10 March '26
Z-horses strike three in Thermal
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Studbook
© High Desert Sport Photo
While in Florida one could enjoy the international action in both Wellington and Ocala, last weekend in the United States there was also a lot of showjumping to be enjoyed again at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California. A three-star international show jumping competition was also on the programme there, and the Z-horses managed to jump into the limelight several times. Spread over the weekend, they scored no less than three victories, again making their mark on the international competition.
One of those blue/yellow victories in Thermal came in the name of Irish rider James Chawke and his 12-year-old mare Daido van 't Ruytershof Z, the daughter of our stallion Dieu Merci Van T&L Z and Bamako de Muze bred by Bert van den Branden of Stal 't Ruytershof. Chawke and Daido van 't Ruytershof Z have already produced many strong results in recent months, so that impressive record was extended again last weekend. On Thursday, Chawke and Daido van 't Ruytershof Z won the 1.50m class. In a jump-off for which thirteen combinations qualified, they took the lead and with a clear round in 36.05 seconds they immediately managed to put the winning time on the scoreboard.
James Chawke: "I thought she was really good. She is always so fast, which allows you to stick to your plan and execute it well. She's always around. "z
A second victory went to Canadian rider Ali Ramsay and her 15-year-old mare Bonita vh Keizershof Z (Bustique x For Pleasure), who was born to breeder Leon Otten and with whom Ramsay has now also been a top combination for several years. The successful duo made an excellent start to their competition week on Wednesday, claiming victory in the 1.45m main class. Ramsay and Bonita vh Keizershof Z re-entered the ring in this speed class as the penultimate combination and with a sparkling round in 61.85 seconds they outclassed the competition by more than half a second.
But 3rd place in this 1.45m class on Wednesday was also coloured blue and yellow thanks to Dutch rider Mathijs van Asten and the 11-year-old chestnut stallion Vedet DK Z (Vagabond de la Pomme x Carthago Z - breeder: Stal de Krochten). They too signed for a flawless performance, but needed 65.31 seconds to complete their round. Ramsay's compatriot Tiffany Foster and the also 11-year-old stallion Anton SBK Z (Arko III x Quintero ASK - breeder: Louis Bijloos) secured another 6th place in this class.
Finally, the American rider Tali Dejong also managed to secure a victory with the 8-year-old gelding Boeff van de Molen Z, a son of Bamako de Muze out of the Kannan mare Kayenne Z. In the 1.40m class, Dejong and Kristof Engelen's breeding product did not make a single mistake in either the1st or2nd phase, and with a finishing time of 32.93 seconds they were also more than half a second ahead of their nearest pursuer.