Rantzau (horse)
Encyclopedia
Rantzau was a French-bred racehorse that went on to be an extremely influential sire of dressage
, show jumping
, and event
horses, and is considered to be one of the most influential stallions from the French studbook.
.
Rantzau's sire, Foxlight, was one of the best sons of the French stallion Haras du Pin, and also had the blood of Bay Ronald
in his pedigree. After a notable career at the track, Foxlight retired to stud duty where he was quite successful, producing both flat racers and steeplechasers. His racing blood included that of Foxlaw (winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and Newmarket Jockey Club Stakes) and Foxhunter (winner of the Ascot Gold Cup).
Between 1951 and 1962, Rantzau bred 40-49 mares a year, although these numbers dropped during the second half of his breeding career. However, he covered 772 mares during his 20-years at stud, averaging 38 each year.
It was during this time that he was first recognized as a producer of jumping horses. In 1958, Rantzau was ranked 17th top showjumping producer, moving up to the 11th spot in 1962, and 5th in 1963. In 1964, Rantau was ranked 2nd leading producer of showjumpers, second only to the great Furioso
.
In 1970, a new ranking for "best sires of dams" was published, in which Rantzau was ranked 3rd, behind Ibrahim
and Furioso
. The next year, the year of his death, he was placed first. Although Ibrahim took the number-one spot again in 1973, Rantzau held onto 4th place in 1980, and again managed to rank number one in 1981, ten years after his death.
Rantzau tended to produce sensitive, "difficult" horses, that were very athletic and generally excellent jumpers. Despite this reputation, riders of international-caliber were quite interested in purchasing his offspring.
International showjumpers descended within four generations:
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
, show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
, and event
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
horses, and is considered to be one of the most influential stallions from the French studbook.
- Lived: 1946-1971
- Sex: StallionStallion (horse)A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
- Height: 16.1 hhHand (unit)The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
- Color: Chestnut
- Markings: Blaze
- Breed: ThoroughbredThoroughbredThe Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
- Breeding: by Foxlight, out of Rancune, by Cavaliere d'Arpino
- Breeder: Henri Tambareau
Breeding of Rantzau
Henri Tambareau purchased the Thoroughbred mare, Rancune, in 1943 for use as a broodmare. She had won several times on the racetrack, and came from good lines, including that of the famous jumping sire Bay RonaldBay Ronald
Bay Ronald, Foaled 3 May 1893, at Leybourne Grange Stud in Kent, England) was a thoroughbred racehorse that had a huge impact on the breeding of sport horses, mainly through his son Dark Ronald and grandson Teddy, and also carried on his lines in theThoroughbred racing world, through his son Bayardo...
.
Rantzau's sire, Foxlight, was one of the best sons of the French stallion Haras du Pin, and also had the blood of Bay Ronald
Bay Ronald
Bay Ronald, Foaled 3 May 1893, at Leybourne Grange Stud in Kent, England) was a thoroughbred racehorse that had a huge impact on the breeding of sport horses, mainly through his son Dark Ronald and grandson Teddy, and also carried on his lines in theThoroughbred racing world, through his son Bayardo...
in his pedigree. After a notable career at the track, Foxlight retired to stud duty where he was quite successful, producing both flat racers and steeplechasers. His racing blood included that of Foxlaw (winner of the Ascot Gold Cup and Newmarket Jockey Club Stakes) and Foxhunter (winner of the Ascot Gold Cup).
Career on the track
As a three-year-old, Rantzau raced 9 races between 2,000-3,000 meters, winning two and placing in five. He was then purchased by Marcel Boussac.Breeding career
Marcel Boussac went on to sell Rantzau to the French National Stud at Saint-Lo, and the stallion arrived at his new home in January 1951. When he first arrived, the stud inspector noted that he had: “good front extension, remarkably built through the shoulder and forearm, long haunches, this classy stallion of rare nobility also has low-placed joints and covers ground," and later said he was "high off the ground, with slightly long cannon bones and slightly straight and interiorly bony hocks; but he has a very lovely look, a good frame, good muscle tone, a well-angled should and he is well muscled."Between 1951 and 1962, Rantzau bred 40-49 mares a year, although these numbers dropped during the second half of his breeding career. However, he covered 772 mares during his 20-years at stud, averaging 38 each year.
It was during this time that he was first recognized as a producer of jumping horses. In 1958, Rantzau was ranked 17th top showjumping producer, moving up to the 11th spot in 1962, and 5th in 1963. In 1964, Rantau was ranked 2nd leading producer of showjumpers, second only to the great Furioso
Furioso
Furioso was an influential sire of jumping horses, and is found in the pedigrees of many top show jumpers today.-Life:Furioso was a terrible racehorse, with zero wins out of 21 starts. However, he was a fantastic sire of jumping horses, standing in France...
.
In 1970, a new ranking for "best sires of dams" was published, in which Rantzau was ranked 3rd, behind Ibrahim
Ibrahim (horse)
Ibrahim was a prolific Thoroughbred stallion, who now has progeny competing at the highest level of show jumping.*Lived: 1952-1973*Color: Bay *Markings: stockings on hind, sock right fore*Height: 16 hh...
and Furioso
Furioso
Furioso was an influential sire of jumping horses, and is found in the pedigrees of many top show jumpers today.-Life:Furioso was a terrible racehorse, with zero wins out of 21 starts. However, he was a fantastic sire of jumping horses, standing in France...
. The next year, the year of his death, he was placed first. Although Ibrahim took the number-one spot again in 1973, Rantzau held onto 4th place in 1980, and again managed to rank number one in 1981, ten years after his death.
Rantzau tended to produce sensitive, "difficult" horses, that were very athletic and generally excellent jumpers. Despite this reputation, riders of international-caliber were quite interested in purchasing his offspring.
Progeny
- Cor de la BryereCor de la BryereCor de la Bryère is one of the most influential sires in modern warmblood breeding. He is known as the "Reserve Stallion of the Century", second only to Landgraf I.*Lived: 1968-2000*Nickname: "Corde"*Color: dark bay/brown...
: the most famous of Rantzau's sons. One of the most influential stallions in Holsteiner breeding, sired international jumpers and dressage horses, and produced 49 approved sons. His offspring are still dominating the international sceen today. - Labrador C: Grand Prix show jumper
- Starter: dam sire of the great Baloubet du RouetBaloubet du RouetBaloubet du Rouet is a horse ridden by the Brazilian show jumper Rodrigo Pessoa. He has won many international titles.*Color: Chestnut* Markings: Stripe, sock on off fore, half-cannon near hind* Sex: Stallion...
- Medrano: International show jumper, competed for Holland
- Qualibet Z: International eventer, ridden by Jean-Luc CornilleJean Luc CornilleJean Luc Cornille writings and scientific discoveries about horses can be read and viewed on his website.Qualibet Z International eventer, ridden by Jean-Luc Cornille, competed at the in Punchestown....
,competed at the World Eventing Championships in Punchestown - Radar II: Grand Prix showjumper, ridden by Piero d’Inzeo, won internationally as a 5-year-old
- Nageur: International show jumper for Portugal
- Pascha du Bourg: International show jumper for Spain
- Osiris C
- Luxeuse B
- Roi du Manoir
- Prince Royal
- Sire du Logis
- Amour de Juilley
- Unic F
- Beau Fixe
International showjumpers descended within four generations:
- Atout d'Isigny: Silver medal at the World Championship
- Baloubet du RouetBaloubet du RouetBaloubet du Rouet is a horse ridden by the Brazilian show jumper Rodrigo Pessoa. He has won many international titles.*Color: Chestnut* Markings: Stripe, sock on off fore, half-cannon near hind* Sex: Stallion...
: triple World Cup winner - Calei Joter: Bronze medal
- Calvaro: Olympic Silver
- Calvaro Z
- Carthago Z
- Cassiana Joter: Olympic team Bronze
- CentoDobels CentoDobels Cento was a horse who competed in International Grand Prix show jumping competitions.* Color: Grey* Height: 16.3½ hh * Sex: Stallion* Breed: Holsteiner...
: Olympic team Gold - Classic Touch: individual Olympic Gold
- Operette la Silla
- Souviens Toi III: team silver at the World Championships
- Twist du Valon