Zangersheide scores above average
The autumn selection proved yet again that the formula of the Zangersheide selection is watertight. Inviting for the handlers and the public and an efficient tool for the jury. After three days only the most complete stallions were accepted. In this case as many as twenty of a total of fifty. Zangersheide reached a high average. That makes it hard to say which were the best, but the 3-yr-old stallions Zirco Z, Casvel VA, Cassilano and Fantasy were all clearly above average.
The idea of the autumn selection is ingenious. These are not our words, but those of the starters. Take for example Wiebe Yde Van De Lageweg. He brought two 3-yr-old stallions to the selection. One of these, Fast Harley VDL (Harley VDL x Indorado) was in a hurry. He did not steal his name. According to the owner, this extreme enthusiasm also manifests under saddle. ‘At the KWPN Fast Harley was referred to the performance test, but such an exuberant 3-yr-old is not ready for that yet. We decided not to do further tests in the Netherlands and give him a chance at Zangersheide. If he were accepted here, we have two years to prepare him for the test under saddle, which is always ridden on the Saturday morning of the WC in the Ramiro Arena. A fair system for every horse, this is. Plus, we do not lose any time with this selection, for everything happens “en passant” at the WC.’
Fast Harley, however, was so hasty in the free jumping that it was impossible for the Zangersheide jury to accept the careful stallion. They did accept Fontaine Blue VDL (Toulon x Indoctro), a handsome, youthful dark brown stallion with a superb foreleg technique. Certainly a stallion that helped pull up the average. Dam Ocinthe is a half-sister of the also Z-licensed Falsterbo VDL (Flipper d’Elle). Great-grandam Byazinthe (Nimmerdor) is the full sister of the KWPN stallion Ahorn and the BWP-licensed Denver. VDL Stud also had its sharp grey Dallas VDL (ex-Indouglas, by Douglas x Heartbreaker) accepted for life after jumping the obligatory standard course on the Saturday morning.
The shop is running well
Twenty stallions were newly licensed. Twelve of them after the free jumping. When we mentioned at the head of this article that this was a fruitful selection, that also meant that quite a number of stallions, licensed or not, were sold. Take for instance number one, Look At Me vh Schaeck (Diamant de Semilly x For Pleasure), a grandson of Walnut de Muze. This 2-yr-old genetic wonder even made Paul Schockemöhle sit up straight in his chair. The still youthful looking stallion showed fine potential. Paul Schockemöhle sent his partner “Herr Meyer” immediately after the horse and the deal was clinched that day. Since then, the stallion got his Zangersheide licence and moved to the stables in Mühlen.
Handler Peter Van Miegroet is a Flemish surgeon and board member of Studbook Zangersheide. ‘I offered my candidacy six or seven years ago at an open election launched by Z-Magazine. I liked the openness and professionalism of the studbook. These aspects are still valid. I know that first hand. I have also come to notice from close by that since the young force of Judy-Ann Melchior has started to play a role, the emphasis is even stronger on the sport. The events have all grown over the years, especially in recent years. That was clear during the WC. It attracts a world-wide public that also closely followed the stallion selection. I brought two stallions and sold them both. Paul Schockemöhle and Stephan Conter were the buyers. At which other stallion selection do you find such a high concentration of top dealers?’
Besides his 2-yr-old Look At Me Van Miegroet also had his 5-yr-old chestnut stallion Ibabco (Nabab de Rêve x Darco) licensed without any problem. Under Wim Smet he made it to the finals of the WC, which was more than sufficient to earn his licence. In those finals he also went clear, thanks to his suberp foreleg technique. Two faults in the jump-off kept him out of the top ten. Nevertheless an unexpected powerful performance, although Van Miegroet admits: ‘Rider Wim Smet only started riding the stallion two weeks before the WC.’ Stephex Stables bought half of Ibabco from Van Miegroet at the WC. Ibabco has the same dam as Kiekeboe, the Diamant son who was licensed by the BWP this year.
And also the number two in the free jumping was immediately licensed. Chutney SB (Cancara Z x Acord II) from Siegfried Buhl set an example for the stallions that would follow him. Because Chutney is the perfect embodiment of what is understood by a complete stallion. He is handsome, moves well, is sensible and completed his performance with an immaculate jump. A compliment also for the five men Zangersheide crew that eased the stallions over the line of fences. Chutney was hasty, lost his concentration for a moment as a result, but after the exercise was repeated with a pole on the ground, the cousin once removed from Carolus I and II finally showed his absolute quality. From the same Holsteiner lineage 2666 we also know Clintissimo Z.
Three 3-yr-old stallions from Studfarm Zangersheide were licensed. He is living proof of the fact that the breeding philosophy in Lanaken is correct and that the selection policy is yielding a profit. Tom Lemmens about the three newly licensed stallions: ‘They have been pre-selected, of course. They have had to pass a very strict selection already before this selection. We do not bring stallions to the selection that are not good enough.’ The three newly licensed Z stallions owe their qualities from both sides. ‘Also the dams of these three stallions are mares that we are still using for breeding. They produce a foal year after year, but are evaluated every year on the basis of their production. That all three of them were grazing the fields at Zangersheide with a foal at foot this year, tells a lot. Cappucine Z, Aida Z and Cirieka Z have each proved themselves in breeding several times.’
High scores for Zirco Z
Zirco Z (Zandor Z x Caretano Z) was one of the taste-makers of the lot of stallions that were licensed on the basis of their free jumping. There will be no doubt that this son of Zandor Z will soon have a place in the 2014 catalogue of Studfarm Zangersheide, in spite of interest shown by various parties. Many agreed about his qualities. His charm and expression did not only steal the heart of the stallion selection jury, but possibly also that of the mare owners next year. The uniqueness of his bloodline is an extra reason for breeder-owner Studfarm Zangersheide to keep Zirco Z on. Dam Cirieka Z (Caretano Z x Ramiro) is a grand-daughter of Heureka Z and one of the few mares left at Zangersheide from this line. In addition, the fact that there are but a few licensed sons of Zandor Z is another important factor. Zandor Z himself is a 24-yr-old now and has become rather popular in recent years because of his powerfully performing offspring.
Studfarm Zangersheide also had two grey stallions that appealed to the jury. Cartos Z (Candillo Z x Artos Z), a solid horse, standing 1.70m, bred out of a half-sister of Carry Z, showed an immense amount of power and impressive hind quarters. Like the other horses from the Cherry line Cartos Z will need a little more time to learn to control those powers. The other grey from Zangersheide, Cooper Z (Chellano Z x Calvaro Z) is a faster horse, radiating intelligence and quality. This is a blood horse, but at the selection this was translated as “a little hasty”. For those who were not present in person, in appearance Cooper seems the mirror image of the early deceased son of Chellano Z, Calvados Z. If he has the same qualities, as well, he is more than promising.
Like Studfarm Zangersheide, also Manfred von Allwörden had three stallions licensed. ‘Three out of four, that is a good result’, the Holsteiner mega breeder said afterwards. Von Allwörden breeds some seventy to eighty foals per year on his 200 hectare Grönwoldhof. Mathilda Karlsson started three of his horses at the WC. Four 3-yr-old own breeding products appeared at the selection, a son and two grandsons of Casall. ‘In Holstein Casall is my favourite. I like light types. I only bring stallions to the selection that are complete. Stallions that have everything: showjumping qualities, but also expression, a fine conformation and good movements. That is why I believe that it is a good decision from Zangersheide to have Ullrich Kasselmann on the jury, that is a man with an eye for detail, for Kasselmann is a dressage specialist who can perfectly analyse the build of a horse. Few studbooks make the effort to have so much expertise in their juries, scions such as François Mathy, Harm Thormählen and Paul Schockemöhle.’
Krismar and Zangersheide bought from Von Allwörden
Like Peter Van Miegroet also Manfred von Allwörden sold two licensed stallions. The handsome 2-yr-old Costoso VA (Connor x Cassini I) he took home again. Sire Connor jumped under Thomas Konle at the WC in the 7-yr-olds category. The dam’s line produced the stallions Calido, Little Rock and Ukato. Zangersheide bought Von Allwörden”s Clarimo son Close Up VA, a powerful, barely 2-yr-old grey. His grandam is a half-sister to Döbel’s Cento. Von Allwörden also sold Krismar Stables his classy Casall son Casvell VA (dam’s sire Quidam de Revel), one of the most complete horses of this Zangersheide stallion selection. This high-legged and light-footed appearance already appealed in the conformation round. He is standing 1.69m en comes from Holsteiner lineage 318d2 from, for instance,. Diarado, Coriano Z and Corofino. Krismar recently also bought the Z-licensed stallion Caladin Z (Calvino Z x Ramiro Z) together with Erik De Winter.
Thoenes family knows what’s what
It was more than clear at the selection that Zangersheide is working with experts. Take Tobias Thoenes, for example. The young German started work as the stables rider early this year. He motivated his father to come to the selection with his young stallion at the WC and was rewarded by a breeding license and repeated applause from the public. Tobias: ‘The stallion had not intensively been prepared. In fact, he came straight out of the field.’ Tobias adds that his father is not a professional stallion owner. He has horses as a hobby, but he has really good horses. This stallion he had bought as a colt. The 3-yr-old Cassilano (Cassito x Landgraf I) was the stallion that showed the most regularity over both days. He clearly showed his intelligence by jumping the low wings as part of the program. And every line he jumped convincingly, so one quickly forgives him his still youthful appearance. Sire Cassito is no-one less than a half-brother of Caretano Z and Contendro I and II.
Another tastemaker in the free jumping, especially on the Friday, was Scato Z, standing 1.69m and a son of Scendix (dam’s sire Charisma), owned by Brecht Bille and David Thanghe. Where is looks are concerned, this black pearl resembles his sire Scendix and half-brother Scendro, but there are a few differences. Scato is taller and displays more power over the fence than speed. Bille does not know yet what he will do, now that his stallion is licensed: ‘Perhaps I should have a word with my boss’, says the rider of Hunter’s Studfarm, the owners of Hunter’s Scendix and Scendro.
Two 3-yr-old KWPN stallions were a surprise at the end of the selection on Saturday. Both the grey Fantasy (Up To Date x Manhatten) from Reinie Tewis-Van Kooten and Fighting Leo G HS (Vigaro x Ramiro Z) from mr Van Meever showed a few perfect jumps at the end of the session and also had appealed in the conformation round. Reinie Thewis was one of the many sellers at the selection. Paul Schockemöhle took his grey stallion Fantasy back home with him. ‘I have done well by Zangersheide. Over the last three years I always had a stallion licensed and now I can sell one, as well’, said the Dutch stallion owner who also owns Fantasy’s sire Up To Date (Camerino).
Under saddle test: Con Corrado, Indigo vd Lindehoeven and Alfa Jordan Z among the tastemakers
Eight stallions were licensed on the basis of their under saddle test. Two of them earned their license because the won a place in the finals of the WC. Besides Ibabco from Peter Van Miegroet, this was Issini van Gerhoeven (Cassini I x Corrado I), born in Belgium at Maurice Ceustermans and presented by the Slovenian Darja Pavcjc.
For some one basis course was enough on the Saturday morning to get a license, or not. Others had to jump another round. A remarkable appearance was the grey Con Corrado (Corrado x Cassini I), a breeding product from Bernd Carstensen-Möller and owned by Herman Boeve. Rider Ellen Zwijnenberg explains that the grey stallion was only saddle-broken a year ago: ‘The intention is that he is first started in the stallion competition and then to promote him as a stud.’
About Indigo vd Lindehoeve (Cicero van Paemel Z x Heartbreaker) there also was not any doubt. Jody Bosteels, who owns the stallion together with Luc Van Eeckhoudt, jumped the course in fine style. Although two years ago Indigo had not been licensed because of the free jumping, this time his approval was absolutely certain. As a 4-yr-old Indigo won the Pavo Stallion Competition in Belgium. Indigo’s dam is a half-sister of the international showjumping horse Bravo vd Kwakkelhoek (Toulon).
Clarissa Crotta enchanted many a breeder when she jumped the stallion Alfa Jordan Z (Air Jordan Z x Lancelot), from Letvian owners, in a sensational clear round in the 5-yr-olds on Thursday. ‘If that is a licensed stallion, I will bring my mare to him next year’, said several excited people in the public. Two days later he did indeed get his Zangersheide license. Alfa Jordan Z did not make it to the WC finals, but on Saturday the stallion bred by Jurgen Stenfert displayed his sheer unlimited power again in the Ramiro Z Arena.
Another to be licensed stallion after the course in the Ramiro ring was Istanbul (Kashmir vh Schuttershof x Balou du Rouet), born at the Turkish rider Omer Karaevli and owned by Didman from Swolgen. This stallion has a modern conformation and an almost immaculate jumping technique. Also the 5-yr-old KWPN product Don’s Diamant (Diamant de Semilly x Phin Phin) is a newly licensed stallion in Belgian hands. Marc Dergent was taken by surprise. ‘Horses are my hobby. Especially my daughter Denise Dergent spends her time with it. I run a coachwork repair business, but also a riding school, in Turnhout, where half of my stables are hired to horse dealer Jan Vermeiren. It was from him that I bought Don’s Diamant.’ Jan Vermeiren bought the efficient bay stallion together with his full brother as a 2-yr-old from Erik Berkhof. The brother was sold to Denmark and was premium-awarded at the Oldenburg stallion selection.
Schreiber sends Again du Toultia from Lanaken to Ehning
Again du Toultia (Mr. Blue x Eros Platière) was the oldest stallion at the latest selection. Owner Fabien Schreiber sent the stallion to Germany immediately after the selection, to Marcus Ehning. Again du Toultia was ridden in Lanaken by Fabrice Galdini. His dam Madona PK jumped at international level under the same rider. She started successfully in the Masters of Spruce Meadows, for example.
Nine stallions licensed for life
Stallions that receive their licence from Zangersheide as 2-, 3- or 4-yr-olds, have to jump a standard course in September as a 5-yr-old in the Ramiro ring to see if they also meet the requirements of the jury under saddle. A number of stallions who already served breeding were now rejected. On the basis of their qualification for the WC finals Clarissimo Z, Cartello Z, Candico Z and Sandrino Z did not have to jump the standard course. Chellano Alpha Z, Il Mio vh Eigenlo, Healey Z, Dallas VDL and Donckervoort were definitely licensed on Saturday after jumping an excellent round.
Reactions from jury and participants about the autumn selection
After three selection days Ullrich Kasselmann and François Mathy explained their method. Ullrich Kasselmann: ‘How do we work? Well, we give ten scores for components such as quality, power, rounded back, carefulness, take-off, canter, trot and walk. The end result of those scores does not directly determine whether a stallion gets his license, or not. It is more than that. Some aspects weigh more, some faults are unacceptable.’ It is well-know that Zangersheide is one of the strictest studbooks where the veterinary examination is concerned. The vet check is done there and then, which sometimes produces a surprising dropout, but it makes matters simpler from an organisational point of view.
François Mathy details some aspects which the Z-jury sets great store by. ‘Showjumping quality has the highest priority, but we always take conformation also into consideration. After all those years, we find that the horses offered are more complete. We assessed a fine mix this year.’ Ullrich Kasselmann adds with a wink: ‘The horse must be a feast for the eye. A handsome horse will sell itself.’ Right he was, considering the many sales that were concluded this year during the selection.
About the formula of the stallion selection the jury agrees unanimously. Mathy: ‘The course which the 5-yr-old licensed stallions have to jump on the Saturday morning in the framework of the selection, has again proved useful. We had to reject a few stallions again, because they simply have not develop as we had hoped when they were first licensed. The stallion owners get the time to do the under saddle test here until their stallions are 5-yr-olds. It is no more than a simple course in ideal circumstances in the Ramiro ring.’
Also the stallion owners have nothing but praise for this method. Even those who went home with a rejected stallion. Take Eric Van Meer, for example, a market salesman, but a born breeder. The jury did not like his home-bred stallion Don Diego VM (Darco x Caretino) but he liked the jury all the same: ‘I am not disappointed. There are stallions aplenty. Not every one of them gets his license. The selection was a positive experience for me. I prepared my stallion myself and I did not lose too much time. I discovered that the smallest details count at Zangersheide. Here, a private person can bring a stallion along. When you enter the ring, the Zangersheide team takes over. There are only five men in the ring and all proceeds in a very relaxed manner. Yet no time is wasted. Another good thing is that the tests are spread over three days. You can bring your own X-rays, but they are closely studied. It saves you quite some time and money when you have them taken here. I have nothing against any studbook, but I noticed that Zangersheide simply has a better system.’
Mannfred von Allwörden agrees with him: ‘Why make it difficult for yourself? In Germany they have these seventy days tests. Here you know straight away whether your stallion is licensed or not. The stallion can immediately start to prove himself in sport and breeding. Whether the jury was right will show automatically after a few years.’
Reinie Thewis: ‘One knows how to assess a horse’s value here via a compact formula that is bearable for the stallions and their owners. I spread my stallions out over various studbooks. With the BWP I find those different phases extremely time-consuming. KWPN and Germany have the exhausting and expensive performance test. Nowhere else the system is so horse-friendly as at Zangersheide. Yet one is sufficiently strict here, as I found out for myself.’
