Origin: The sire Brentano II won his licensing, was a finalist at the Bundeschampionat and was trained up to Grand Prix. Because of his outstanding service as a dressage horse maker, e.g. he's the sire of various world class horses such as Barclay II/Sven Rothenberger, Brentina/Debbie Me Donald, etc.) he was elected the 2003 ..Hanoverian Stallion of the Year". The dam Wolkentdnzerin is a full sister of Wolkentanz I (State Stud Celle; Bundeschampion) and Wolken-tanz II (private stallion Oldenburg; winner of Inter I) and of Weilse Rose, 1994 class winner at the Louis Wiegels Show. The hereditary power of the dam's sire Weltmeyer, 1998 Hanoverian Stallion of the Year, has been written in the history books on Hanoverian dressage breeding: more than 100 licensed sons, 348 State Premium mares, numerous sport cracks such as the team Olympic winner Weltall VA/Martin Schaudt and the team EC bronze winner, Wie Weltmey-er/Emma Hindle/GBR as well as the record number of eleven Bundeschampions. Ballettmeister comes from a highly interesting dam line that has produced numerous sport horses such as the two brothers, Chasseur I (State Stud Celle) and Chasseur II (State Stud Dillenburg), a stallion called Weltblick (PB Old.) who was licensed in 1998 or St.Pr.St Waikiki (by Werther), a two-time show winner in Hohenhameln and conformation class and championship winner. The black stallion Ludendorff in the third generation has a reputation as a supplier of easy to ride dressage horses and jumpers. The gray stallion Aristides, a private stallion during the 60s and 70s, had only limited influence but produced jumpers again and again that had special class such as Arianer from the State Stud in Warendorf. The great granddam Feurige produced an advanced level jumper called Giorgi Armani (by Grandissimo) and April, a full brother of the granddam, St.Pr.St. Artige, who won up to Inter II. Two often combined stallions, Furioso II and Agram, are found in the fourth and fifth generation. From today's point of view, Furioso II must be seen as a reformer and line founder, especially in the Oldenburg breed.

Performance record: In 2006 Ballettmeister won the dressage index at his stallion performance test in Adelheidsdorf where he ended on third place overall.

SIRE: Brentano II has been crowned the Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2003. The stallion received a laurel wreath and his breeder, the famed Dr Max Schulz-Stellenfleth received a cheque for 10,000 euro. Brentano was born in 1983, and is by Bolero out of Glocke, by Grande. His dam line is one of the most important for Hanoverian breeding tracing to the Schumann-mare S449. The stallions Garibaldi I and II, Wolkenstein I and II and Beltain, and the Grand Prix star, Beauvalais are all closely related to Brentano II. 

Brentano II was the licensing champion of 1985 and was acquired by the State Stud Celle. He placed second in his Stallion Performance test with 129 points, but had the best dressage score - 141. In 1986, Brentano was 4th at the Bundeschampionate.So far he has sired 68 state premium mares, and 15 licensed Hanoverian sons, although none of them has really established himself in the same league as his sire. His daughter Bona Dea II was the Champion Mare at the 2000 Natje-Niebuhr Show and with her full sister Bona Dea I, won the Ratje-Niebuhr prize. 

Nineteen of his progeny have been sold through the auctions including Brentino, Brasseur P, Bandito and Bon Jovi.

Current dressage stars by Brentano, include Brentino, and his full brother, Barclay. Stars at the recent Bundeschampionate include Bon Jovi, and Poetin who is out of a mare by Brentano II. Brentano II brood mares seem to be particularly valuable.

In the 2003 Hanoverian Stallion Book, he is listed as having 285 dressage competitors {14 at S level}, 65 jumpers and 14 eventers, for total prizemoney of almost a quarter of a million euros. However his most successful competitor, Brentina does not seem to be included in the calculations. He has an FN dressage index of 134 (jumping 75} but on the Hanoverian stallion ratings is only 38th on the dressage standings and 43rd for type – which just goes to show that the objective lists are often no guide to anything.