The late Bari von Buedingen bred Windhover’s dam, Donnerwetter, now owned by fellow breeder and neighbor Chris Rush. In 1989, Donnerwetter earned the high score for her mare performance test at the November Hill inspection site, achieving an overall 8 (Trot 8; Canter 9; Walk 7; Jumping 8). One year later, Donnerwetter placed 1st of 33 entries to win Mares Four Years Old and Older Under Saddle, Dressage at Devon.

Windhover’s very existence is something of a miracle. She was an embryo transfer bred from frozen semen that was of minimal quality. The lucky result was a leggy filly who, in type, combined the strengths of both her sire and her dam line.

Windhover soon proved her heritage in other ways. She earned the grand champion title at the Lexington Breed Show in 1994 and was site champion at her 1995 inspection at Hampshire Hollow Farm. On lease for her early breeding career, Windhover’s first foal for Marefield, Rara Avis, was reserve filly champion at the Rolling Stone Farm AHS/VhW Inspection in 2002. We are now looking forward to some other fillies from Windhover to carry the influence of the Donnerwetter mare line into future generations.