Past Stallions at Longspring
We were privileged to have known Distelfink - a legend of his time. Sadly he died before we could freeze semen but his progeny are establishing a dynasty that will continue to improve the sport horse population of New Zealand.
Also outlined for history on these pages are the stallions Tribune, an unregistered thoroughbred by Tric Trac and Ventura LS by Voltaire out of one of our best families.
COLOMBIA (NZ)
1996 Black/Brown Thoroughbred stallion - 16.1 hh (165 cm)
By ZABEEL out of EIGHT CARAT by PIECES OF EIGHT
COLOMBIA represents the all time great bloodlines produced in New Zealand. By champion sire ZABEEL out of 3 time Broodmare of the Year EIGHT CARAT. Colombia has produced 85 winners (as at 1/5/2012) including 4 Stakewinners and 4 stakes placed. His progeny have earned close to $6 million worldwide and include Valley Chief, Aimee's Idol, Sterling Prince and Tiger King. His stakes placed progeny include Bringbackthebiff, Oronero, Biman and Mary Ellen. His best money winner is Booming City (Brecon Road in NZ) in Hong Kong who has now won over $600,000.
They win at all distances from 1100 to 3600 and are proving to be the good staying type that New Zealand made its reputation on in the early days. A number of his progeny are now doing jumps with great success.
Discern LS
1996 Bay NZ Sport Horse stallion - 16.1 hh (165 cm)
by DISTELFINK out of SWEET LOGIC by SOUND REASON.
DISCERN LS is a quiet and lovely type of stallion who seems to pull off the ‘pick of the litter’ title each year! His foals are very good although he has had limited opportunities at Longspring Stud as he has the same bloodlines as most of the mares!
Distelfink - NZ's best ever showjumping sire
1978 Chestnut Licensed Hanoverian stallion
by DISKUS out of ST PR ST DOREEN by DUKER
DISTELFINK had been NZ's leading showjumping sire for over 14 years since computer records started in 1995. Bred by Hennig Bartels of Braunschweig, Germany, DISTELFINK was licensed as a Hanoverian breeding stallion prior to importing into New Zealand in 1982.
Hula Town (TB)
Longspring has acquired the phenomenally successful eventing sire Hula Town in 2008 to stand at the stud and have semen available for shipment. Previously based in the South Island with Jenny McIntyre, it was thought a change of location might attract new mares.
He was used for three seasons with mares at the stud but was humanely put down in 2011 as a 26 year old and he had always been plagued from a bout of laminitus as a young horse which become too much for him in the end. During the 3 years we had him, we really appreciated his sensibility and were pleased to get a number of his youngsters including 2 fillies which will be retained by the stud because of the value of his boodline.
Tiger Moth LS
1996 Grey NZ Sport Horse stallion - 16.1 hh (165 cm)
By TRIBUNE xx out of DILEMMA LS by DISTELFINK
TIGER MOTH LS represents LONGSPRING'S top bloodline ever through SUPER MOTH who won 75 showjumping events, 44 at Grand Prix level and whose winnings totalled more than $90,000 (top dollar for a NZ based horse!).
Tribune xx
1984 Liver h TB stallion by TRIC TRAC out of NEWPORT by PORTOFINO
TRIBUNE was purchased as a foal and was eventually used over the Distelfink mares at LONGSPRING to produce 3/4 TB progeny for eventing and for mares to go back to warmbloods.
Sunset Sam LS
1999 Brown NZ Sport Horse stallion - 16.0 hh (163 cm)
By SAM I AM LS out of DELTA DAWN LS by DISTELFINK.
Bred by Longspring, SUNSET SAM is a double cross to DISTELFINK and is a superb jumper in his own right. He is a heavier type that produced good bone in his foals ideal over TB mares.
Watchman (TB)
1983 Dark chestnut Thoroughbred stallion - 16.1 hh (165 cm)
By FORTY WINKS out of TULLA DOLL by ONCIDIUM
WATCHMAN was a top racehorse with 10 wins from 1200 to 2450m including 2 Stakes wins & Aus $147,000. He is a very athletic horse with beautiful paces and excellent muscling. His pedigree is impeccable including Agricola (dam sire of Brilliant Invader the sire of WEG Champion Eventer Ready Teddy). The foal pictures for Watchman are his foals out of first cross sport horse mares.
Ventura LS
1996 Bay NZ Sport Horse stallion - 16.3 hh (170cm)
By VOLTAIRE II out of DISTELETTE LS by DISTELFINK
VENTURA LS was a fabulous jumping talent that we used over mares for one season before his tragic death in a paddock accident. We have retained two fillies for stud duties.