|
| |
ZULFT
STER Proudly offered for Sale (Ulft
Keur X Marie Louise Elite Preferent 2004 Chestnut gelding
(Silvio 1 X Sit This One
Outxx X Saluut))


ZULFT AND UTOPIA BOTH WON BORN IN THE USA AWARDS AT DRESSAGE AT DEVON 2004 AND 2005!

is HORSE OF THE YEAR CHAMPION 2 YR OLD COLTS (tie)
ZULFT
WAS FIRST PREMIUM AND
EARNED THE HIGH SCORE DRESSAGE
HORSE AT THE IRON SPRING FARM
KEURING 2007 WITH SCORES
OF 80 FOR ALL THREE GAITS AND FOR CONFORMATION!
ZULFT STER'S DAM MARIE
LOUISE ELITE
is
now a Keur Elite Préfèrent mare!
ZULFT
was CHAMPION KWPN-NA 2 YR OLD COLT! 2006 CHAMPION USDF HORSE OF THE YEAR AND
Res. CH. SAME AWARD in 2005!

Zulfts First Foal
Dynastie SCF
Zulft X Jolie (Wanroij) chestnut
filly born 3-21-08



Zulft's sire, ULFT
Ulft
was an extraordinary KWPN “Keur” sire. Other than Olympic Ferro, he produced
such international stars as Caesar, Disney, and Utopia to name a few. Ulft
has produced 7 approved stallions including Boston, Dublin, Dukaat, Fair Play
and again Olympic Ferro. He also has numerous Keur and Star daughters. The
KWPN authorities have always had the greatest confidence in this lineage. Ulft
has a high breeding reliability in jumping (91%) and a high dressage reliability
as well. Ulft's offspring are recognized for their great temperament,
athleticism, and their impressing gaits, especially the trot.
Ulft
was sired by the legendary chestnut
Selle Francais stallion Le Mexico.
Born in Normandy, France, Le Mexico was the grandson of the legendary Irish
Thoroughbred foundation sire Furioso. Le Mexico’s sire – Mexico
was the full brother of the famous Furioso ll. Le Mexico, who also
possessed phenomenal jumping ability was Champion in his performance test in HLP
Sleen in 1974 with a total of 174.86 points. As a resident of Holland, Le
Mexico sired 10 approved sons including Silvano, Zonneglans, Beau Le Mexico, C
Diamond, Le Mexico II, Lester, Astronaut, Expert, Zelhem and of course Ulft.
He also had 23 offspring in International Show Jumping including Olympic
Briljant, Olympic Pride, Olympic Rad Boy, Comex, and Notorius. Le Mexico
died in 1987, only a few months after his upgrading to the rare “Keur”
predicate with the Dutch registry. The year he died, Le Mexico had a phenomenal
jumping index of 146, and in the ranking of dressage sires he was 21st among
over 200 stallions. Even eight years after his death his jumping index was
still above average with a reliability of 96%.
Ulft was out of the Keur Preferent Dutch mare Pia, who was sired by the
legendary stallion Pericles (TB) - the sire of the renowned pinto KWPN stallion
Samber.



DAD 2006 SECOND for Zulft
(Ulft Keur). Zulft WON this class in 2004 and 2005!
|
KWPN
Breeding News
Keur Stallion Ulft Passed Away
January 24, 2005
The KWPN
Keur stallion Ulft has passed away at age 26. The bay stallion by Le
Mexico out of Pia (Pericles xx x Waldo) died at Agnes Dalemans' farm
in The Netherlands.
Bred by Mr. Huirne from Groenlo, Ulft produced numerous licensed
offspring, such as Fairplay, Dublin, Boston, Conveyer, Dukaat and of
course Ferro, but also fathered several international dressage
horses including Argentile Gullit and 1998 European junior rider
champion Habibi.
Ulft was a very successful show horse himself. Dutch Grand Prix
rider Coby van Baalen presented him in the show ring. "He was
the first licensed stallion I got to ride," Van Baalen said.
"Ulft was then owned by Mr van Tuyl from Gameren and he put him
in training with me to be shown. At that time, there were still
special classes for stallions called "bestgaand rijpaard"
(best performing riding horse). It was always a battle between Ulft
and Uniform."
Ulft lived with Agnes Dalemans the final 11 years of his life.
Last year he was officially retired and enjoyed a very happy life.
"The final years, Ulft was allowed to do whatever he wanted. If
he wanted to go outside to enjoy the sun, he could go outside. If it
was too cold, he could stay in," Dalemans said.
Related Links
KWPN news at the official KWPN website
Horse Magazine: Great
Stallions: Ulft
|














ZULFT WAS 2ND OF 16 WITH
GOOD RIBBONS IN ALL OTHER CLASSES AT MORVEN PARK


ZULFT WAS JUST NAMED USDF DHSB RESERVE
CHAMPION COLT HORSE OF THE YEAR!
WARTIMES
ON LEFT, ZULFT ON RIGHT
AND ZULFT IS THE
RECIPIENT OF THE CHAMPION NAWPN USDF YEARLING COLT HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD!
The 26 year old Keur stallion Ulft (Le Mexico keur x Pia keur pref. (Pericles
xx pref. x Waldo)) passed away yesterday morning. The stallion was bred by B.
Huirne from Groenlo (NL.) Ulft was the sire of, amongst others, the
international dressage horses Blue Horse Utopia, Caesar, Disney 032, Intervet
Baltimore, Gullit and naturally the world-famous stallion Olympic Ferro.
Besides Ferro, Ulft was the sire of the approved stallions Boston, Conveyer,
Dublin, Dukaat, Fairplay and was the sire’s sire of Juventus. He was also
the sire of Habibi, the horse ridden in 1998 by Marlies van Baalen to the
European Juniors Championship.
To a somewhat lesser extent Ulft also contributed to jumper breeding. The
full brothers Groetz (under Eric van der Vleuten) and Hyppophae (George Remmen)
were bred out of Renata la Silla. Hyppophae (now known as Fine Line) competes
at Grand Prix with Jonathan Millar.
For the last 11 years Ulft has stood at the farm of Agnes Dalemans. Over
the last few years Ulft has enjoyed his retirement. On the Coby van Baalen
dressage barn website Agnes talked about Ulft: “Over the last few years Ulft
had the good sense to do what he felt like doing. If he wanted to be out to
enjoy the sunshine he could go out, and if it got too cold he could just stay
in.”
Coby van Baalen also had awfully good memories. “He was the first
approved stallion that I got to ride. At the time he belonged to Mr. van Tuyl
(Gameren, NL) who brought me stallion to bring out [in competition]. In time
he earned the title “best moving riding horse.” With Ulft I won countless
times. It was always a battle between Ulft and Uniform,” remarked Coby on
her website.
|

|
|
Competition: Morven Park Sport
Horse Breeding Show (56102)
|
Date(s): 6/8/2005 - 6/8/2005
|
|
Class: Breed Restricted Sport Horse
|
Level: Yearling
|
Test: Colt or Gelding
|
Judge(s): Gail Hoff-Carmona
|
|
Rider: Carlos Jimenez
|
Owner: Carlos Jimenez
|
Score: 78.700%
|
|
Class: Sport Horse
|
Level: Colt/Gelding
|
Test: Qualifier Reserve Champion
|
Judge(s): Gail Hoff-Carmona
|
|
Rider: Carlos Jimenez
|
Owner: Carlos Jimenez
|
Score:
|
|
Class: Sport Horse
|
Level: Yearling
|
Test: Colt or Gelding
|
Judge(s): Gail Hoff-Carmona
|
|
Rider: Carlos Jimenez
|
Owner: Carlos Jimenez
|
Score: 83.500%
|
Ulft keur X Marie Louise Elite
(Silvio 1 X Sit This One Outxx X Saluut)

Zulft
WINS HIS CLASS AND THE BORN IN THE USA AWARD

AT DRESSAGE AT DEVON FOR THE
SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!!


ZULFT WAS AWARDED A FIRST
PREMIUM FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW (2004 AND 2005!)
The final group
of foals shone with five out of six entries awarded first premium. First in
the line-up was Zinnia (Neostan x SamSam ster x Contango) bred and
owned by Pineland Farms. A good type, well-built, with a slightly flat use of
the foreleg but nevertheless good movement; second was was Zulft (Ulft
x Marie Louise elite x Silvio I) bred/owned by the Jimenez's. This colt could
have a better poll and top line shape but became beautiful in his movement
taking the high movement score in this class, showing very good elevation of
the forehand and good use of the neck in his movement.
HORSE SHOW NEWS!!! Dressage
at Stone Tavern a USDF Sport Horse Breed Show



(Overall Reserve Champion and Colt
Champion)
and won his individual
class!






Morven Park and VADA/NOVA
Dressage Breed Shows in Leesburg results!
Morven Park and VADA/NOVA
Dressage Breed Shows in Leesburg, Virginia. Zulft (Ulft keur X Silvio 1 X Sit
This One Outxx X Saluut) was Reserve Colt Champion on the first day and Reserve
Champion YOUNG HORSE the second day (and the only male horse to make it to the
Grand Championship)! The comments and scores were excellent and included an
$83.5% with 8.5% for walk, trot and General Impression from well respected judge
Gail Hoff-Carmona! Zulft also won the KWPN class. Many thanks to Loucky Hagens
Groomsman for sponsoring this class and for the wonderful equestrian art
"prize"! This was Zulft's first show since his Reserve High Point
Championship at Dressage at Devon last fall with an 85.1%!




Click
here: Horsesdaily News: 2004 Dressage at Devon - Breed Show Results
Born in the USA Award at
2004 Devon Breed Show
The
red, white and blue were all over the Dixon Oval at the “Born in the
USA” Awards at the 30th Annual Dressage at Devon Horse Show. High-scorers
in 11 Breed Division categories were adorned with bright, patriotic rosettes
and awarded a Certificates of Achievement, a stall plaque and a “Born in
the USA” commemorative medal. The owners and breeders shared a generous
purse in excess of $10,000, with 75% going to the owners, and 25% to the
breeders. The two high scorers received sashes and coolers as well.
With
an 84.1%, the 2004 colt Zulft, by Ulft Keur out of Marie Louise Elite was
the second highest overall winner. The North American Dutch Warmblood is
owned and was bred by Dr. and Mrs. Carlos Jimenez of Coatesville,
Pennsylvania Both received coolers and neck sashes.
Text
by Astrid Appels & Sally Silverman
|
2004
Dressage at Devon - Breed Show Results
Class
08: Colts (born 2004)
Colts of 2004
(C) Loeffen,
1 Dr. Carlos Jimenez Zulft 85.00%
2 Teresa Smith Reiner K 81.400%
3 Dr. Carlos Jimenez Zenith 77.000%
4 Klaus Schengber Diamond Mine MF 75.900%
5 Jeff Rouse Melcheor 75.000%
6 Klaus Schengber Rushmore 75.000%
7 Hans Engber BW Conian 73.500%
8 Hilltop Farm, Inc. Coromandel 68.000%
9 TBA TBA Santaluca FHC 68.000%
10 Victoria Lamas Wanner ZZ Top 67.700%
|
DAD Class winner and
Reserve High Point
champion ("Born
in the USA") 2004
Zulft was also ranked in the
Top Ten "Best of the
Best"
list for the NA/WPN
standings
Zulft was First Premium with
the NA/WPN and a WINNER at DAD 2004! Zulft was also the recipient of the Reserve
Championship for the High Point "Born in the USA" award with an 85%!

 |
Le
Mexico keur |
Mexico |
Furioso xx |
| Dame de Renville |
| Peche
Melba S.F. |
Brule Tout |
| Elmi Ster Pref |
| Pia
keur |
Pericles
xx pref |
Relie xx |
| Queen of Peru xx |
| Elmi
ster pref |
Waldo keur |
| Volmi ster |
Ulft is a Dutch Warmblood 'keur'
sire. The predicate 'keur' means that Ulft has produced offspring off
the best quality. His offspring excells in both showjumping and
dressage.
Many horses by Ulft have won international shows.
Ulft himself ranked in the top of the performance test for stallions.
Actually, he was the first stallion ever to receive a 9 in dressage!
Besides being a dressage talent, he was a great showjumper too.
Ulft has produced 6 approved stallions of whom Boston, Dublin, Dukaat
and the famous Ferro are still at stud. Ferro is Stallion of the Year
in the Netherlands and got top scores in the Grand Prix at the latest
World Equestrian Games.
Ulft's offspring is recognized for their impressing gaits, especially
the trot is said to be much improved with Ulft- influence.
Ulft produces horses winning all over the world, international winners
in both dressage and showjumping. If you want the best, buy an Ulft-horse!
|
|
Ulft
The
KWPN authorities have always had the greatest confidence in this
lineage. Ulft has a high reliability of heritability (91%) in
jumping and has dressage ability as well.

The
name Ulft needs no introduction
He is know around the world as a top sire of both dressage and jumping horses.
He is a prodigious sire, producing such offspring as Olympic Ferro, Caesar,
Disney, Utopia to name but a few, and has numerous approved sons and keur
daughters. Ulft is a very compatible cross with the sporthorse mare which can be
found in America, improving on their temperament, gaits and athleticism.
Ulft is by Le Mexico, who also possessed phenomenal jumping ability. At his
performance test, Ulft broke records for not only jumping, but also dressage. He
was the first stallion at the test in Ermelo to receive a 9 for dressage. At the
1983/84 Stallion Championships in Holland, he was Reserve Champion of Category
Click
here for further information on Ulft
 |
Le
Mexico keur |
Mexico |
Furioso xx |
| Dame de Renville |
| Peche
Melba S.F. |
Brule Tout |
| Elmi Ster Pref |
| Pia
keur |
Pericles
xx pref |
Relie xx |
| Queen of Peru xx |
| Elmi
ster pref |
Waldo keur |
| Volmi ster |
Ulft is a Dutch Warmblood 'keur'
sire. The predicate 'keur' means that Ulft has produced offspring off the best
quality. His offspring excells in both showjumping and dressage.
Many horses by Ulft have won international shows.
Ulft himself ranked in the top of the performance test for stallions. Actually,
he was the first stallion ever to receive a 9 in dressage! Besides being a
dressage talent, he was a great showjumper too.
Ulft has produced 6 approved stallions of whom Boston, Dublin, Dukaat and the
famous Ferro are still at stud. Ferro is Stallion of the Year in the Netherlands
and got top scores in the Grand Prix at the latest World Equestrian Games.
Ulft's offspring is recognized for their impressing gaits, especially the trot
is said to be much improved with Ulft- influence.
Ulft produces horses winning all over the world, international winners in both
dressage and showjumping. If you want the best, buy an Ulft-horse!
Ulft was very successful in his performance
test in Ermelo scoring very well in the jumping and was the first
stallion ever to receive a 9 for dressage.
In the 1983/1984 Stallion competition he was
the Reserve Champion of category A. In the following year he
was champion of category B.
He currently is standing #1 on the WBSFH
ranking for dressage horses.
The 26 year old Keur stallion Ulft (Le Mexico keur x Pia keur
pref. (Pericles xx pref. x Waldo)) passed away yesterday
morning. The stallion was bred by B. Huirne from Groenlo (NL.)
Ulft was the sire of, amongst others, the international dressage
horses Blue Horse Utopia, Caesar, Disney 032, Intervet
Baltimore, Gullit and naturally the world-famous stallion
Olympic Ferro. Besides Ferro, Ulft was the sire of the approved
stallions Boston, Conveyer, Dublin, Dukaat, Fairplay and was the
sire’s sire of Juventus. He was also the sire of Habibi, the
horse ridden in 1998 by Marlies van Baalen to the European
Juniors Championship.
To a somewhat lesser extent Ulft also contributed to jumper
breeding. The full brothers Groetz (under Eric van der Vleuten)
and Hyppophae (George Remmen) were bred out of Renata la Silla.
Hyppophae (now known as Fine Line) competes at Grand Prix with
Jonathan Millar.
For the last 11 years Ulft has stood at the farm of Agnes
Dalemans. Over the last few years Ulft has enjoyed his
retirement. On the Coby van Baalen dressage barn website Agnes
talked about Ulft: “Over the last few years Ulft had the good
sense to do what he felt like doing. If he wanted to be out to
enjoy the sunshine he could go out, and if it got too cold he
could just stay in.”
Coby van Baalen also had awfully good memories. “He was the
first approved stallion that I got to ride. At the time he
belonged to Mr. van Tuyl (Gameren, NL) who brought me stallion
to bring out [in competition]. In time he earned the title
“best moving riding horse.” With Ulft I won countless times.
It was always a battle between Ulft and Uniform,” remarked
Coby on her website.
 |
Furioso
xx
1939 Bay Thoroughbred. Furioso's most
influential Anglo-Norman sons were Mexico and Furioso
II. Furioso also produced Lutteur B who won a gold
medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo ridden by Pierre
d'Oriola and Pomone B also ridden by d'Oriola was a 1966
World Champion. Out of the top 100 show jumping sires in
the 1990's 17 descend from Furioso. |

| |
|
|
Precipitation |
| |
|
Furioso
xx |
Maureen |
| |
Mexico |
|
Talisman |
| |
|
Dame de
Ranville |
Que Je Suis Belle |
| Le Mexico |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Foudroyant II |
| |
|
Brule
Tout |
Saint Mere |
| |
Peche
Melba |
|
Ascot |
| |
|
Guitone |
Sibelle |
words and photos by Jacob Mellissen
(author and publisher of Leading Sires
of the Netherlands))
"They will become broodmares with substance and
strength, deep chests and curved ribs. Probably they will be important in
our breeding, in spite of the fact that they are missing the so-called
'golden touch'."
It was the summer of 1977, the eldest offspring of Le
Mexico were two years old and when the Dutch jury went to assess them,
they were not over-impressed. Solid and sound, all his foals, yearlings
and two year olds, looked to be useful animals, but there was no
brilliance at all. And judges have to criticise the present, not predct
the future. We may never forget that they are doing the most thankless job
on earth! Le Mexico needed some more time before his real heritgage came
through.
In 1996, after his thrteenth season at stud, he was
upgraded by the KWPN (Dutch Warmblood) executive committee as a 'keurhengst'.
That tile means an important step on the narrow road towards an
outstanding breeding career. The breeding system in Holland is a
continental system with lots of regulations and laws and by-laws - totally
different to Anglo-Saxon liberalism.
I will explain. After the first approval, judged on
conformation and movement in hand, Dutch stallions have to fulfill the
performance test - at present 70 days but in the 1970's, just a month
longer. After successfully completing the performance test they are
transferred into the 'real' studbook.
At the end of their second season at stud, Dutch stallions
are judged on the basis of their offspring (in Le Mexico's time, this test
was conducted at the end of their fourth season). At four and a half, all
stallions compete in the winter competition, ie. a series of jumping or
dressage tests for approved stallions of the same age.
The next test comes when the eldest progeny are three or
four years old (it depends on sufficient numbers of young stock being on
the ground) the next proof will be delivered by the studbook entries of
female offspring. At this stage, the few best stallions can be licensed
for three seasons at once. This is the first step to stallion upgrading.
The second is the title 'keurhengst' (or tested sire) and
it is a rare title. At the moment there are 14 of these on the KWPN list
of 265 licensed stallions. The third, and most prstigious graduation, is
to the title of 'preferent stallion', reserved for the happy few really
dominating stallions, bestoward after many years at stud, and almost
always at the very end of their careers. Nowadays there are only seven of
these patriachs left alive!
Back to Le Mexico and his life. He sustained tremendous
colic in the early spring of 1987, and died only a few months after his
upgrading, and is sadly missed by a huge fanclub of breeders. In his
thirteen years at stud he produced no less than 1134 foals as a result of
1744 matings.
From whence his popularity? In the 1983 volume of the
Dutch Horse Yearbook - the first annual publication of performances of all
registered sport horses in the Netherlands - we find a long enumeration of
Le Mexico's youngstock, both in dressage and jumping. While his eldest
offspring were only nine years old by then, there were already ten Grade A
jumping horses in the yearbook.
Among them the well-known names (at that time) of Lucinda
(ridden by Linda Southern), Opstalan's Peckwush (ribben by Bert Romp) and
Fliegette of Noordland (ridden by Miss Sylvia van Staalduinen).
In the year of his death, the first edition of the
breeding values was printed and Le Mexico ranked with 146 points in the
jumping section alongside such famous performance sires as Nimmerdor,
Abgar (TB), Exkurs (TB), Lucky Boy (TB), Farn and Notaris.
He was a versatile sire too, for in the ranking of
dressage sires, he came in 21st place amongst some 200 stallions.
Eight years later his jumping index was still above the
average with a reliability of 96%. To interpret this correctly you must
understand that the Dutch estimate of breeding value, most of the
competitive results gained abroad, are not counted.
Born in Normandy in France, Le Mexico was a lineal
descendant of the legendary Irish bred foundation sire, the Thoroughbred,
Furioso, the son of Precipitation. We can trace his genealogy along the
row of generations... Marco-Marcovil-Hurry On... and back to the 17th
century foundation sire, The Godolphin Arabian.
Furioso was imported to France in 1946 where he became the
star performer at that 'horsy chateau', the old fashioned national stud of
Le Pin. Here, in the cradle of the famous apple brandy of Calvados,
Furioso produced, amongst others, Lutteur B - ridden by Pierre Jonqueres
d'Oriola to a gold medal at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and
d'Oriola's 1966 World Champion, Pomone B.
Furioso's son Mexico was a gem of a cross, out of Dame de
Ranville, by Talisman. Mexico's full-brother Furioso 11, became a
foundation sire in one of Germany's most important breeding areas -
Oldenburg. Mexico himself, stayed in France as a 'public officer' where he
became the sire of showjumpers like Rambouillet (Grand Prix, Vienna), Rush
du Camp (Olympic Games, Mexico City) and Jexico du Parc (Olympic Games,
Los Angeles); Bred by that connoisseur, the late Alfred Lefèvre of
Falaise, Le Mexico became the real successor of his male lineage.
As a resident of Holland, he produced the approved
stallions, Silvano, Ulft, Zelhem, Zonneglans, Astronaut and Expert. These
half dozen have been important, especially Ulft, who has had a remarkable
influence on Dutch Warmblood breeding.
Le Mexico produced not only breeding stock - there are
international showjumpers and dressage competitors for example, Alanda
(ridden by Peter Kersten), Bollvorm's Rad Boy (Roelof Bril) and Mexican (Tineke
Bartels). His stock are correctly shaped but mostly a little bit ordinary
and rarely striking... just missing the golden touch, but that's only
outward appearance - inside they are real winners

|
|
Le Mexico grandsire of Zulft

| |
|
|
Precipitation |
| |
|
Furioso
xx |
Maureen |
| |
Mexico |
|
Talisman |
| |
|
Dame de
Ranville |
Que Je Suis Belle |
| Le Mexico |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Foudroyant II |
| |
|
Brule
Tout |
Saint Mere |
| |
Peche
Melba |
|
Ascot |
| |
|
Guitone |
Sibelle |
words and photos by Jacob Mellissen
(author and publisher of Leading Sires
of the Netherlands))
"They will become broodmares with substance and
strength, deep chests and curved ribs. Probably they will be important in
our breeding, in spite of the fact that they are missing the so-called
'golden touch'."
It was the summer of 1977, the eldest offspring of Le
Mexico were two years old and when the Dutch jury went to assess them,
they were not over-impressed. Solid and sound, all his foals, yearlings
and two year olds, looked to be useful animals, but there was no
brilliance at all. And judges have to criticise the present, not predct
the future. We may never forget that they are doing the most thankless job
on earth! Le Mexico needed some more time before his real heritgage came
through.
In 1996, after his thrteenth season at stud, he was
upgraded by the KWPN (Dutch Warmblood) executive committee as a 'keurhengst'.
That tile means an important step on the narrow road towards an
outstanding breeding career. The breeding system in Holland is a
continental system with lots of regulations and laws and by-laws - totally
different to Anglo-Saxon liberalism.
I will explain. After the first approval, judged on
conformation and movement in hand, Dutch stallions have to fulfill the
performance test - at present 70 days but in the 1970's, just a month
longer. After successfully completing the performance test they are
transferred into the 'real' studbook.
At the end of their second season at stud, Dutch stallions
are judged on the basis of their offspring (in Le Mexico's time, this test
was conducted at the end of their fourth season). At four and a half, all
stallions compete in the winter competition, ie. a series of jumping or
dressage tests for approved stallions of the same age.
The next test comes when the eldest progeny are three or
four years old (it depends on sufficient numbers of young stock being on
the ground) the next proof will be delivered by the studbook entries of
female offspring. At this stage, the few best stallions can be licensed
for three seasons at once. This is the first step to stallion upgrading.
The second is the title 'keurhengst' (or tested sire) and
it is a rare title. At the moment there are 14 of these on the KWPN list
of 265 licensed stallions. The third, and most prstigious graduation, is
to the title of 'preferent stallion', reserved for the happy few really
dominating stallions, bestoward after many years at stud, and almost
always at the very end of their careers. Nowadays there are only seven of
these patriachs left alive!
Back to Le Mexico and his life. He sustained tremendous
colic in the early spring of 1987, and died only a few months after his
upgrading, and is sadly missed by a huge fanclub of breeders. In his
thirteen years at stud he produced no less than 1134 foals as a result of
1744 matings.
From whence his popularity? In the 1983 volume of the
Dutch Horse Yearbook - the first annual publication of performances of all
registered sport horses in the Netherlands - we find a long enumeration of
Le Mexico's youngstock, both in dressage and jumping. While his eldest
offspring were only nine years old by then, there were already ten Grade A
jumping horses in the yearbook.
Among them the well-known names (at that time) of Lucinda
(ridden by Linda Southern), Opstalan's Peckwush (ribben by Bert Romp) and
Fliegette of Noordland (ridden by Miss Sylvia van Staalduinen).
In the year of his death, the first edition of the
breeding values was printed and Le Mexico ranked with 146 points in the
jumping section alongside such famous performance sires as Nimmerdor,
Abgar (TB), Exkurs (TB), Lucky Boy (TB), Farn and Notaris.
He was a versatile sire too, for in the ranking of
dressage sires, he came in 21st place amongst some 200 stallions.
Eight years later his jumping index was still above the
average with a reliability of 96%. To interpret this correctly you must
understand that the Dutch estimate of breeding value, most of the
competitive results gained abroad, are not counted.
Born in Normandy in France, Le Mexico was a lineal
descendant of the legendary Irish bred foundation sire, the Thoroughbred,
Furioso, the son of Precipitation. We can trace his genealogy along the
row of generations... Marco-Marcovil-Hurry On... and back to the 17th
century foundation sire, The Godolphin Arabian.
Furioso was imported to France in 1946 where he became the
star performer at that 'horsy chateau', the old fashioned national stud of
Le Pin. Here, in the cradle of the famous apple brandy of Calvados,
Furioso produced, amongst others, Lutteur B - ridden by Pierre Jonqueres
d'Oriola to a gold medal at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and
d'Oriola's 1966 World Champion, Pomone B.
Furioso's son Mexico was a gem of a cross, out of Dame de
Ranville, by Talisman. Mexico's full-brother Furioso 11, became a
foundation sire in one of Germany's most important breeding areas -
Oldenburg. Mexico himself, stayed in France as a 'public officer' where he
became the sire of showjumpers like Rambouillet (Grand Prix, Vienna), Rush
du Camp (Olympic Games, Mexico City) and Jexico du Parc (Olympic Games,
Los Angeles); Bred by that connoisseur, the late Alfred Lefèvre of
Falaise, Le Mexico became the real successor of his male lineage.
As a resident of Holland, he produced the approved
stallions, Silvano, Ulft, Zelhem, Zonneglans, Astronaut and Expert. These
half dozen have been important, especially Ulft, who has had a remarkable
influence on Dutch Warmblood breeding.
Le Mexico produced not only breeding stock - there are
international showjumpers and dressage competitors for example, Alanda
(ridden by Peter Kersten), Bollvorm's Rad Boy (Roelof Bril) and Mexican (Tineke
Bartels). His stock are correctly shaped but mostly a little bit ordinary
and rarely striking... just missing the golden touch, but that's only
outward appearance - inside they are real winners

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