SIRE LINES
Sire: EMERALD
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Emerald is an instantly recognisable stallion with his extravagant markings, but he is renowned mostly for his scope, carefulness, balance, confirmation, intelligence and outstanding personality, that make him the star he is today.
As a six year old Emerald van ’t Ruytershof was reserve champion at the World Championships for young horses, and five years later he was part of the Dutch team and finalist at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, and was second in the World Cup Final in Gothenburg. Emerald has many international Grand Prix victories with his rider Harrie Smolders. In 2018 he was the winner of the grands prix in Bordeaux and LGCT Cannes, second in the World Cup team final in Paris and the LGCT in Doha, and third in the Rolex grand prix in s'Hertogenbosch.
Emerald is now one of the most popular and highest ranked jumping sires in the world.
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Damsire: DARCO
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Darco’s list of achievements as a jumping stallion is testimony to a stellar career. Partnered with Ludo Phillippaerts since the age of 5, highlights of the duo’s successes include 7th place at the Barcelona Olympics, 2nd at Spruce Meadows/Calgary, 6th in the World Equestrian Games at Stockholm, and countless wins and placings in World Cup and international Grand Prixs. As a competitor, Darco displayed a lot of power and stamina and was described by his rider as an extremely honest, intelligent and careful partner with a solid character.
As a sire, Darco reliably passes on these characteristics to his progeny. Ranked No.1 on the World Breeding Federation’s Jumping Sire list in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and again in 2011, many of Darco’s offspring have become household names by virtue of their success in the ring: Parco, Sapphire, King Darco, Otterongo, Fedor, Nonstop, Ublesco, Winningmood, Ogano Sitte etc.
To this day Darco has the most offspring that competed at 1.60m level, a record which no sire has ever achieved since the ranking was first developed in 1995. Moreover, Darco is one of the few sires of the present day ranking, who previously appeared in these original rankings from 1995. In other words, Darco has been at the top for more than 24 years. Additionally he has 4 sons appearing in the top 100 of the World Breeding Federation's Jumping Sire Rankings - Douglas #34, Winningmood #50, Ogano Sitte #54 and Nonstop #87.
Additionally Darco has led the Sire of Dam rankings for years. This year alone as a dam sire, his grand children collected no less than 956'826 euros in prize money!
Reasons enough to assume, at this time, that Darco is the best jumping horse progenitor ever in show jumping.
By virtue of his prepotency as a sire, his impact on the show jumping world will be felt for years to come.
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2nd Damsire: VOLTAIRE
Sire of Kannan, the current world no. 1 ranked jumping sire.
As an 8 year old Voltaire jumped 1.50 m. courses with a great deal of success. He showed his strength in international jumping in 1988 in Calgary, Stockholm, Lanaken, Helsinki, Wiesbaden and Wembley and in 1989 he brought his showjumping career to a successful ending by winning the Grand Prix of Berlin with Jos Lansink and 2nd in the Grand Prix of Leeuwarden.
Voltaire was the sire with the most offspring at the Olympic Games of Atlanta in 1996. Moreover the worldfamous Voltaire is second on the World Breeding Ranking of Showjumping Sires. Voltaire has over 50 approved sons. Many of his offspring jump at Grand Prix level, i.e. Finesse, Altaire, Kahlua, Play it Again, Helios, Electro, Kannan, Especial etc. etc. Foltaire, ridden by G?nther Seidel is a famous offspring of Voltaire in the international dressage ring. Voltaire has been awarded ?Huntersire of the Year 2001, 2002 and 2003? in the USA! At the moment Voltaire is one of the top sires in the KWPN Jumping Index with 151 points.
DAM LINES
Dam: KORINTHE VAN'T MERELSNEST (2010 by Darco)
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3/4 sister to the legendary SAPPHIRE (McLain Ward)
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Competed with wins to 1.40m before retiring to stud
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Dam of approved stallions and young horse class winners inc Castlefield Duke, winner of round 2 Lanaken World 5yr old Championship
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Dam of:
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ODDYSEUS VAN'T MERELSNEST (by Kannan)
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Approved breeding stallion formerly standing at VDL Stud​
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Sold at prestigious VDL auction, Winter Equestrian Festival, Florida USA
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CASTLEFIELD DUKE (2017 by Kannan)
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Competing 1.40m at rising 8yrs​
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Winner Round 2 Lanaken World 5yr old Champs
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EVEREST Z (2020 by Emerald)
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Winner of 3 x 5yr old classes Valencia Tour 2025
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CAESAR Z (2021 by Chacco-Blue)
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Approved stallion standing with Szuhai Horses
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Advertised as: "Great parental background, imposing character, impressive ease at performing tasks. A successful future is visible at first glance."
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2nd Dam: ARTEMIS VAN'T MERELSNEST (2000 by Voltaire)
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Competed to 1.40m
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Dam of:
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DOMINA VAN'T MERELSNEST (2003 by Darco)
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CSI 1.45m SJ, sold to United Arab Emirates and competed on Global Champions Tour
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Dam of Jakarta Van't Merelsnest (1.40m) & Hector As (Zangersheide Approved young stallion jumping 1.30m)
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JOLENTE VAN'T MERELSNEST (2009 by Mr Blue)
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CSI 1.40m SJ
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JUST FLY VAN'T MERELSNEST (2009 by Ogano Sitte)
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dam of Earlene D'engandou (1.50m)​
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3rd Dam: IDJAZ-C (1985 by Hedjaz)
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​Dam of:
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SAPPHIRE
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CSI 1.60m SJ, Sapphire is remembered as one of the greatest show jumpers of her time
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Dam of the 5 approved stallions: OMANO BC 1.55m SJ, PETROSSIAN BC 1.50m SJ, OLYMPIC JAC BC 1.45m SJ, AKROPOLIS VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.40m SJ & NEW YORK BC 1.40m SJ
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LIVIUS VAN'T MERLESNEST
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CSI 1.60m SJ
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QARCO VAN'T MERELSNEST
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CSI 1.60m SJ
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MAUREEN VAN'T MERELSNEST
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CSI 1.50m SJ
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Dam of MOYA VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.55m SJ, ROMULUS VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.50m SJ, MON REVE VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.45m SJ, & MR HARRISON 1.45m SJ
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VINCENZO VAN'T MERELSNEST​
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CSI 1.50m SJ
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Approved BWP stallion
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WENDELINA VAN'T MERELSNEST
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CSI 1.50m SJ
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Dam of GLASGOW VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.65m SJ, EDJAZ VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.50m SJ, KARAAT VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.50m SJ, MORTON VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.50m SJ, ODIN VAN'T MERLESNEST 1.50m SJ, GALANTHIS-W VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.45m SJ, INDI BLUE-W VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.45m SJ, KOBLENZ-W VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.45m SJ, MOLVEDO VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.45m SJ & QUENDELIN VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.45m SJ
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OVIDIUS VAN'T MERELSNEST
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CSI 1.50m SJ
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NEARCO VAN'T MERELSNEST
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CSI 1.50m SJ
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Other related sport horses from this dam line
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PANDITO VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.60m
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NAILA VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.60m
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MARTIALIS 1.60m
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ANTINA VAN'T MERLESNEST 1.55m
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CALLAHO CONZANO 1.55m
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BOLERO 111 1.55m
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PURA VIDA BC 1.50m
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OCEAN BLUE 1.50m
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PADDINGTON DU ROYAUME 1.50m
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QUANTUM II R Z 1.50m
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PERNELLA VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.50m
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ROMULUS VAN'T MERELSNEST 1.50m
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ARAC DU SEIGNEUR 1.60m
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MOM'S OAK GROVE'S HEARTFELT 1.60m
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BEAU DE LAUBRY Z 1.60m
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CERISE DE MUZE 1.60m
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EQUINA VAN SOMBEKE 1.60m
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HAXELLE DAMPIERRE 1.60m
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NAVY BLUE TAROY 1.60m