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Raggae’s sire, Radjah Z, is 3/4 brother to Ratina Z (Gold Olympic Medal Winner in Barcelona and World Cup Final winner in 1992). He finished 6th out of 73 with a score of 127.39 at the 1988 WBFSH Stallion ranking. He is the sire of Rangoon, winner of the Stallion Performance testing in Warendorf in 1992, and sire of Hildon Premier CRU, Individual Show Jumping finalist in Sydney 2000.
Raggae’s grandsire, Ramiro Z, was 16.3 hh, born 1965 and died 1995. In a lifespan of thirty years, this horse’s performance as a sporthorse and breeding sire, has earned him the title “Stallion of the Century”.
This stallion has influenced nearly all European Performance Studbooks. Ramiro was the most frequented sire in Germany. He stood at stud in Westfalia, Holstein, Zangersheide and Holland. Numerous sons and daughters conserve and pass on the valuable genes that stand for rideability and jumping talent. It is not a surprise to find Ramiro’s children and grandchildren at the top levels of showjumping and dressage.
From his first breeding season, came the super mare, Fatinitza, show jumping from victory to victory under Fritz Ligges and Thomas Fruhmann, and later mother of the Zangersheide stallion, Almiro Z.
Ramiro’s influence on the Dutch Warmblood breeding program was, and still is, of utmost importance. The Dutch bestowed the title - “Horse of the Year” - on Ramiro in 1992. For Leon Melchior’s performance breeding program at Zangersheide, Ramiro became the strongest and most successful pillar. Ratina Z (by Ramiro out of Argentina by Alme), the gold medal show jumping winner under Ludger Beerbaum at Barcelona and the World Cup winner of 1992, is a famous example of Melchior’s breeding program.
Ramiro was one of the first stallions to appear in the sport. During his own sporting career, Ramiro had numerous wins at all levels of show jumping - Nations Cups, Puissance and in International Grand Prix competitions.
When Ramiro was presented for selection, he was described as the ideal type of the modern Holsteiner - strongly imprinted by his dam, tall and elegant, showing the topline of his grandfather, Cottage Son xx, with powerful frame, a glorious face and large, clear eyes. His excellently formed neck, beautifully set, could still be seen, even when he was an old horse, and are stamped on his progeny.
Fortunately, Ramiro’s offspring show their ancestor’s genetic power and performance. The first young sporthorses carrying Ramiro’s genes are out there now competing and the future looks very promising for them.
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