"Not only is 'The Zangersheide International' an incredible 3* competition where we welcome the best riders in the world, but also the breeding, for which this region is very well-known, will be extensively highlighted. The spring stallion selection of Studbook Zangersheide is once again organized at Sentower Park and will be complemented by a very exclusive stallion auction, Saturday February 28th, where the very best young approved stallions will be offered!" says Judy Ann Melchior.

The stallion licensing begins on Thursday, February 26, ahead of Saturday evening’s auction. In total, 133 young stallion candidates from nine different studbooks will be presented for inspection. The group consists of 108 stallions born in 2023 and 25 born in 2022. Prior to the approval, each stallion undergoes a full clinical and radiographic examination. They are then presented to the international jury consisting of Eric Levallois, Tim Rieskamp-Goedeking and Stijn van Campenhout, who first assess conformation, correctness and movement in hand on hard ground.

The free jumping begins on Friday morning and continues on Saturday, after which the jury will determine which stallions have earned their approval. From this group, a selection of the absolute highlights will be chosen to go under the hammer in the highly acclaimed Zangersheide Stallion Auction 2026.

The 2026 selection reflects both established sires and a rising generation of younger stallions. In total, 75 different sires are represented. Emerald leads numerically with eleven sons presented, marking the third consecutive year he tops the list. Chacco-Blue follows with nine offspring. Dourkhan Hero Z, despite being a relatively young sire, makes a powerful statement with seven sons, and the most significant presence among the younger generation of stallions. Don’t Touch Tiji Hero, Ermitage Kalone and Orak d’Hamwyck each have four sons entered, while Aganix du Seigneur Z, Chacoon Blue, Dominator 2000 Z and Heartbreaker are represented by three. On the maternal side, Diamant de Semilly, Baloubet du Rouet, Untouchable, Cornet Obolensky and Darco each appear three times as damsires. The data illustrates a clear pattern: modern performance sires dominate the paternal side, while established foundation stallions continue to anchor the maternal side. More than 95 different damlines are represented across the 133 stallions.

The international dimension of The Zangersheide International extends far beyond the sport in the arena, as it is equally evident in the stallion approval itself.

With 133 stallions presented, the 2026 approval once again reflects both concentration and global reach, a combination that has become characteristic of Zangersheide. Nine studbooks are represented, with Zangersheide forming the backbone at 67.7%, followed by BWP at 13.5%. Breeders from ten different countries are represented. Belgian breeders accounts for 50.8%, followed by the Netherlands with 22.7%, and Germany with 18.9%. Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Switzerland, Austria and Hungary are also represented. Belgium provides just over half of the candidates, confirming its continued central role in modern jumping breeding. At the same time, nearly half of the field is bred abroad, underlining the international appeal of the approval.

Ownership presents an even broader geographic spread, with owners from 16 different countries represented. While Belgian breeders account for over half of the entries, Belgian ownership represents 43.6% of the field. The Netherlands follows with 32 stallions (24.1%), Germany with 26 (19.5%), and Italy and Great Britain with three each. Eleven additional countries contribute individual entries, including Chile, Brazil, Panama, Sweden and Romania, illustrating continued cross-border investment in showjumping genetics.

Saturday evening marks the culmination of the 2026 Zangersheide Spring Stallion Selection, when the focus shifts from evaluation to opportunity. Following the jury’s final decisions, an exclusive and carefully selected group of absolute highlights among the newly approved stallions will enter the spotlight in the Zangersheide Stallion Auction.

The auction collection is determined only after the conclusion of the approval process, ensuring that each stallion offered has met the standards set by both the veterinarians and the international jury. Each year the buzz and excitement surrounding these future stallions draws the attention of stallion owners, breeders, investors and riders across the globe. This direct link between the approval and auction defines the concept. The selection establishes the quality, the Zangersheide Stallion Auction provides the opportunity.

Over the years, the Zangersheide Stallion Auction has established itself as a reference point for seeking access to emerging genetics at an early stage. The evening combines sporting atmosphere with breeding ambition, drawing an international audience to Sentower Park each year.

Zangersheide looks forward to welcoming breeders, owners and sport enthusiasts to The Zangersheide International from February 25 - March 1, 2026, where top-level sport and next-generation breeding once again come together.

Those unable to attend in person can follow both the stallion selection and the auction live online via: ClipMyHorse.TV

For further information regarding the Zangersheide Stallion Auction or to reserve a table for the auction at Sentower Park, please contact the auction team at auction@zangersheide.com.