Viper Z: from best seller to Youngster of the Year

28 September 2022

Last year, the Vigo d’Arsouilles son Viper Z already made history at the Dutch Sport Horse Sales by being the most expensive horse ever sold. He was purchased for top rider Martin Fuchs, who made a promising start with the now eight-year-old gelding. Their first victories are added to the track record of Viper Z and his great potential is the reason to choose him as the DSHS Youngster of the Year.

The horse bred by Guido Sperveslage was discovered at the beginning of last year by the team of the Dutch Sport Horse Sales and after a few competitions under Oda Charlotte Lyngvaer, Viper Z was included in the auction collection as a promising 1.40m level showjumper.

Perfect scenario
During the 2021 auction, the Vigo d’Arsouilles son was sold to Luigi Baleri after an exciting bidding duel. With this deal, Martin Fuchs became his new rider. “Last year we were already very happy to be able to offer Viper Z in our auction. You don’t come across a horse with that quality every day. That he subsequently ended up with Martin Fuchs is a perfect scenario for everyone involved. They have already achieved good results together and we hope that Viper Z will develop into a horse for the highest level”, says Timothy Hendrix. In Gorla Minore, Martin and Viper Z claimed the victory in the Youngster Tour two months after the auction. This year they started well with a second place in the 1.40m class during the Sunshine Tour, in April another victory followed -this time in the 1.40m class of CSI3* Linz-Ebelsberg-, and at CSI5* Aachen they were placed twice in the Youngster Tour up to 1.45/1.50m level. At the ceremony during the Dutch Sport Horse Sales, an award made by Jos Dirix was presented to buyer Luigi Baleri and Thomas Fuchs.

Photo: DigiShots