Linsell Farm

03/29/2025

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🐎 Nimmerdor – A Legend in Showjumping & Breeding! 🌟

The name Nimmerdor is synonymous with excellence in both competition and breeding. Known for his stunning scope, technique, and consistency, this Dutch Warmblood stallion has left an indelible mark on the world of equestrian sports. 🏆💥

🏅 Career Highlights:
✔️ Multiple Grand Prix wins
✔️ Top placings at prestigious events worldwide 🌍
✔️ A legend in the breeding world, producing top showjumping horses and stallions

Nimmerdor’s influence continues to thrive, with his offspring excelling at the highest levels of competition. His legacy is one of strength, precision, and heart. 💙

💬 Do you have a Nimmerdor descendant you’re following?

03/27/2025

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🔥 Ulft – The Stallion Behind Dressage Royalty 🔥

The legendary Ulft (Le Mexico x Pericles xx) is one of the most influential sires in dressage breeding, best known as the sire of Olympic superstar Ferro.

🏆 A Sire of Champions
✨ Sire of Olympic Ferro – a foundation stallion in modern dressage
✨ Grand Prix & FEI dressage producers
✨ Offspring known for powerful movement, expressive trot, and top rideability

💥 A Legacy in Breeding
✅ His son Ferro sired world-class stallions like Negro, Metall, Rousseau
✅ Grand-sire of top dressage stars, including Valegro 🏆
✅ Also produced talented showjumpers & eventers

🔝 The Perfect Mix of Blood & Ability
With Thoroughbred influence from Pericles xx and the jumping talent of Le Mexico, Ulft brought the strength, power, and movement essential for modern sport horse breeding.

🐴 His impact continues through generations of elite dressage & jumping horses!

03/26/2025

Voltaire: A Legendary Stallion in Show Jumping and Breeding

Few stallions have left as profound a mark on the world of show jumping as Voltaire. Known for his exceptional scope, intelligence, and athletic ability, Voltaire not only had a successful competition career but also became one of the most influential sires in modern sport horse breeding.

The Pedigree of Excellence

Born in 1979, Voltaire was sired by the legendary Furioso II, one of the most important foundation sires of sport horses. His dam, Gogo Moeve, was by Gotthard, another renowned stallion known for producing top show jumpers. This powerful combination of bloodlines gave Voltaire the ideal qualities of a modern sport horse—strength, agility, and a strong work ethic.

A Remarkable Show Jumping Career

Under the saddle of Jos Lansink, Voltaire proved himself as an elite competitor in international show jumping. Some of his most notable achievements include:

Consistent success in World Cup qualifiers, placing highly in major events across Europe.

Winning and placing in numerous Grand Prix competitions, demonstrating his power and precision.

Competing at the highest level with outstanding rideability and carefulness, making him a favorite among riders and breeders alike.

His impressive performances in the arena solidified his reputation as a top-class athlete, but his most significant contribution came through his impact as a sire.

A Sire of Champions

As a breeding stallion, Voltaire became one of the most sought-after sires in the sport horse world. His offspring have excelled at the highest levels of show jumping, dressage, and eventing. Some of his most notable progeny include:

Kannan – One of the most influential sires in modern show jumping, producing numerous Grand Prix winners.

Concorde – A top international competitor and highly successful breeding stallion.

Finesse – A talented jumper known for his athleticism and carefulness.

Play It Again – A successful competitor in both show jumping and dressage.

His ability to pass on his intelligence, athletic ability, and strong character has ensured his continued influence in sport horse breeding.

A Lasting Legacy

Even decades after his passing, Voltaire’s bloodlines continue to dominate the show jumping world. His descendants are found in the pedigrees of many top sport horses, proving his lasting impact on modern breeding.

Conclusion

From his successful competition career to his unparalleled influence as a sire, Voltaire stands as one of the greatest stallions in equestrian history. His legacy continues to shape the sport, making him a true icon in show jumping and sport horse breeding.

03/24/2025

💙 Mr. Blue – The Legend Lives On! 💙

A stallion who redefined show jumping, Mr. Blue left an indelible mark on the sport, both in competition and through his world-class offspring.

🏆 Career Highlights:
🔥 Grand Prix Winner – Valkenswaard, Berlin, and Geesteren
🔥 Consistent 1.60m Performer – Competing at the highest level with Alice Haas & Bert Romp
🔥 Renowned for his heart, scope, and careful technique

💎 A Proven Sire of Champions – His legacy continues through elite jumpers like:
✨ Zirocco Blue VDL – European Team Gold Medalist
✨ Plot Blue – World Cup Final Champion & Olympic Competitor
✨ Simon – Winner of the World Cup Final with Beezie Madden

🐎 A Bloodline of Power & Performance – With Couperus x Oldenburg lineage, Mr. Blue stamps his offspring with bravery, intelligence, and limitless jumping ability.

03/22/2025

Do you find yourself getting ahead of the movement when you are jumping?

While it can be tempting to interfere with the decision making when it comes to the take off point, more often than not this results in you and your horse becoming out of sync. Instead, try to remember that while it is your job to get your horse safely to the fence, it is their decision as to when and where they take off.

By trusting your horse to do his job, you will not only improve your confidence in him, but your performance too.

https://thelucindagreenacademy.com/

03/18/2025

Lack of turnout – and owners without basic knowledge – mean ‘most horses’ in England and Wales are not getting what they need. Read more via link below

03/10/2025

Emilion: A Show Jumping Legend and Elite Sire

Few stallions have had as profound an impact on the world of show jumping as Emilion. A champion in his own right and a sire of countless top-performing horses, his influence in modern sport horse breeding is undeniable.

The Pedigree of Excellence

Born in 1986, Emilion was sired by the legendary Wellington, a stallion known for passing on exceptional jumping ability and rideability. His dam, Ramirha, was by the influential Farn, a producer of numerous top show jumpers. This strong lineage set Emilion up for greatness, both in competition and as a sire.

A Successful Show Jumping Career

Under the guidance of Ulrich Kirchhoff, Emilion competed at the highest levels of international show jumping. His most notable achievements include:

Victories and top placings in major Grand Prix competitions across Europe.

Strong performances in Nations Cup events, showcasing his consistency and reliability.

Competing at World Cup level, proving his talent among the sport’s elite.

His power, carefulness, and intelligence made him a favorite in the show jumping arena, but his true legacy lies in his breeding success.

A Remarkable Sire

Following his competition career, Emilion became an exceptional breeding stallion, producing a long list of Grand Prix and championship-level offspring. Some of his most notable progeny include:

Seldana – Competed at the Olympic Games and in top-level international competitions.

VDL Groep Tomboy – A highly successful Grand Prix performer.

VDL Groep Utascha – A strong competitor at the highest level of show jumping.

His offspring are known for their power, scope, and willingness to perform, making him a highly sought-after stallion in breeding programs worldwide.

A Lasting Legacy

Recognized as one of the KWPN’s most influential sires, Emilion has played a crucial role in shaping modern show jumping bloodlines. His descendants continue to dominate in the sport, proving the strength and reliability of his genetics.

Conclusion

Though Emilion has passed, his legacy endures through his remarkable offspring and the impact he has had on sport horse breeding. His exceptional qualities—both as a competitor and a sire—ensure that his name will remain synonymous with show jumping excellence for generations to come.

02/26/2025

Last fall I was at a World Championship Hunter Rider show in the Pacific Northwest when a longtime amateur rider approached me and asked if there was anything we could do on a governance level to make the sport more affordable. Ellen and her husband are both physicians and fear that they are being p...

02/25/2025

02/23/2025

St. Gallen 1978 - Hugo Simon & Jasper (Little One)

Little One (also known as Jasper), the great jumping stallion ridden by Hugo Simon to win the Hamburg Derby and many Grand Prix, was sired by the Thoroughbred stallion Courville. The sire of Courville is out of a daughter of Son-In-Law of the Dark Ronald line.

02/23/2025

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In the Plaid Horse Adult Amateur Lounge on Facebook, one member brought up her significant other not “getting” horses and complaining about the money she spends on them. Her significant other thinks the riding money should go toward their young children instead. Here are some snippets of the tho...

02/15/2025

Fritz Ligges and the great Ramiro Z

Ramiro Z was one of the first stallions to appear in competition. During his career he had numerous wins at all levels of show jumping - Nations Cups , Puissance and International Grand Prix competition. One of Ramiro's most famous daughters was Ratina Z who won double Olympic gold medals and also the World Cup of 1993 amongst a host of other prestigious championships.

02/13/2025

02/07/2025

Ricky Gervais' message for people who do good things purely for attention

02/06/2025

Ahorn Z

The remarkable French stallion, Almé, had a significant impact on European breeding through an intriguing channel – Zangersheide. This stud farm was founded by a Belgian entrepreneur who struck it rich in the hospital construction industry and then developed a passion for show jumping. He envisioned creating the ultimate jumping horse.

At Melchoir’s Zangersheide, Almé’s licensed sons, including Alexis, Almeo, Athlet, and Ahorn Z, were born. By 1989, they ranked among the top 10 sires in Germany for their age groups, based on their offspring's earnings.

Ahorn inherited his exceptional movement from his dam sire, Ganeff, who was also the maternal grandsire of Leander, a champion at the Holstein approvals in 1973 and a notable sire of performance horses. Ganeff’s most celebrated offspring was the mare, Heureka.

Born in 1960 from the Holsteiner mare line 8145, Heureka became one of the top international jumpers from 1969 to 1971 under Hermann Schridde, achieving numerous victories in prestigious events in Hamburg, Aachen, Brussels, Vienna, Berlin, and Nörten-Hardenberg. After winning the Grand Prix in Aachen, she was sold to Leon Melchior, where she continued her success by winning the Grand Prix in Berlin before becoming a cornerstone mare at Zangersheide. As a broodmare, she was truly exceptional.

In addition to Ahorn Z, her male offspring include Goliath Z (by Graf Gotthard), who sired Grosso Z, known for producing Goldfever.

Heureka had four daughters, each of whom established a legacy of show jumpers. Her first daughter, Argentina Z, by Alme (1977), is renowned for her successful crosses with Ramiro, producing the three stallion brothers Rebel I, II, and III, along with their gold medal-winning sister Ratina Z, and her two sisters, Roxan Z and Renomee Z. The latter three sisters have proven to be outstanding broodmares. For instance, Ratina Z’s daughter Calipa Z and her son Chicago Z (a new stallion at Zangersheide) or Roxan Z’s daughter Cayleigh Z, who secured second place in the World Championship for Young Horses in the 6-year-old category in 2002.

The second daughter of Heureka, Ganeffa Z, sired by Graf Gotthard in 1978, initially found success in her own sporting career before becoming the dam of notable offspring such as Amarillo Z (Aladin), Rebound Z (Rebel II Z), and Al Capone Z (Atlantus Z).

The third daughter, Reureka Z, born in 1982 and sired by Ramiro, produced several stallions including Faust Z, Samson Z, and Lauriston Z. She also has a daughter named Cleopatra Z, whose son Carpediem Z achieved third place in the World Championships for Young Horses in the 6-year-old category.

Romanze Z, the fourth daughter by Ramiro born in 1983, was exported to Canada, where she has made a significant impact as a broodmare.

Ahorn Z quickly established himself as a successful sire, producing state premium mares, numerous stallion sons, and many successful competitors.

Ahorn Z himself competed internationally, as did his licensed sons Acord I, Amaro, Antares, and Aar. His notable progeny include Lord Arico, Acapulco, and Dobel’s Gettina.

One of his earliest sons, Acord I, gained recognition as a sire in Bavaria before relocating to the United States. His full brother, Acord II, was the reserve champion for 5-year-olds at the Bundeschampionate in 1992. In 1996, Acord III, the youngest full brother, was crowned the Brazilian champion stallion.

As a broodmare sire, Ahorn Z has also made a significant mark. The international jumping star and top sire Lux Z is out of Apocalypte Z, a daughter of Ahorn Z. Additionally, the exciting stallion Lordanos is out of W-Ashley, also by Ahorn Z.

The influence of Ahorn Z is evident in the latest edition of Jacob Melissen’s Dutch directory, The Leading Stallions of 2007. Among the prominent stallions listed, we find Acapulco, by Acorado, who is by Acord II, a son of Ahorn Z; Broere VDL Atlantic, by Acord II; Cartano, by Carthago, out of E-Dream Girl, who is by Alasca, a descendant of Ahorn Z; Casantos, by Cantos, out of the Ahorn Z granddaughter Cassima; VDL Indorado, by Corrado, out of Aida, a daughter of Ahorn Z