Where are They Now? Glock's Ziësto

Sat, 04/11/2020 - 08:03
Where are They Now
Gerdine Maree and Ziësto at the 2009 World Young Horse Championships :: Photo © Astrid Appels

The licensed KWPN stallion Glock's Ziësto  was in 2017 Hans Peter Minderhoud rising Grand Prix star. After a highly successful career in young horse sport, Glock's Ziësto was expected to become a shining beacon for Dutch Grand Prix sport but his big break through at top level never came. Where is he now?

Glock's Ziësto is a 16-year old Dutch warmblood by Lancet out of Molly (by Clavecimbel x Vanitas). He is bred by Aart de Jong in The Netherlands and owned by Austrian Gaston Glock.

Young Horse Success

Ziësto was originally owned by Jacques Maree and Tim Coomans, but in 2007 they sold in the ownership of the 3-year old stallion to Bartels Academy, which is the same syndicate that owned sire Lancet. The stallion was licensed at the 2007 KWPN Stallion Licensing and the training came into Gerdine Maree's hands.

Gerdine and Ziësto produced their first successes in the show ring by finishing second in the 2009 KWPN Stallion Competition, behind Hans Peter Minderhoud on Zizi Top. They went on to represent the KWPN at the 2009 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, where they were 19th in the consolation finals. The pair went on to finish third in the 2009 Pavo Cup Finals. 

In 2010 they were second in the KWPN Stallion Competition and returned to Verden for the World Championships, where they were 14th in the Finals for the 6-year olds after winning the consolation finals. 

Sale to Austria

Ziësto at the 2010 World YH Championships
Shortly after the achievements in Verden, the upcoming Austrian horse owner Kathrin Glock (in lieu of her husband Gaston) acquired Glock's Ziësto for her head rider at the time, Dutch Marcel Schoenmakers. 

In 2012 Schoenmakers competed Glock's Ziësto at national small tour level in Austria. However in February 2012 Glock signed a 10-year sponsorship with Dutch riders Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward Gal and as a result Ziësto ended up being shipped to The Netherlands for Hans Peter to ride at the end of that year.

Minderhoud and Glock's Ziësto made their show debut in 2013 and had a stellar year at small tour level. They won the 2013 Dutch Small Tour Championships and competed at three internationals, winning at all of them: Villach, Arnheim, and Rotterdam.  The latter show was the horse's last international in his career. 

Glock's Ziësto disappeared from the scene for three years, struggling with injury, but made a low-key come back to the arena in September 2016 to win an Intermediaire II with 77.35% at a local show.  Four months later they did their first Grand Prix at the CDN Ermelo on 20 - 22 January 2017, where they won the class with 72.55%.

Where is He Now?

Glock's Ziësto's last show was his Grand Prix debut in Ermelo. Eurodressage asked Hans Peter Minderhoud about the stallion's health and whereabouts. 

Minderhoud and Glock's Ziësto winning the small
tour at the 2013 CDIO Rotterdam
"Glock's Ziësto is with the Glock family in Austria," he told Eurodressage. "He has Lyme's disease. He is fit but not for top sport. He's still being ridden."

When asked how they came to the diagnosis of Lyme's disease, Minderhoud explained that, "there were periods that he was without energy and they came more often. Lyme ended up as conclusion. He also changed, he lost his stallion expression."

Photos © Astrid Appels

Related Links
Minderhoud's Ziesto Makes Grand Prix Debut at 2017 CDN Ermelo
Scores: 2013 Dutch Dressage Championships
Photo Report: Minderhoud and Ziesto Best Small Tour Field at 2013 CDIO Rotterdam
KWPN Stallion Ziesto Sold to Austria
Scores: 2010 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses
Andretti, Zhivago and Wynton Win 2009-2010 KWPN Stallion Competition
Scores: 2009 World Championships for Young Dressage Horses
Zizi Top, Wynton and Vivaldi Win 2009 KWPN Stallion Competition
TC Athene and Zhivago Win 2009 Pavo Cup Finals
Co-Ownership share in Ziesto sold to Bartels Academy