Opera Stars in Tagmersheim?

About four years ago I interviewed Sophia Jaenecke for a blog in my mini-series "Polo Famlies". Remembering her saying that a dream for her would be family members playing polo together on home-bred ponies I decided it was now time to find out how that dream was working out for family von Morgenstern.

It was finals day in the Tagmersheim Oktoberfest tournament. And this tournament has become a tradition in Bavaria. For me it's great to greet so many spectators who come year for year to enjoy an afternoon at the polo. It's all very relaxed and friendly, families, kids and dogs, a glass of something cool and a bite to eat from the food truck. Players bring their families too - a weekend get-together.

Isabel von Morgentstern, our hostess, was to play in the game for first place. Morning rain delayed the games and so I had a chance to talk to Isabel over a coffee in the beautiful breakfast room in Schloss Tagmersheim Archives.

When did you start your breeding program, Isabel?

"Our boys (the Argentine professionals working in Tagmersheim) phoned from Argentina, over the winter, about 8 years ago to tell me about a fabulous stallion about to be sold in auction. He was a looker with perfect blood lines from the breeding operation at Ellerstina; the stallion was Open Sobretodo, the dam Open Diosa. This was really exciting so I took the plunge and said "yes" to Corchito. And in our first year of breeding we had 3 foals"

Corchito has turned out to be the perfect

stallion. Isabel plays him regularly and he was to be playing in the finals later that day, a well- proportioned, mahogany bay with a great character. It's unusual to play stallions in polo, especially after they've been put to mares. But that afternoon I was able to introduce Corchito to the spectators as he passed the crowd in a well-mannered trot. Isabel tells me he is able to pass on to his foals a calm and clear-headed temperament. Many of his foals have won Best Playing Pony at various tournaments around Germany.

All the foals have been named after operas. The professional polo player at Tagmersheim Polo Club, Francisco Rattagan, was to be playing 3 of them that afternoon - Fidelio, Tosca and Calisto. 5 of the home-breeds are playing at the moment, while 3 have already been sold. Isabel is thrilled with the way Francisco brings the young horses on. He's got super hands she tells me, never over pushing them, giving them a half chukker only once they start to play.

And what are the plans for the future?

Well, the family is not far off being able to play together on home-breeds. Sophia's dream coming true! In the meantime Corchito continues to cover and 3 mares are in foal this year. Clients also bring their mares to be covered and so Corchito is a busy boy!

But then everyone's busy here in Tagmersheim, Isabel especially. My time with her was up. She had to get ready for the finals, play, get the prize table set up and catch her breath for a speech of thanks to visiting players. Her work's cut out.

Meanwhile Corchito keeps on producing opera stars in Tagmersheim.

Photo credit:- Polo Club Tagmersheim