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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.