As every month, Hippomundo invites you to take a closer look at a horse that is currently attracting attention on the international stage. This month we turn our attention to the Hanoverian mare Zasou vom Claashof, who has climbed to the highest level in recent months.
A late breakthrough
Some horses make headlines at a young age, others develop step by step into top athletes. Zasou vom Claashof unquestionably belongs to the latter category.
Born in 2014, the Hanoverian mare is the product of the successful pairing of Zinedine and Leika (by Lord Z). After several years of steady training, she made her definitive breakthrough at the top international level over the past two seasons.
Today Zasou vom Claashof is one of the most successful horses of her generation. With a Hippomundo Rating of 90 and a Hippomundo Lifetime Rating of 89, she ranks well within the top ten percent of her age group. In the international Hippomundo rankings she currently sits at number 80 and has already earned more than €275,000 in prize money.
A family full of performance horses
Her sporting success didn’t come by chance.
Her sire Zinedine is one of the best-known sons of Guidam and competed successfully up to 1.60m himself. Under Ludger Beerbaum the stallion collected numerous top-level placings and later established himself as a sire of internationally successful show jumpers. Among his best-known offspring are Zineday, Zinedream and now Zasou vom Claashof.
The dam line is also among the stronger families in the Hanoverian breeding region. Dam Leika produced seven sport horses, including two Black-Type horses. Besides Zasou herself, Cresbo 3 reached international level up to 1.45m.
The family becomes even more impressive in earlier generations. The second dam Witta produced four Black-Type horses, including:
- Leszek, successful up to 1.60m under Theo Muff
- Laith, licensed stallion with successes to 1.60m under Shane Breen
- Leonard de Hus with international successes up to 1.50m
- Falco, who competed successfully at 5* eventing level under Tim Price
In the third generation there is also Warren NRW, another horse with achievements at 1.60m level.
Across several generations this family therefore unites international show jumpers and eventers, impressively confirming its performance strength.
The jump to 1.60m level
Particularly remarkable is the development over the past months. After Zasou vom Claashof was first presented by Horst Neben Jr. in 2021 and later gained experience up to 1.40m with Steffen Krehl, her path led via Ludger Beerbaum and Kathrin Stolmeijer to Abdel Said — under the Belgian rider the mare achieved her definitive breakthrough.
In six starts so far at 1.60m level, Zasou was clear in three competitions. Notably, each of those clear rounds also resulted in a placing. Twice the pair stood on the podium, and once they stood at the top.
Highlights to date include:
- Victory in the CSI5* Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Cannes 2026
- Second place in a CSI5* Global Champions Tour show in Madrid 2026
- Ninth place in another CSI5* competition in Cannes 2026
A mare with a future
At twelve years old, Zasou vom Claashof is in the prime of her career. While many horses of her year have already had their greatest successes, the Hanoverian mare seems to have only just arrived.
The combination of an exceptionally successful dam line, an internationally proven sire, and the recent CSI5* results makes Zasou vom Claashof one of the most exciting horses of the current season.
If her development continues at this pace, this is unlikely to be the last major success we will see from the Hanoverian mare.
