Stallions in Focus – Zapatero VDL

Horse Sport Ireland is delighted to announce Zapatero VDL (KWPN) as the first stallion of the month for the Irish Sport Horse Studbook. Having been awarded a 5* merit in 2024 for his eventing progeny, Zapatero has now been awarded a second 5* merit for the sporting performances of his showjumping progeny.

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.

The two progeny that earned this award for Zapatero VDL are Jourdain VDL (KWPN) and Magic Mike (KWPN).

Magic Mike is a 2009 KWPN gelding out of Zivola (KWPN) by Indoctro (HOLST), who has competed at CSI5* with several riders including Kyle King and Michael Murphy for the USA, and Robert Blanchette for Ireland.

With King in the saddle, Magic Mike scored a 2nd place in a 1.55m Jump-Off class at the 2021 Spruce Meadows Master CSIO5* in Canada. They also scored a 2nd place result in the 1.60m Grand Prix at CSI5* Major League Show Jumping event in Traverse City, Michigan in 2021.

Jourdain VDL is a 2014 gelding out of Alba VDL (KWPN) by Darco (BWP) and has been competed internationally by Jur Vrieling (NED), Alex Gill (GBR) and currently by Carlos Lopez-Fanjul Tartiere (ESP). With Vrieling in the saddle, Jourdain VDL competed in the CSI5*GCT in Valkenswaard (NED), Riesenbeck (GER), and Cannes (FRA) in 2024 and represented the Netherlands in the CSIO5* League of Nations, Nations Cup in Falsterbo (SWE). Since taking over the ride, Spain’s Carlos Lopez-Fanjul Tartiere has steered Jourdain VDL to a 4th place finish in the CSI4* 1.55m Grand Prix of Valencia (ESP), and a 9th place finish in the CSI4* 1.50m Jump Off Class in Gorla Minore (ITA) in 2025.

Approved by Horse Sport Ireland at the 2022 Stallion Selections in Cavan Equestrian Centre, Zapatero VDL stands with Eamonn and Gladys McArdle in Drumhowan Stud, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. Speaking about the stallion, Gladys said:

“When Zapatero VDL arrived to Ireland in 2022, Wiebe-Yde van de Lageweg of VDL Stud joked to us that ‘you can send his semen in an envelope, it’s top’, and we couldn’t agree more. He’s a fresh and proud stallion, used consistently by good clients. Indeed, as breeders ourselves, we have had several successful sales with his foals, including the sale €10,600 sale topper at the MRBG Sale in Glenamaddy last year. Their blood type and powerful movement shines through. We are thrilled to hear Zap has now achieved his second 5* rating from HSI. It is a rare enough achievement and endorsement of a stallion as a dual-purpose sire. It is good to be able to keep him in Ireland ‘in the flesh’ with fresh semen for breeders and he’s one of the best boys on the stud to work with.”

Produced as young horse by Dutch rider Angelique Hoorn, Zapatero VDL (KWPN) is no stranger to Irish equestrians given that from 2013 to 2015 he was ridden by the High-Performance Manager of the Irish Showjumping team; Jessica Kurten. Together, the partnership of Kurten and Zapatero VDL earned placings at the CSI5* shows in Paris (FRA), La Coruna (ESP), Basel (SUI) and Zurich (SUI). They also competed in the Sires Of The World at the World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in the Zangersheide Stud in Lanaken, Belgium.

Kurten said:

“I’m delighted to hear that Zapatero VDL is getting this recognition. It was a great pleasure to have him in my team. He has a huge heart and possesses sharp reflexes combined with a sensible head. He is a good example of a modern sport stallion.”

Sired by Chin Chin (HOLST), out of Manieta (KWPN) by Ircolando (KWPN), Zapatero VDL descends from the same damline as Ibiza (KWPN), ridden by Ireland’s Jenny Rankin at 1.55m level, and part of the Irish team that finished second in the CSIO4*EEF Nations Cup final in Warsaw (POL) in 2024.

Irish Sport Horse connections

Some of Zapatero VDL’s Irish Sport Horse progeny include, Monbeg Senna, who helped him earn his 5* merit for Eventing progeny and CBI Bella Donna (ISH), who represented the Team Ireland Equestrian Young Horse Squad at the World Breeding Jumping Championships for Young Horses in Lanaken, Belgium with Vincent Byrne in 2021. She has since gone on to compete at CSI2* level with Byrne and was recently sold to the UK.

Formerly owned by Kaleigh Soden of Leggettsrath Stables in Co. Kilkenny, she said the following to say about the mare:

“CBI Bella Donna was a super mare for us over the last few years. She had scope, was ultra-competitive and always had a great attitude for the job. We look forward to seeing her help her new owners step up the levels & the offspring we kept from her start their careers in the coming years.”

Horse Sport Ireland would like to congratulate all the connections of Zapatero VDL with this achievement and wish the breeders, owners, riders and riders the best of luck with their progeny by him going forward. We look forward to more Irish Sport Horse progeny of his competing on the world stage in the years to come.

Horse Sport Ireland review stallion classifications and star rating criteria on an ongoing basis for the Irish Draught Horse, Irish Sport Horse and Irish Sport 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.

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