The Langestuet Celle is the must-see visit for the horse person touring Germany. Our group was guided by the current director, Dr. Axel Brockmann, who is a thorough and charming guide. We visited the stallions in their boxes, where Dr. Brockmann was very proud to point out that the stalls are now being significantly enlarged and will have windows cut in them so the stallions can see outdoors. There are a few boxes already with windows that the older stallions like Fabriano and Escudo I are kept, so they can occupy themselves with watching what goes on in the yard.
We had a look at the stored ceremonial carriages that are pulled by the same stallions whose semen is on our roster. They even have ten-up hitches and those stallions never so much as flick an ear at one another. Seeing the Hanoverians so used and also having seen them at Spruce Meadows, tied to their stall fronts while being tacked and untacked, with throngs of spectators within inches of them has convinced me that "you can't beat the Hanoverian temperament with a stick."
While having a look at the carriages, Dr. B. pointed out one used for the coronation of King George I. "The mad King George?" I asked. "All of the Hannovers were mad," he replied with a smile. During our tour a cart with two stallions up went past several times on morning excerecise. We also enjoyed seeing stallions ridden for exercise and worked in long lines.
The landgestuet has been very much affected by the current recession in Europe, and has had to make severe budget cuts. The trend of private stallion stations buying the highest priced stallions for which the state stud cannot compete economically has also hurt them. But the State Stud Celle buys horses for the future--they have a breeding goal that projects decades beyond the present. They are looking at the longterm composition of the breed; they do not buy only the current hottest, most flashy stallion at the Bundeschampionat, which may or may not become a successful sire. For the best breeding value available, in terms of testing, proven siring ability, semen quality and value for your dollar, consider the stallions of the Landgestuet Celle.