VDL Stud announced the loss of their Preferent stallion Indoctro (Capitol x Caletto I) last Sunday. Foaled in 1990, the Holsteiner was sixth with Ulrich Kirchoff (UKR) in the WBFSH championships at Lanaken as a six-year-old and later established himself as both a sire of stallions and a broodmare sire.

Among his offspring with Irish connections was Cas 2, bought as a foal by Tiernan Gill and later jumped by Cameron Hanley, Nicole Shahinian Simpson (USA) and Harrie Smolders (NED).

His career earned him the ‘Horse of the Year’ ambassador award, presented by the Limburg Foal Auction, where he was sourced from.

Imothep, competed by Darragh Kenny at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen and the Rio Olympics by Taizo Sugitani (JPN) and MoM’s Acera Z, a winner of €830,000 with Maikel van der Vleuten (NED) are two more 1.60m performers by Indoctro, also known as C-Indoctro.

His stallion sons include Bustique, sire of double Olympic individual bronze medallist Beauville Z N.O.P, while in 2024, Indoctro broodmare daughters produced prize winners totalling over €2 million.

Posting on Facebook, VDL Stud said: “This morning, after 35 remarkable years with us, we had to say our final goodbye to our Preferent stallion, Indoctro. A stallion whose impact on the equestrian world is beyond measure, his legacy will continue to inspire for generations to come. Yesterday, he was still enjoying all the attention at our annual stallion show.

“Thank you, Indoctro, for everything you’ve given us - your strength, your heart, and your undeniable presence will never be forgotten. You will always have a special place in the history of VDL Stud and in our hearts.”