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Totilas was always more than just a horse.

He enchanted the audience with his charisma.

When the stallion suddenly died on December 14th at the age of 20 after a colic operation, the equestrian world stood still.

"He was doing very well before," says owner Paul Schockemöhle (75).

The stallion cost around eleven million euros in 2010 - a record for a dressage horse.

It should go on in superlatives, but the sporting results were seldom correct.

The highlight were three victories under Matthias Alexander Rath (36) at the CHIO 2011. Otherwise he was plagued by many injuries.

In 2015 an old bone edema broke out - the early end of my career.

After that he was never injured and "always straight," says Schockemöhle.

Totilas last ran happily neighing over the Schafhof in Kronberg (Taunus).

There were moments of calm, because otherwise the black horse led a life dedicated to performance: as a sport horse and as a breeding stallion who should produce strong offspring.

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Did Totilas have a good life?

Trainer Sjef Janssen (70) worked with him in Holland and Germany.

He says: “You shouldn't put too much pressure on horses because they have to have a certain amount of fun at work.

Otherwise it won't work. ”According to Janssen, Totilas had an“ outstanding attitude ”, even a“ match ”.

But that often led to injuries.

Janssen: “He was like certain footballers.” Like Arjen Robben?

Janssen: "Yes!"

Totilas has 509 registered offspring

There was harsh criticism of the training methods: In the "roll cure", the head is pulled towards the chest with the reins.

This keeps the horse under control.

Janssen defends this: “We know that the horse enjoys work.

We develop the entire muscles of the horse. ”The posture is constantly varied.

Totilas was also a breeding machine: from the end of 2010 his semen was sold for 8,000 euros.

There are a total of 509 registered offspring.

That brought in over 2.5 million euros.

A few will follow, but Schockemöhle “doesn't have much” of frozen semen.

The price is 2800 euros and is now going up.

Demand has increased since death.

What is left of Totilas?

Schockemöhle: “Thanks to him, I have very good stallions in which he lives on and who have good talents.

I am very proud that I was able to buy it at all. "