KWPN Licensed Stallion Santano Passed Away
Horses.nl reported the death of the Oldenburg and KWPN licensed stallion Santano, born in 2002. Santano was sired by Sandro Hit and out of P. Siltana van Hof Olympia (by Silvano N x Calypso III), a top-producing mare.
Pedigree and Progeny
Santano's dam, P. Siltana van Hof Olympia, produced several notable horses:
- British team horse Sintano van Hof Olympia
- North American Young Riders Champion Gitano van Hof Olympia
- International U25 competitor Hotmail V
Ownership and Approvals
Berend Minnen of Resim Dressage owned Santano, who was approved for the KWPN society in 2005. He completed his performance test the same year with the following scores:
- Walk: 7
- Trot: 8.5
- Canter: 8.5
- Dressage potential: 8.5
- Jumping: between 5 and 6
Santano was also approved for Oldenburg in 2006.
Competition Career
Maaike van Gresstek rode Santano to victory at the 2006 Pavo Cup Finals and achieved third place in the 2006-2007 KWPN Stallion Competition circuit. Later, Edward Gal took over the ride for the 2008-2009 KWPN Stallion Competition, finishing third in the final.
Later Years and Passing
After his competitive career, Santano was relocated to stallion station Schreven in Weert. In 2021, Fabian Solowiew, a breeder in the Eiffel district of Germany, became his caretaker. Fabian confirmed Santano's passing on the morning of Thursday, 30 October 2025:
"He didn't wake up in the morning," Fabian told Eurodressage.
Santano left a mark through his performance and valuable pedigree in dressage breeding and competition.
Author's summary: Santano, a highly regarded KWPN and Oldenburg stallion with a strong pedigree and competitive success, passed away peacefully at the age of 23, leaving a legacy in dressage.