|
Oldenburg
Breeding News
Zeus Passed Away
 29-year
old foundation stallion Zeus has been put down at the
end of August 2001. The French bred chestnut sire enjoyed
his retirement at breeding station Gestut Vorwerk in
Cappeln, Germany, but, although Zeus was healthy his
entire life, he started to deteriorate in August. Joachim
Happ explained that Zeus could no longer leave his stall
and had difficulties eating. It was in the horse best
interest that he was put down.
Zeus was a stallion with three names. Bred in France,
he was named Gordios and represented the French Breeding
Society at the 1975 Equitana Horse Fair. On the Equitana
fair grounds in Essen, Germany, Zeus' path crossed with
the one of Georg Vorwerk. Vorwerk bought the chestnut
with his striking blaze and named him Zeus, after the
supreme god in Greek mythology.
3/4s of Zeus' bloodlines were Anglo Arabian and the
stallion carried Talisman blood in the third generation.
Talisman was also the dam sire to the foundation stallion
Furioso II, who was a long time stall mate to Zeus in
Cappeln.
Zeus immediately became a successful show jumping sire.
Nevertheless, did Georg Vorwerk decided to lease him
to Holland for three breeding seasons. Baptised Nurzeus
in the Netherlands, the chestnut became the sire of
famous sport horses Midnight Madness (Michael Withaker)
and the licensed stallion Beach Boy (recently sold to
the US).
Zeus' greatest achievement was the production of a
whole family tree of breed show champions. Zeus was
often paired with brood mare Cinderella and she gaved
birth to five mares who all became State Premium Mares
and represented the Oldenburg verband at regional breed
shows. The Cinderella group was also the national "Family"
champion in Verden in 1990. The family consisted of
Chinchilla, Cleopatra, Chin Chin, Cabaret and Crystal.
Chinchilla became the dam of four licensed stallions.
Her approved full brother Zymbal I was a three times
participant at the Bundeschampionate and a winning stallion
at various breed shows. Zymbal II won various international
show jumping competitions.
Other known progeny of Zeus are Zapateado, Zeno, Zandor
Z, Monodie and Zodiac. Zeus produced 21 licensed stallions,
892 out of 2000 registered sport horse descendants gathered
a win sum of 4.5 million Deutsch Marks and 46 mares
were laureled with the State Premium Title.
Related Links:
Source: Pferdeforum
Greatest Foundation Sires: Zeus
Adrilank Stud: Zeus
|
