Eclaire Z secures Grand Prix gold in Donaueschingen

With the Fest der Pferde in Donaueschingen, international show jumping was once again on the programme on German soil last weekend. The atmospheric event featured two-star level competition, with a Z-class horse emerging as the undisputed star of the weekend during the closing CSI2* Grand Prix.

Four days of international show jumping came to a close on Sunday afternoon in Donaueschingen with the CSI2* Grand Prix, which saw a total of forty-three rider-horse pairs take to the course. The 1.45m-high basic course proved technically challenging, meaning that only seven pairs ultimately managed to qualify for the jump-off. The leading role in the jump-off went to German rider Michael Jung and the 9-year-old chestnut mare Eclaire Z, a daughter of our stallion Epleaser van ’t Heike Z and Stakkato, who was bred in the Netherlands by W. Vestjens. Jung and Eclaire Z, who were sold in Lanaken in 2024 during the first edition of the Zangersheide Quality Jumpers – Powered by MBA Auction, once again produced a flawless round in the jump-off and, with a finishing time of 37.53 seconds, were more than three-quarters of a second ahead of their nearest rivals.

Also in this CSI2* Grand Prix, Angelique Böckmann put in a strong performance with the 10-year-old stallion Diabolo van Bets Z, a son of Dominator 2000 Z and Cassini II, bred by Jan Mues. Böckmann and Diabolo van Bets Z also managed to keep a clean sheet in both the first round and the jump-off, and with a time of 39.64 seconds, they secured^5th place.

On Saturday afternoon, there was also a blue-and-yellow victory to celebrate, courtesy of the Swiss rider Barbara Schnieper and the 11-year-old stallion Coco G Z, a son of Cornet Obolensky and Contendro I, bred by W. van Gestel in the Netherlands. Schnieper and Coco G Z were the overall winners of the 1.45m class, where, with a clear-round jump-off in 36.37 seconds, they finished a good one and a half seconds ahead of the competition.

First among the competitors were Germany’s David Will and the 10-year-old chestnut gelding Maverick, a son of Mosito van het Hellehof and Zirocco Blue VDL, who was given the birth name Maurysito de Nuit Z by breeder Maryse De Laet. Will and Maverick also produced a double clear round, but with a time of 37.96 seconds, they had to concede defeat to Schnieper and Coco G Z.