Voltaire (show jumping horse)
Voltaire was an influential sire of show jumpers and dressage horses. Additionally, he competed successfully at the international level in show jumping.
- Lived: 1979-August 13, 2004
- Height: 16.2 hh
- Color: Bay
- Markings: blaze, snip, stockings on both hind legs
- Breed: Dutch Warmblood
- Approved Studbooks: KWPN, Hanoverian, Selle Francais, Oldenburg
- Breeding: By Furioso II, out of Gogo Moeve by Gotthard
- Breeder: E. Kuwet
- Rider: Jos Lansink
Breeding
Voltaire (originally called "Vertuoso") was by the influential Furioso II, a stallion whose offspring include over 200 state premium mares and at least 70 approved sons, who are stood across the world. Furioso II was full-brother to the French stallion Mexico (sire of Le Mexico, who has produced numerous Grand Prix show jumpers). Furioso II was also the sire of the Olympic gold medal winners Lutteur B and Pomone B.
Voltaire's dam, Gogo Moeve, was also the dam to such horses as Fandango R, PS Falkan and Petite Fleur. She was sired by the great Gotthard, a stallion who has made his mark in the Hanoverian breed. Gotthard is seen in the pedigree of such horses as Goldika, Goya, Queensway, Genius, Grundstein and Grannus. Gogo Moeve's dam-sire was the Thoroughbred stallion More Magic, who also sired the 1980 Moscow Olympics dressage gold medalist, Mon Cherie.
Show jumping career
Voltaire had a successful career as a Grand Prix show jumper, competing over 1.50 meter courses as an eight-year-old. He was especially successful in 1988, winning Nations Cup classes at Calgary, Stockholm, Lanaken, Helsinki, Wiesbaden and Wembley. In 1989 he ended his competitive career with a win at the Grand Prix of Berlin and a 2nd place in the Grand Prix of Leeuwarden.
Offspring
Voltaire has sired offspring that have gone on to be successful in both the show jumping and dressage arenas. Voltaire sired such horses as Concorde, Finesse, Play it Again, Altaire, Especiale, Kannan, Lemato, Farmer (sire of Olympic reserve Lowina), Equador (sire of dressage stallion Idocus), and One More Look (high-scoring foal at the NASFA 2002 Foal Evaluations). Other notable offspring include Foltaire (international dressage horse ridden by Gunther Seidel), Helios, Electro, Danta, and Kahlua.