Introduction
Born on May 23, 2000, from Gribaldi and Lominka by Glendale, with Akteur as his maternal grandfather, Totilas represents an icon in the world of equestrianism and dressage. Belonging to the KWPN studbook, this extraordinary stallion was bred by Jan K. Schuil and Anna Schuil-Visser in Broeksterwâld, a small village in the Netherlands. From his earliest days, Totilas’s potential was exceptional. Jan Schuil his breeder, recalls those moments stating, “From the second day when we took him out of his paddock, the imprint of his talent was clear.” For the Schuil family, Totilas was not just a horse, but a stroke of luck, as he was the result of their dedication to breeding quality horses for three generations.
Physical and character traits
Totilas’s intelligence and nobility were also evident in his eyes, which Jan described as “the reflection of kindness, pride, and intelligence.” Despite his pride, Totilas never displayed arrogance. He grew to a height of 175 cm, presenting himself with straight legs, a strong back, a rounded croup, and a proud head—perhaps inheriting a great character from his paternal grandfather Kostolany? Who knows. These excellent physical traits were accentuated by his training and breaking, which took place under the expert guidance of Jiska van den Akker. In 2005, Totilas made his appearance at the World Championship for Young Horses in Verden, Germany, where he distinguished himself as the best Dutch horse, finishing fourth in the final dressage ranking for five-year-olds.
Totilas and Edward Gal
2006 marked another significant milestone in Totilas’s career: he was entrusted to Edward Gal, a Dutch rider who would play a crucial role in bringing Totilas to the top of international dressage. Together, they created a formidable partnership and, in 2008, began competing in national events. Gal praised Totilas, saying, “He has an incredible amount of talent; it’s simply a pleasure to ride him.” This comment reflected the unique bond that had developed between horse and rider.
Gal and Totilas reached unprecedented heights in international competitions, winning the European Championships in 2009 and dominating the 2010 World Cup Final, as well as the World Equestrian Games that same year, all with record-breaking scores. A significant event occurred in July 2009 when the duo broke the previous world record in the Grand Prix Freestyle, held by Anky van Grunsven, scoring 89.50% in Hickstead, England. Soon after, Gal and Totilas further improved their record, achieving an impressive score of 90.75% and winning gold at the 2009 FEI European Jumping and Dressage Championships.
Rollkur
However, Totilas’s rising success also attracted attention to some controversies regarding Gal’s training methods. The training technique known as “Rollkur” (low, deep, and round) sparked debates, seen by some as an approach that could cause physical and psychological harm to the horse. While some critics argued that Totilas’s performance was not natural and was the product of harmful training, others praised the horse for elevating dressage to new levels, showcasing power and balance in motion.
Sold in Germany
In 2011, to the surprise of the Dutch equestrian world, Totilas was sold to a German owner, Paul Schockemöhle, a two-time Olympic champion (Los Angeles 1984 team jumping and Montreal 1976 team jumping). This change involved not only the owner but also the rider. Schockemöhle sought to find a new rider for Totilas. Isabell Werth and Emma Hindle were contacted, but both declined; Isabell, one of the most respected and successful riders in the dressage scene, decided to continue riding only the horses of her patron Madeleine Winter-Schulze, with whom she had a close bond.
The injury
Thus, Schockemöhle and Ann-Kathrin Linsenhoff decided to entrust Totilas to Matthias Alexander Rath, Linsenhoff’s son and Schockemöhle’s godson. However, this change of rider did not prove as fruitful as hoped. The pair competed at the European Dressage Championships in Rotterdam in August 2011 but failed to achieve satisfactory results, including missing a silver team medal. Further injuries and difficulties followed, preventing Totilas from returning to his stunning performance level.
After a severe injury to his left hind leg, diagnosed as bone edema, the prospects of participating in the 2012 Olympics faded. After a long recovery period and discussions between Schockemöhle and the Linsenhoff-Rath family, the decision was made in 2015 to retire Totilas from competition. Although it was a harsh blow for dressage fans, his sporting life concluded with a certain dignity.
Stud career and sons
Retired from competition, Totilas devoted himself to a stallion career, receiving licenses in various studbooks such as BAVAR, HANN, HOLST, KWPN, MIPAAF, and OLD.
“When Totilas’s first foals arrived, people said they were not super foals, but once mounted, they showed a desire to be trained and a willingness to work,” Rath noted, highlighting the innate qualities of Totilas’s offspring. This positive attitude and enthusiasm for learning proved crucial, especially for those aspiring to compete at the Grand Prix level.
Gal confirms this. “When I look back at videos of him at five years old, I think ‘nothing really special,’ but at six and a half, he went very fast. He had immense energy.”
Among Totilas’s most notable offspring are the stallions Glock Toto Jr, Total U.S., and Trafalgar, along with Total Hope, Top Gear, and Governor. Totilas continued to leave a lasting legacy even beyond his career, contributing to the future of dressage through his foals, some of whom are already shining on international stages.
At the peak of his career, the price for his semen reached a record 8000 euros, but with the decline of his competitive performance, this figure was reduced to 2800 euros.
Totilas dressage champion
He passed away prematurely on December 14, 2020, at the age of 20 due to a severe colic.
Paul Schockemöhle expressed his sorrow, stating, “I would have liked to continue breeding with him. His offspring have distinguished themselves in international Grand Prix: Totilas continues to live in them.” With these words, the legend of Totilas was sealed, a horse that defined an era in dressage and continues to inspire generations of riders and equestrian enthusiasts around the world.
Totilas ancestor
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