The mare who ruled the world

There are influential mares… and then there is Ratina Z. From Olympic glory to redefining what a modern sport mare could be, her legacy continues to shape the genetics of champions across the globe.

Foaled in 1982 at the legendary Zangersheide Stud in Belgium, Ratina Z arrived into the world as the daughter of two exceptional parents: Ramiro Z and Almé Z. Bred by the visionary Leon Melchior, she would grow to become not just one of the greatest showjumping mares in history, but a matriarch whose influence reverberates through bloodlines worldwide.

What sets Ratina Z apart isn’t just her own extraordinary competitive record – though that alone would cement her place in history – it’s the remarkable consistency with which she passed on her talents. She became a blueprint, a genetic goldmine that breeders would chase for generations.

A champion’s story

Under Dutch rider Piet Raymakers, Ratina Z burst onto the international scene with a style that was unmistakable: electric, careful, and fiercely competitive. When Ludger Beerbaum took over the reins, their partnership would become one of the most celebrated in the sport’s history.

The accolades speak for themselves: Olympic team gold in Barcelona (1992), team silver in Atlanta (1996), multiple World Cup Final victories, and both World and European Championship medals adorning her record. But these statistics, impressive as they are, don’t capture the full picture. Ratina Z competed at the highest level with a consistency and longevity that few horses – male or female – have ever matched.

She wasn’t just winning; she was redefining expectations. In an era when mares were often underestimated in top sport, Ratina Z proved that heart, scope, and competitive fire knew no gender. She fought for every clear round, attacked every course with intelligence and precision, and showed the world what a truly great sport mare looked like.

“She didn’t just compete at the top – she owned it.”

The broodmare of a lifetime

If Ratina Z’s competitive career had been her only legacy, she would still be remembered as one of the greats. But her second act – as a broodmare – elevated her into true immortality.

Her offspring reads like a who’s who of elite showjumping genetics:

Carthago Z – Perhaps her most famous son, Carthago Z became an Olympic stallion and one of the most influential sires of his generation. His offspring compete at the highest levels worldwide, and his sons and daughters have themselves become sought-after breeding stock. The Carthago line carries forward Ratina’s trademark scope, carefulness, and mental fortitude.

Cordoba Z – A successful sire who brought classic Holsteiner type combined with Ratina’s jumping prowess. His contribution to German breeding has been particularly notable.

The clones – In a remarkable testament to Ratina’s value, Zangersheide cloned her. In 2009, three clones were born: Ratina Alpha Z, Ratina Beta Z (who tragically died after a pasture accident at age two), and Ratina Gamma Z. A fourth clone, Ratina Delta Z, was born in 2015. These clones carry Ratina’s exact genetics forward, used exclusively for breeding – a rare honour in equestrian sport and proof of just how valuable her genetic blueprint was considered.

The extended family – Beyond her direct offspring, Ratina’s descendants include Grand Prix stars like Cicero Z and Crown Z, along with countless other horses competing successfully at the international level. Open any international start list, and you’re likely to find horses tracing back to this remarkable mare.

The Ratina Z line has enriched multiple studbooks: Holsteiner, Zangersheide, BWP, and Oldenburg have all benefited from her genetics. It’s rare for a single mare to have such cross-breeding influence, but Ratina’s qualities were so universally desirable that breeders across disciplines and registries sought her blood.

The Ratina formula: What made her special?

Breeders and riders who’ve worked with Ratina Z descendants consistently identify three hallmark traits that define the line:

1. A fierce will to win

Ratina’s descendants don’t just jump; they compete. There’s a mental toughness, a refusal to give up, that runs through the line. These are horses that fight for the last rail, that dig deep when the pressure is on. In the jump-off, in the final round of a championship, Ratina horses show up.

2. Exceptional carefulness

Cat-like reflexes over the fence are a Ratina trademark. These horses respect the rails, possess lightning-quick reactions, and have an almost uncanny ability to adjust mid-air. It’s the kind of carefulness that saves rounds, that turns near-misses into clear rounds. This trait alone has made Ratina blood highly sought-after in breeding programmes focused on producing consistent, scopey jumpers.

3. Rideability under pressure

Perhaps most valuable of all is the competitor’s mind that Ratina passes down. These are horses you can trust when it matters most: horses that don’t fall apart under pressure, that stay with you in the ring when the stakes are highest. They’re rideable, they’re sensible, and they have the mental strength to perform week after week at the top level.

4. Longevity

In a market where buyers are increasingly conscious of longevity at the elite level, the Ratina line offers something special: a track record of horses that not only reach the top but stay there. It’s not just about producing one-hit wonders; it’s about creating horses with the physical and mental capacity to campaign successfully over many seasons.

“These are horses that fight for the last rail – competitors through and through.”

Cloning a legend

When Ratina Z passed away in 2010, Zangersheide had already taken an extraordinary step to preserve her genetics: they cloned her. While cloning horses remains relatively unusual – particularly for mares – the decision to clone Ratina Z speaks volumes about her perceived value to the sport.

In 2009, three clones were born: Ratina Alpha Z, Ratina Beta Z, and Ratina Gamma Z. Ratina Beta Z tragically died following a pasture accident at just two years old, but her sisters survived. In 2015, a fourth clone, Ratina Delta Z, was born. All of the surviving clones have been used exclusively for breeding, their role being to pass on Ratina’s exact genetic code to future generations.

The cloning of Ratina Z raises fascinating questions about genetics, breeding, and the preservation of exceptional bloodlines. While her traditionally-bred offspring like Carthago Z had already proven the transmissibility of her talents, the clones represent something different: a genetic time capsule, an exact replica of the mare who changed the sport.

Ratina Gamma Z, in particular, has proven valuable as a broodmare. Her daughter, Air Ratina Z, demonstrates that even cloned mares can successfully pass on the Ratina magic. It’s a modern twist on an ancient story: the continuation of a great mare family, achieved through 21st-century science.

The decision to clone multiple copies of Ratina Z – not just one, but four attempts – underscores just how irreplaceable she was considered. In an industry where mare families are often undervalued compared to stallion lines, cloning Ratina Z was a statement: this mare’s genetics are worth preserving at any cost.

Global influence, local relevance

While Ratina Z’s influence is felt worldwide, her impact on South African breeding deserves particular mention. Many local breeders – particularly those with strong Zangersheide connections – have actively sought Ratina blood to add proven championship genetics to their mare herds.

South African breeders working with Ratina-line mares report consistent results: horses with correct jumping technique, strong work ethic, and the kind of trainability that makes them suitable for both amateur and professional riders. In a country where we often need to produce horses that can handle diverse conditions and varied rider abilities, the Ratina temperament is particularly valuable.

The dynasty continues

Through both traditional breeding and modern cloning, Ratina Z’s legacy shows no signs of fading. If anything, it grows stronger with each generation. Her daughters, granddaughters, and even her clones continue to produce horses that show up at championships – proof that the power of a true dynasty mare is not diluted by time but rather concentrated through careful breeding.

Today, when breeders discuss foundation mares, when they talk about the horses that truly shaped modern sport, Ratina Z’s name is always in the conversation. She represents something rare: a mare who was both an exceptional individual performer and an even more exceptional producer.

In an industry obsessed with stallion lines, Ratina Z stands as a powerful reminder that mare families matter, perhaps even more than we realise. The best stallions come from great mares, and the best breeding programmes are built on maternal lines that consistently produce quality.

Ratina Z gave us championships on the field and champions in the breeding shed. She showed us what a great sport mare looks like, what she can achieve, and what she can create. Before 2025 ends, as we reflect on the mares who shaped our sport, we must remember: there are influential mares… and then there is Ratina Z.