Weihegold is the Champion of the 2008 Brilliant Ring and Lara Kroft is OS Champion! The Oldenburg Mare Championships are held once a year on the grounds of the castle built by Graf Anton Günter von Oldenburg in the village of Rastede, Germany which is located on the outskirts of the city of Oldenburg. The Graf began transforming an old monastery on the grounds into a Royal Stud in 1612 and in 1648 rebuilt the entire facility to also accommodate a hunting lodge and summer residence. The Oldenburg breeding approval committee reviews hundreds of 3 and 4 year old mares over the spring, first in hand, and then if their scores are good enough they are invited to a performance test. Once the performance tests are reviewed the top 50 to 60 mares are then invited to Rastede where the top 20 Oldenburg mares are invited into the "Brilliant Ring" where the champion and top ten mares are ranked and honored. The OS also holds their mare championships on this day, and the top three are awarded. |