I was just talking to Jennifer at Dreamscape about her stallion, Bon Balou but she also brought to my attention Checkmate. She seemed to think he would be a good match for my mare.
I just never thought of him mainly because he is so young but I’m open.
Any thoughts? Anyone breeding to him this year?
I believe that i am going to breed my Contendro I/Voltaire mare to him. He brings an extremely explosive jumping technique, but also his pedrigree holds the promise of refinement without sacrificing talent.
He’s a VERY interesting stallion to come to North America. He comes from a well-proven lineage of successful horses both topline and mareline, especially so the mareline because of multi-million dollar winners in his mother’s pedigree, so you can be somewhat convinced of what he can potentially bring to the table. Zeus is highly sought after. His pedigree reads the who’s who of major showjumping champions - Cor de la Bryere and Cordalme Z, Ramino, Zeus, Lord Pezi…
He was interesting enough that 2 verbands licensed him in Germany in rather quick succession. His first test-foal crop should be appearing this spring in Germany so you can watch for that, since no doubt there were a few breeders that took their mares to him when he was first licensed as a 2-year-old. I don’t think he will disappoint.
I am just waiting to see him “in person” when he finishes his quarantine. Jennifer says he has the most amazing technique over fences!
I have a nice but bit old fashioned Samber granddaughter out of a W line Warmblood mare that I am planning on breeding to him.
Mare is a big moving mare, but a bit long backed and short legged. I am hoping for ‘spots’, (mare is heterozygous for tobiano) but that would be just a nice bonus.
Martha
Oh you have that right, boy that’s for sure. He pops over a 4 foot fence (freejump) like it’s cavaletti. The little 3 footer he barely deigned to bother it was of so little effort. Scope is definitely a 5 letter word for him.
I heard that he would directed toward hunters? While I can understand that, I hope that isn’t the case since it would not explore this horse’s obvious scope.
That technique though! I could certainly see the attraction in using him as a hunter stallion - based solely on his short video and pedigree (depending, of course, on the mare and a variety of other factors I can’t account for here). I stumbled on his page via a different avenue and had to come back here to see what people were saying. I’m excited to see what he can bring to the table!
[QUOTE=rodawn;6175085]
He’s a VERY interesting stallion to come to North America. He comes from a well-proven lineage of successful horses both topline and mareline, especially so the mareline because of multi-million dollar winners in his mother’s pedigree, so you can be somewhat convinced of what he can potentially bring to the table. Zeus is highly sought after. His pedigree reads the who’s who of major showjumping champions - Cor de la Bryere and Cordalme Z, Ramino, Zeus, Lord Pezi…
He was interesting enough that 2 verbands licensed him in Germany in rather quick succession. His first test-foal crop should be appearing this spring in Germany so you can watch for that, since no doubt there were a few breeders that took their mares to him when he was first licensed as a 2-year-old. I don’t think he will disappoint.[/QUOTE]
I thought he was just licensed last fall as a two year old? are you telling people that he was bred last spring/summer before he was licensed??? and who else licensed him other than Oldenburg???
I LOVE Checkmate - he’s my favourite stallion on my radar right now. I think he’s just really special – you don’t see a jump like his every day.
[QUOTE=feather river;6188750]
I thought he was just licensed last fall as a two year old? are you telling people that he was bred last spring/summer before he was licensed??? and who else licensed him other than Oldenburg???[/QUOTE]
Plenty of breeders test breed a young stallion in anticipation of his licensing to several mares, not a lot of mares, but a few, especially one as promising as this youngster is, and there was very little doubt about his ability to pass inspection as evidenced by already 2 major verbands interested in him. He has the type, the pedigree, the form, movement and conformation to go a great ways in life. Major coup for Armin to pick up this stallion and get him here to Canada. He is being very carefully prepared for his N.A. 70-day test now.
I think there are some really great young jumper stallions in Canada. Of course it is the offspring that really make a stallion but some of these kids are getting off to a great start!
Another example is Kumano,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-ISjW0Ew_Y
and http://www.canadianwarmbloods.com/stalliondetail.php?horseid=1000231
My friend has a Zeus grand daughter (she is by Zimbal I). She is now 22 y.o. but still a terrific athlete. Very balanced, uphill and lots of scope. She would jump a 5’ fence at the trot with no effort. Love that mare 
Checkmate is a really nice stallion, and I would love him for my mare. But not untill a couple of years though…
[QUOTE=feather river;6188750]
I thought he was just licensed last fall as a two year old? are you telling people that he was bred last spring/summer before he was licensed??? and who else licensed him other than Oldenburg???[/QUOTE]
He is also licensed by Westfalen for Westfalen mares. Don’t know about him being bred as a 2 y/o - I guess there are some folks who would do it, but from my understanding, it is not the accepted practice.
As for him being pointed toward a hunter career - that is where the big market is. Yeah, he has a lot of scope, but he will attract a lot more breedings as a hunter sire.
With an $800 stud fee including booking and first collection, he is a very, very attractive deal for hunter breeders.
I think he is interesting as well.
I like his type a lot, modern and quick but still with adequate substance.
Has anyone heard about his temperament? The Zeus’s are very athletic and typey but often difficult. I would guess having it that far back would be perfect.
I think Checkmate is very special. I’m breeding my proven hunter performance mare to him…Riverman/Nimmerdor. She has a super jump already, but needs a bit of modernizing and I think he’s the perfect horse to do that.
I quite like him, and can’t wait to see what he produces, and does in the next few years. If Mae hadn’t already had a custom foal contract on her, I would have considered him seriously for her this year!!!
