Following a recent inspection, the Irish Horse Board has fully approved Ekstein, the champion Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Morningside Stud in County Clare.

Ekstein (Zion x Joost) is a 16-year-old bay that is also approved by the KWPN, the Royal Warmblood Studbook of the Netherlands. Ekstein was champion of the KWPN stallion performance test and champion seven-year-old stallion showjumper in Holland. He has eighteen offspring competing in (inter)national classes at 1.40 – 1.60 metre, and at least twelve of these progeny are competing in CSIO, CSI-A, or CSI-B classes. Three of his progeny compete successfully in Nations Cup classes and four successfully compete in World Cup shows. In addition, at least ten of Ekstein’s progeny compete at high levels in the USA. Four of Ekstein’s sons have been approved as sires in leading studbooks such as the KWPN, NRPS (Holland), AES (United Kingdom), and sBs (Belgium). Ekstein is also the dam-sire of at least two approved stallions in Holland.

The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) in their 2000 – 2001 listing ranks Ekstein as the 97th best sire in the world for producing top international showjumpers. Ekstein and the deceased Cavalier Royale (ranked 92nd) are the only foreign stallions in Ireland to be ranked in the top 100, 200, or 300 in the world.

In the most recent rankings of international showjumpers published by the WBFSH in early September, Ekstein has one progeny in the top 50 in the world (Joel at 50), one in the top 200 (King at 177), and one in the top 300 (Kasmir at 285). Ekstein is the only living foreign sire in Ireland to have any progeny listed in these WBFSH rankings. And Clover Hill and Ekstein are the only sires in Ireland to have more than one progeny in the top 300 in the world.

Ekstein's most famous son is Joel. Under Gert-Jan Bruggink, Joel represented Holland at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and with the Dutch Team placed fifth in the team competition. This gelding also won the 2002 Dutch Showjumping Championship, won the individual Gold Medal and the team Bronze Medal in the 2001 European Young Rider Championship, was the 2001 Vice Champion Showjumper of Holland, and led the Dutch team to victory and a Gold Medal in the 2001 Samsung Nations Cup World Final in Madrid.

“We are very pleased that the Irish Horse Board has fully approved Ekstein,” states Tom Reed, the owner of Morningside Stud. “Ekstein is the only warmblood stallion to come to Ireland already proven as a sire of international showjumpers. And since Morningside Stud purchased Ekstein, his progeny have won two gold medals, the Dutch Showjumping Championship, and begun competing successfully in Nations Cup and World Cup competitions. Ekstein’s first crop of foals in Ireland have been outstanding; so good, in fact, that Morningside Stud has purchased three Ekstein foals from Irish breeders: a colt out of King of Diamonds mare, a filly out of Cruising mare, and a colt out of a Ballinvella mare. Ekstein is destined to become one of the very best sires ever to stand in Ireland.”

Ekstein will be available to Irish breeders in 2003 on a no foal – free return basis.

http://www.morningside-stud.com

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