Angele Du Ventel is a 2018 Zangersheide mare by Andiamo, who passes on the blood and durability of famed French Anglo-Arabs Garitchou and Nithard on her stallion’s dam side. According to his trainer, the Netherlands’ Gertjan van Olst, Andiamo stood out from the start. “The first time he jumped was a revelation for me, and he’s never taken a bad jump,” van Olst told The Horse magazine, adding that the stallion always passes on his Thoroughbred blood to his offspring.
“You won’t find any cold ones. He produces jumpers from the most divergent combinations. “Andiamo’s natural jumping style is electric, balanced, and scopey; his wither comes up, his nose goes down, his hind end goes out—and he’s scopey,” van Olst continued. “He’s the quintessential jumper with a fighter’s mentality, who’s also careful. He’s a horse with character and he passes on those traits.”
On her dam’s side, Angele Du Ventel is related to Ulysse, a bay 1997 Belgian gelding who finished in the top-10 at the FEI World Cup™ Jumping Finals every year from 2010–2012, including twice on the podium, with Switzerland’s Pius Schwizer. Together, Schwizer and Ulysse also earned five-star wins in Geneva (SUI), Aachen (GER), 's-Hertogenbosch (NED), and beyond. Retired from the sport in Zurich in 2018, Schwizer says the gelding was the most special horse he’s ever ridden.
“He was a speed horse to begin with, but he turned out to be a real superstar,” Schwizer revealed to World of Show Jumping. “After a while, he gave himself more time over the fences and with that came the quality. He must have had the quality all the time, but probably no one believed in him before. I had a super feeling with him and we just were a perfect fit together.” Finally, Angele Du Ventel is the full-sister of First Devision, another “horse of a lifetime” for a top rider.
Sheikh Ali Bin Bhalid Al Thani of Qatar placed sixth individually with the 2005 Belgian gelding at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. He also earned grands prix wins and top-10 Global Champions Tour finishes at CSI5* events in Doha (QAT), Valkenswaard (NED) and Cannes (FRA). “I’ve had a lot of successes with this horse. He’s very, very talented,” the Sheikh told CNN, noting that the notoriously challenging conditions of the Rio Games actually made First Devision more competitive.
“Brazil was perfect for me, because the bigger the event, the better First Devision performs. The weather was very hot there, which isn’t good for most horses, but for him it was perfect.
“It was five days, and the more he jumped the better he got.” With close ties to proven international winners, including Andiamo, Ulysse, and First Devision, Angele Du Ventel brings the highest genetic quality to Blue Atlantic. From mentality in the ring to strength and resilience and show jumping technique, her foals are destined for success at show jumping’s highest levels.
Nations Cup Debute
