Two new stallions awarded 5* status in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook

Horse Sport Ireland, on behalf of the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, are delighted to announce the new upgraded 5* Star Rating of the 2002 Holstein stallion, Colandro and the 2004 KWPN stallion Zapatero VDL, achieved by the sporting performances of their progeny. Both of these stallions stand with Eamonn and Gladys McArdle in Drumhowan Stud, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan.

Zapatero VDL ( KWPN) at the 2022 Horse Sport Ireland Stallion Selections in Cavan Equestrian Centre

Colandro (HOLST) at home in Drumhowan Stud

Colandro (Holst) – Now rated 5* in the Irish Sport Horse Studbook

Approved by Horse Sport Ireland in 2017, the Holstein stallion Colandro was ridden by German rider Dirk Ahlmann as a young horse. Owned by Stal Retto, this son of Contendro I (HOLST) descends from the same damline that produced Ellen Whitaker’s multiple Nations Cup and Grand Prix winning mont, Locarno 62 (HOLST).

Colandro (HOLST) has been awarded a 5* SJ PP merit for the performances internationally of his showjumping progeny including Buckle Up (KWPN) previously ridden the current world number twelve ranked rider, Ireland’s very own Shane Sweetnam, and also Dez’ Ooktoff (KWPN) with Columbia’s Roberto Teran-Tafur, and Cor Bakker (KWPN) for Mexican rider Fernando Martinez Sommer.

To achieve 5* status for showjumping progeny, a stallion must have two or more progeny that jump double clear rounds in two round classes or Grand Prix or in FEI Nations Cups of at least a height of 1.50m at CSI4* or CSI5* level.

Jessica Kurten – Zapatero VDL
KWPN Hengstenkeuring 2013
© DigiShots

Also being upgraded to 5* status, the VDL Stud-owned Zapatero VDL (KWPN) is no stranger to Irish equestrians given that he was formerly ridden by Ireland’s Jessica Kurten, with the partnership earning placings at the CSI5* shows in Paris (FRA), La Coruna (ESP), Basel (SUI) and Zurich (SUI).

Zapatero VDL (KWPN)is by Chin Chin (HOLST), out of Manieta (KWPN) by Ircolando (KWPN), and descends from the same damline as Ibiza (KWPN), ridden by Ireland’s Jenny Rankin at 1.50m level.
This stallion has been awarded a 5* EV PP merit for the performances internationally of his eventing progeny including Deniro Z (KWPN) ridden by Elizabeth Halliday for the USA, and Monbeg Senna (ISH), ridden also for the USA by Katherine Coleman.

To achieve 5* status for eventing progeny, a stallion must have two or more progeny that earn Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) at CCI4*-L or CCI5*-L level. An MER is achieved when a horse and rider combination has no more than 45 penalty points in the dressage test (minimum of 55% dressage good marks), no more than 16 show jumping penalties and is clear jumping cross country.

Irish Sport Horse connections

Monbeg Senna (ISH) is a 2010 gelding, out of Brooklyn Breeze (ISH) by Heritage Fortunus (HANN) and bred by Ennisnag Stud in Co. KIlkenny. He achieved his MERs at the CCI4*-L events in Strzegom (POL) 2022 and Blenheim (GBR) in 2021.

Monbeg Senna (ISH) with Katherine Coleman competing at the 2023 Badminton Horse Trials

Horse Sport Ireland review stallion classifications and star rating criteria on an ongoing basis for the Irish Sport Horse and Irish Sports Pony Studbooks.  Owners and agents of approved stallions may submit them for star rating review either through their own performance or that of their progeny by contacting stallions@horsesportireland.ie.

To see Colandro’s stallion page, please click here.

To see Zapatero VDL’s stallion page, please click here.