**PRICE REDUCED, MUST SELL, MAKE OFFER** 50% Dutch Warmblood 50% Friesian Sporthorse gelding. Ranked 4th in the US for the 2015 FSA (Friesian Sporthorse) Inspection & In-hand year-end awards. Earned Bronze Elite status via inspection, scoring an 8.5 for "Back & Hindquarters" with the judge's comment on the scoresheet of "strong topline & coupling, powerful hindquarters."

By the Elite Grand Prix Friesian Sporthorse stallion 'Lexington' and out of the Dutch Warmblood mare 'Natasha' (a granddaughter of the famous 'Roemer'.)

Merlot's sire is the Elite Grand Prix Friesian Sporthorse stallion 'Lexington', one of the best known and arguably the most successful Friesian Sporthorse stallion standing in the US. Lexington has won Regional and National Awards thru Grand Prix, including being named the USDF All-Breeds Friesian Sporthorse Grand Prix National Champion in 2015. He has also been featured in numerous articles online and in print, and was featured on the cover of Warmbloods Today magazine in 2012.

Merlot's dam is the Dutch Warmblood mare 'Natasha'. Natasha has a star-studded, proven sport pedigree. Natasha's sire was Jacobean, who was by the famous Dutch Preferent stallion Roemer. Roemer was a Grand Prix dressage horse and Grand Prix jumper, and stood at Iron Spring Farm until his death in 1996. Roemer can be found in the pedigrees of 2012 Olympic Dressage Silver Medalist "Parzival" (Jazz/ Ulft/ Roemer) and Edward Gal's Grand Prix horse "Glock Undercover" (Ferro/ Donnerhall/ Roemer), and Roemer can also be found in the pedigree of "Uthopia" who finished 5th in the 2012 Olympics for dressage. Jacobean's dam (Natasha's grand-dam) was a Ster mare by Saluut, sire of famous jumpers including Saluut II. Natasha's dam was a Ster mare by Consul, another of the illustrious stallions of Iron Spring Farm. Consul competed thru Fourth Level dressage, as well as show jumping in the Netherlands. He was retired due to injury, but went on to more than prove himself as a sire.

This pairing of Lexington x Natasha has proven very successful. The first foal from this pairing was 'Lancaster ROF', who was the Friesian Sporthorse Inspection & In-hand National Champion in 2010 and appeared in Warmbloods Today magazine in 2011. He then went on to a successful career as a young dressage stallion competing in the 4-Year-Old Young Horse classes with scores to 77% and being named the USDF All-Breeds Friesian Sporthorse National Champion 4-Year-Old in 2014, before being gelded to begin a successful new career as an event horse with his adoring amateur owner (currently winning at prestigious recognized events in Florida.)

The next foal from this pairing of Lexington x Natasha was named 'Lily ROF'. Lily ROF was the 2011 USDF DSHB Southeast Regional "Foals of Current Year" Champion and was the 2011 FSA Inspection & In-hand National Champion. In 2014 she repeated her in-hand success being named the 2014 USDF DSHB Southeast Regional 3-Year-Old Mare Champion. In 2014 she also earned her Star Mare status. She belongs to Cornerstone Sporthorses and is currently in foal.

Should mature around 16.1 hands.

Located in Central Florida.

Registered with the Friesian Sporthorse Association (FSA) Main Book / Bronze Elite.

NOT a registered Dutch Warmblood, but since the price is so low and the seller is motivated and he's 50% Dutch (and with good Dutch bloodlines) I thought he might appeal to buyers in this "Dutch" category also, who might not click on the "Friesian" category (and he's not really a "Friesian" anyhow either.)