Lanaken (BEL), 30 September 2012 – Horses from the Holsteiner, Belgian Warmblood and Oldenburg Studbooks claimed gold at the FEI World Jumping Championships for Young Horses 2012 which drew to a close at Domein Zangersheide in Lanaken, near Maastricht, Belgium today.

Open to Five, Six and Seven Year Olds, this event has established itself as a milestone in the careers of many champions, and an important conclusion to the breeding season for stud-owners and horse-producers from all around the globe. It has developed into a hugely popular star-spotting occasion at which not just the winning horses, their breeders and riders gain status with a prestigious world title, but the best breeding lines of the present, and the future, are also identified.

Entry is free to the public, and huge numbers attend this annual celebration of the horse where they get the opportunity to compare the merit of the up-and-coming generation of equine stars.  Today they enjoyed warm and pleasant weather conditions as the best of the best battled it out for the medals in each of the three categories.

Continue reading Holsteiner, Belgian Warmblood and Oldenburg Studbooks Clinch Gold at Lanaken →

DOUBLE GOLD FOR ZANGERSHEIDE STUDBOOK, BUT BELGIAN WARMBLOOD WINS YOUNGEST CATEGORY by Louise Parkes

Lausanne (SUI), 26 September 2011 – Horses from the Zangersheide Studbook claimed two of the three gold medals on offer at the 2011 FEI World Jumping Championships for Young Horses staged in Lanaken, Belgium over the weekend.  This event is long-established as the shop window for up-and-coming champions, and for the many breeding organisations who annually compare their merit throughout four days of tough competition.

It was a particularly satisfying result for the host venue at Zangersheide Stud, home to the highly influential and extremely successful Zangersheide Studbook which dates back to its earliest origins in 1992 when Leon Melchior first began to apply a scientific approach to the traditional methods of producing top-class Jumping horses.  And ensuring that all the main honours remained with the host nation, it was the Belgian Warmblood Studbook that reigned supreme in the youngest category for 5 Year Olds.

The event, staged in warm and sunny weather conditions, attracted a phenomenal 80,000 visitors who came to see over 800 jumpers in action.  A total of 206 started in the 5 Year Old category, a massive 265 in the 6 Year Olds and 240 in the 7 Year Old division.  And with €220,000 up for grabs, along with the enormous prestige that is automatically attributed to every medal-winner, the competition was razor-sharp.

FEROCIOUS BATTLE
A total of 58 qualified for Sunday’s 5 Year Old Final, and 35 of these went clear in the first round, so it was a ferocious battle for the medal placings as these youngsters raced against the clock.  The quality of the talent on show however was demonstrated when 15 managed to complete with double-clear performances, but the best of all was the Belgian Warmblood mare Gladys – Wandor v Mispelaere x Toulon – who scorched home quickest for Belgium’s Yves Vanderhasselt.

Continue reading FEI World Jumping Championships for Young Horses 2011 – Lanaken (BEL) →