Iron Spring Farm’s exceptional Grand Prix stallion Florianus II, Crown has passed away. He was 26 years old. Florianus (Florestan I x Damenstolz) had a long Grand Prix career in Europe and North America–carrying three different riders to Grand Prix success–and retired sound. The handsome bay stallion also produced incredible horses, including the CDI3* Grand Prix winner Rhythm and Blues (Florencia B), the Approved Westfalen Grand Prix stallion For Set, and Garth ISF, an international vaulting horse who was Top 8 at the 2023 FEI World Cup Final. Florianus was also a notable sire of hunters, jumpers and eventing horses. In 2022, he was third in the USEF Eventing Sires ranking.
“Florianus was perfect and had a tremendous amount of heart,” remembered Catherine Malone. “He took care of me and was a wonderful horse to step up to Grand Prix.” The pair won Grand Prix classes together and Catherine made her debut at the CDI-W level at Dressage at Devon, earning nice ribbons.
“Devon has a lot of atmosphere and he wasn’t spooky at all. He never gave me the feeling that he wanted to do anything naughty. I could walk him on the buckle anywhere. He was super rideable and really enjoyed his job.”
In the barn, Catherine described Flori as a cool guy who was happy to be there. “He had a lot of confidence and was always happy to get some love. He didn’t have a mean bone in his body.”
Florianus was imported by ISF in 2008. “We were looking for a breeding stallion for the farm as well as a performance stallion to show,” said Meghan deGaray, breeding manager at ISF. “Flori was the perfect fit. He had an excellent international Grand Prix record with Karin Rehbein and was known for his nice character. We trusted his genetics because the Florestan I line is recognized for its rideability and good temperament, which is very important to us here at Iron Spring Farm.”
When he first arrived in the United States, Flori was ridden by Belinda Nairn Wertman. They won Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle classes with scores to 73%.
Early History
Florianus II was bred by Martin Dodt. He was licensed Westfalen as a three-year-old and fully Approved the following year after finishing fourth overall in the 70-day stallion test in Munster-Handorf with a score of 118.29. Florianus was approved at a time when stallions were required to demonstrate talent for both dressage and jumping. He was third in dressage with a 124.90 and twelfth in jumping with a 96.19.
Among his scores: 9.5 on temperament, 9s on character and willingness to work, 8.5 on rideability. The outside rider awarded him a 9 on rideability.
Florianus competed in the 2003 Bundeschampionat in Warendorf with Susan Draper and the 2004 World Young Horse Championships with then 18-year-old old Canadian Sascha Schulz. By 2007 he was competing in CDI3* Grand Prix with Karin Rehbein. They earned numerous ribbons and scores in the 70s, winning more than 22,000 euros in prize money. In 2007, he was named the most successful Westfalen dressage horse of the year.
Producing Stars in Every Sport
Florianus was not only an exceptional athlete, but a noteworthy sire. While in Europe he sired the Approved Westfalen stallion For Set, who competed through Grand Prix and carried an amateur to success in the small tour classes. Flori’s daughter Rhythm and Blues (aka Florencia B) won CDI3* Grand Prix and also competed in the Junior division. Flori also produced Fashion Week (Prix St. Georges and Young Riders), Fantasy 82 (Prix St. Georges), Filona 8 (Intermediate I), Feriano 2 (Intermediate II) and Helvetica (Intermediate II).
In the US, Flori’s daughter Freska won at Prix St. Georges with scores to nearly 74%. The Flori offspring Javalite and Klassik (scores in the 70s) are winning at Fourth Level. Kasarah, Kouture, Lennox ISF and Melody are winning at Third Level.
In 2011, Florianus II won the prestigious Get of Sire class at Dressage at Devon (DAD). His offspring Natalia, Kouture, Hailey ISF, Floraya ISF, Star and Garth ISF all won classes at the DAD breed show over the years.
His daughter Floraya ISF, Star was named Reserve Grand Champion, Champion Young Horse and Champion Filly at Dressage at Devon in 2013. Over her entire breed show career at DAD she won five classes, a Born in the USA award and 5 championships and reserve (including USDF East Coast Final Breeders Championships). Showcasing the versatility of Florianus’ offspring, Floraya’s performance career included numerous hunter and jumper championships.
Flori’s offspring also won numerous USDF Breeders Championships and Reserves and USDF All Breeds Awards. His son Garth ISF became a FEI vaulting horse, with 35 starts at the CVI 1*, 2* and 3* level, winning 12 classes. He also competed at the 2023 FEI World Cup Final and finished 8th.
Florianus is a well-known sire of event horses, including ADR’s Fausto, Layla, Accordingly, Falconwood’s Glacier and Justified. Florianus was third in the USEF Eventing Sire rankings in 2022.
He’s also the sire of numerous hunter and jumper champions.
Florinaus was an easy stallion to breed and very fertile. He was known for helping get older mares in foal. ISF has high quality frozen semen from Flori and will be able to continue his legacy in the coming years. In addition to his Westfalen approval, he was Approved KWPN, Hanoverian and ARS. He was awarded the prestigious Crown predicate from the KWPN based on his success in sport.
Florianus II, Crown (1998-2024) was an incredible horse of a lifetime.
