Berdien Z and Trés Bien Z score Grand Prix bronze in the United States

Last weekend there was also plenty of action on American soil again with international competitions at both the World Equestrian Centre of Ocala and the Desert International Horse Park of Thermal. Both events were successful for the blue/yellow colours of Zangersheide, as a Z-horse shone on the Grand Prix podium in both Ocala and Thermal.

At the CSI3* Grand Prix of Ocala, that honour was reserved for American rider Molly Ashe Cawley and the 13-year-old mare Berdien Z, a daughter of Bustique and Querlybet Hero bred in the Netherlands by H.J. Lamers-van Ingen. Ashe Cawley and Berdien Z jumped clear in the basic round on Saturday evening, making them one of the 11 combinations that managed to qualify for the jump-off. In that, they again managed to stay neatly clear and secured ^3rd place after a finishing time of 37.83 seconds.

In Thermal, the CSI2* Grand Prix was already programmed on Friday and so in it too, a Z-horse managed to impress with a spot on the podium. This was done by Cawley's compatriot Laura Kraut with the 9-year-old stallion Trés Bien Z, a son of Toulon and Nabab de Rêve out of the breeding of S.T. Gingen. Kraut and Trés Bien Z, also good for ^4th place in the 1.45m class the day before, were one of 13 combinations who managed to advance to the jump-off. There they again managed to keep all the rails neatly in the reels and this performance also earned them a bronze place on the podium.

In the 1.45m class on Thursday,^second place was for Irish rider James Chawke with the 10-year-old mare Daido van 't Ruytershof Z, daughter of Dieu Merci Van T&L Z and Bamako de Muze, bred by Bert van den Branden of Stal 't Ruytershof BVBA and with whom Chawke has already won five international classes in recent months. So they too managed to secure another top ranking.

Besides the CSI2* competition, Thermal also jumped at five-star level and here too some Zangersheide riders managed to get some nice results. In the 1.40m opening class on Thursday, American rider Callie Schott and the 13-year-old stallion Teddy Z, a son of Candillo Z and Limbus, who was born Carlimbo Z to breeder Ivo Vandeweerdt, were immediately victorious. Schott and Teddy Z immediately showed that they were in top form, as a clear^second phase in a convincing 32.91 seconds put them more than 3.5 seconds ahead of their nearest pursuer.

Another notable combination in Thermal was Belgian rider Emilie Conter and her 10-year-old chestnut mare Trixie Z, the breeding product of Hugo De Witte who combined the blood of Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z with that of Regillo Z. Conter and Trixie Z competed three times, finishing ^6th in a 1.40m class and ^10th and ^5th in two 1.50m classes.

Last but not least, there was also a podium place in Thermal for Colombian Roberto Teran Fafur with the 9-year-old grey stallion Iron Maiden, a son of Clarimo ASK and Kashmir Van Schuttershof who was given the birth name Cadans van de Ijzervallei Z by breeder Titus Vereecke. During the 1.50m class on Friday, they ensured a clear round, finishing in^2nd place.