Dourkhan Hero Z, an exemplary athlete who fascinates breeders

Experts and amateurs are agreed on one thing when considering the large numbers of stallion shows and inspections: after having watched young stallions for hours on end it becomes nigh impossible to properly assess the true quality of the horses. ‘Every year so many good horses are presented that ranking becomes really difficult’, we hear from German top rider Christian Ahlmann. But when he and his partner Judy Ann Melchior saw a 3-year-old dark-bay son by Don’t touch tiji hero x Zinka de Kalvarie Z at the stallion inspection in Lanaken in 2018, he was totally convinced. ‘His presentation in freejumping was extraordinary’. Ahlmann, usually very calm and collected, told the manager of Stud Zangersheide: ‘If we buy one it’s going to be this one.’

One glance at Dourkhan Hero Z’s Studbook papers underlines how unique this horse is. His sire Don’t touch tiji hero, son of the internationally successful stallion Diamant de Semilly, appeared at the start at international events such as the Longines Global Champions Tour with Gudrun Patteet in the saddle. Definitely very interesting for breeders is Dourkhan Hero Z’s dam line. That line stems from the fantastic Usha van ’t Roosakker family, and with that is closely related to the top horses Electra van ’t Roosakker, Gatoucha van ’t Roosakker, Tinkoucha Hero Z, Celle, and George Z.

After the purchase the approved, strong and ravishing 1.70m tall stallion moved stables to Zangersheide.

Already in his first stud season in 2019 breeders from all over the world were interested in him and by this time he is one of the stallions with the highest number of stud services. ‘Under saddle he has shown to have loads of capacity’, Judy Ann Melchior says. He has blood, energy, zest for work as well as courage and therefore expectations are running high.

‘Dourkhan Hero Z is a positive horse who has developed even better than we had hoped for’, says Christian Ahlmann, who presented the stallion himself at the Stallion Shows in Lanaken and Marl. He confirms his quality under saddle. He jumps with capacity and intelligence. Judy Ann Melchior is eagerly looking forward to the first foals by this top-class athlete. She’s convinced those foals will have blood, quality and capacity.

Video