Stallion Selection 2008

Zangersheide licenses 26 new stallions

The latest stallion selection was the living proof of the ever growing interest for Studbook Zangersheide. At the end of the three day event the jury gave 26 of the 94 presented newly to be licensed stallions the green light. In addition four previously accepted sires received their license after jumping a standard course. Among the newcomers are three sons of Cassini I. Heartbreaker and Carthago Z had two of their products accepted. 

The international character, an essential feature of Z, was clearly reflected by the participants. The 94 newly to be licensed candidates came from 14 different studbooks. Their owners/presenters had their domicile in 10 different countries. There were 22 candidates from the Z-ranks. This made Z the one but most important contributing studbook. Only the KWPN did better with 24 candidates. Holstein, another studbook with a strong focus on showjumping horses, supplied 17 candidates.

The blood distribution was alright. The 94 candidate stallions descended from 69 different sires. That offered a sufficiently broad basis from a breeding-technical point of view. Proven top-class progenitors were represented, but also many young, promising sires. The stallions Carthago Z and Caretano Z were main suppliers. Both had four sons in the running for a service licence. Heartbreaker, Guidam and Carinjo were each represented by three sons. The current stars Cassini I, his son Berlin, Air Jordan Z and Diamant de Semilly also had representatives. 

The collection of newly approved stallions

The first stallion to receive the green light was Berlins Boy (Berlin x Ramiro Z). This elegant grey has a solid build (height 171 cm). He showed several impressive jumps and opened from behind real well. Still by Berlin, Figaro C was also licensed. Figaro C is out of the full sister of the famous Hanoverian stallion Stakkato. Three sons of Cassini I were accepted. The first is the 2-yr-old Cascon JK Horsetrucks Z. Cascon has a fine, long-lined conformation. He showed good potential in the free jumping. The second, Cassgraf C, is out of a daughter of Landgraf I. His model is typically Holsteiner. Initially this stallion jumped a little warily, but with space in his movements he managed to convince. And so did Cloud, the third Cassini I son to be accepted. Cloud is of middling size and has a lot of presence. The grey jumped easily with fine manners and a clear head. Without much ado this grey convinced the jury. Two Heartbreaker sons were taken. Ebony van den Bisschop showed spirit and punch over the fences under the rider. The bay stallion comes out of a Darco-Egostern daughter. Of interesting breeding is Hardrock Z, the other acceptable Heartbreaker son. Dam Carte Blanche is by Carthago Z. The stallion showed engagement and fast reflexes in the jumping. After a miscalculation he recovered superbly. Especially the fine use of back which allowed him to clear his fences economically, was noticed. Haras de Ligny from the Pessoa family from Fleurus in Belgium had their Born to Win accepted. Born to Win is by Baloubet de Rouet. The stallion is a 6-yr-old and an eager customer. Also the Le Tot de Semilly son Plutot de Beaufour was licensed. Plutot was born in 2003. He is a supple mover and picks his stride well before the fence, using his body well. Coppenroth, a powerfully trotting son of Canturo out of a Coriano Z daughter had a convincing trot and canter, as well as a powerful jump. Dam Pialotta I is from the famous Holsteiner lineage 104A. Studfarm Zangersheide was successful with the Caretano Z son Cayetano Z. Not a surprise, because the grandam of this 4-yr-old stallion is no-one less than the celebrated Ratina Z. Also Edjaz van ´t Merelsnest has a famous grandma in Idjaz-C. This Hedjaz daughter produced the mare Sapphire (by Darco) who won team gold in Hongkong for the USA. Edjaz is a son of Nabab de Reve, a sire that is drawing more and more attention as producer of international showjumping horses. The dark brown stallion was presented under saddle by the Belgian vet Ward De Bie and displayed fine jumping manners, rounding his back well over the fence. Carthago Z sent two sons to stud. They are Corono Z and Coltaire Z. Corono Z was born in 2000 out of a Grannus daughter and he clearly has skill. Also Coltaire Z has experience. This stallion born in 1997 was in 2007 Portuguese champion. Casco Boy, a Casco-Lucky Boy product is a high-blooded but royally developed stallion is a 5-yr-old. He jumped with ease over the fences. His loose and nonchalant style was appealing. The Cento son Dobel van ´t Zorgvliet also got his license. Dobel is a 5-yr-old and is out of a Libero H daughter, though not as expressive. He simply displayed power over the fence. For the 9-yr-old Cassini II son Chicago the Danish sport stables Schou en Skouboe received a licence. Chicago has already earned his metal in the sport. Conlydor, a 6-yr-old Contendro-Polydor, may have played up a little in the jumping, but his talent and manners were immaculate and he got the green light. Feros van ´t Nachtegalehof, in spite of his fast reaction, was surprised by the last fence. However, this Couleur Rubin son had already accumulated sufficient credit so that this small flaw could be forgiven. The 4-yr-old Selle Francais stallion Diamant Z (ex Quick Diam´s) (Diamant de Semilly x Narcos II) jumped neatly and capably. The Air Jordan Z son Armani van Overis Z may also start his breeding career. Armani went high over the fence in his first round of free jumping. But in the second round he took things easier. The 3-yr-old Aron P (by Ovidius) at first rushed his fences a little but he opened well from behind. Saffier, is a Stakkato son out of an Escudo I daughter. The bay Hanoverian has a handsome appearance. In the free jumping this 3-yr-old showed real talent, jumping supple and fast, never in any danger to be rejected. The last two newcomers are 6-yr-olds and are called Viktor E and Jonkheer Z. Viktor E displayed a dynamic and powerful jump over the standard course, a convincing performance. Viktor E is a son of Indoctro, who is very popular in the Netherlands. His dam is a daughter of Nimmerdor. Jonkeer Z, a Jetset-D x Skippy II product, already attracted attention at this year's Z-Festival. He also started in the World Championships Showjumping for Young Horses.
Six formerly licensed 4-yr-olds had to show themselves again over a stand course. For four their convincing performance reaned them an extension of their licence. They are Asca Z (by Askari), Balou Z (by Balougran Z), the super jumper Wolisco D.D.H. (by Nolisco) and Lordanus (by Lordanos.

The growing interest for this breeding event was noticeable during the simultaneously held FEI World Championships. Now all we can do is wait and see how the new sires will do in breeding, but also in the sport. Sport and breeding united, is the motto of Zangersheide. Selection means confrontation and a number of participants were considered below par, unfortunately for their owners. To get a licence it has to be good all round. Also at the vet's. Or, as one could read in the Z Newsletter at the event, the Z-stallion selection has many eyes. And all those eyes have to be appealed by a future sire. With this statement Z again underlined its solid policy with which it wants to unite the best from various worlds.