions in a variety of disciplines.

With proven dressage bloodlines on both sides of her pedigree, we expect Contessa to be an outstanding performer in her own right. In May 2006 Contessa competed in her first sporthorse in-hand show. She was awarded an overall score of 74.0%, including an 8 on suitability to be a sporthorse.

Contessa will be started under saddle in 2008.