Levisto Alpha Z
The clone horse or when you see horses twice
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In the fall of 2013, the cover of Z-Magazine from Zangersheide Stud features a special picture. In the background, a printed truck shows the internationally ranked stallion Levisto Z over the jump. An almost identical scene takes place in front of this photo: The then 4-year-old stallion Levisto Alpha Z is jumping over a blue and yellow jump at the stud. The viewer of the cover does not have a kink in the visuals, but actually sees double - the picture shows Levisto Z and his clone Levisto Alpha Z.
For many people, clones in equestrian sport are still an unknown phenomenon. Yet cloned horses are now quite prominently represented in sport and breeding.
One example is Levisto Alpha Z, born on March 19, 2009. As a clone of Levisto Z, the gray stallion also has the pedigree Leandro x Carolus I as well. As the Z in the name reveals, both are bred by Zangersheide Stud in Belgium, the breeder is Klaus-Peter Wiepert. Levisto Alpha Z is not the first clone horse. Prometea, a cloned Haflinger foal, was born in Italy back in 2003. Chellano Alpha Z was the first cloned horse at Zangersheide Stud in 2008.
The external similarity of Levisto Alpha Z to his genetic role model is astonishing, even for a clone. At the time of his birth, it was not possible to emulate him in sports. However, in 2012, the FEI World Equestrian Federation allowed cloned horses to be used in sports. In September of the same year, Levisto Alpha Z was licensed. This makes him the second licensed clone horse from Zangersheide Stud.
In 2013, Levisto Z enters his sporting retirement - but the career of Levisto Alpha Z is just beginning: he wins the Belgian Championships for 4-year-old horses. It is a first for a cloned horse to win a show jumping championship. In the following year 2014, several offspring of Levisto Alpha Z were born. They are the first of many foals because, like Levisto Z, his clone is also used in breeding. In the video, you can see him at the stallion presentation of the Zangersheide Stud 2015.
In general, cloned horses are more common in breeding than in sport. The reason for this is that identical genetics do not guarantee comparable success. As with any other young horse, investments must be made in good training and appropriate training. As a clone is more expensive to breed than a conventionally bred horse, this money is often saved and the cloned horse is used directly in breeding to pass on its good genes. The cloning method makes it possible, for example, to breed with the genes of successful geldings - by cloning them and the clone producing further offspring.
Levisto Alpha Z not only resembles Levisto Z in appearance but also in character. Judy Ann Melchior was Levisto Z's rider and also gets to know his four-year-old clone. Judy Ann Melchior describes the riding of the two horses as follows:
"If I was blindfolded over the jump, I wouldn't know whether I was on Levisto Z or Levisto Alpha Z . As with the original, I recognize the same characteristics: well-behaved and never hectic or anxious, always keeping an overview. The characteristics are identical, regardless of age."
From a scientific point of view, genes alone do not guarantee the development of a similar character. In the case of Levisto Alpha Z, however, this seems to be the case.
Levisto Z dies on December 10, 2021 at the age of 24. His clone Levisto Alpha Z has lived in the USA since 2019. He has been shown at competitions under various riders and competed in jumping competitions up to 1.40 m in height. If you would like to follow the careers of Levisto Alpha Z and his offspring, activate the "Follow horses" function on ClipMyHorse.TV!