Zeus (who is sometimes called `Nurzeus` but actually started life as Gordios) is a balanced mix of Selle Francais and Anglo Arab blood. His sire, the Anglo Arab, Arlequin is a distinguished sire of International showjumpers and eventers, .

In 1981, the Dutch breeder, Hans Rehbergen leased Zeus from Vorwerk. This time the KWPN commission licensed the horse, under the name, Nurzeus (it was a year in which all stallions were given names beginning with the letter `n`, hence Nurzeus). Zeus sired 361 foals in The Netherlands, the most famous of which was Midnight Madness, bred by that well-known breeder, Henk Nijhof.

Zeus was a consistent sire of top jumping horses over a long career in both Germany and Holland. Playback with Rodney Jenkins won the 1987 AHSA Jumper of the Year and was sixth at the World Cup Final in 1989. Canadian rider Ian Millar had success with both Lonesome Dove and Czar - both by Zeus. Midnight Madness with Michael Whitaker, Hauser`s Zypria and Dirk Hauser, and Virtual Village Zalza with Nick Skelton, all contributed to Zeus` fame. Zeus` German registered progeny had won a total of DM4.3 million by the year 2001, and in that year, the grand old man still managed to finish in 10th place on the WBFSH rankings for the year, with his most successful progeny in that year being Zandor Z. Zandor Z has had a very successful competition career with Jos Lansink, placing second in the Hachenburg and Geesteren Grand Prix, and third in the Grand Prix of Europe at Aach.

Zandor Z is the only stallion son of Zeus still in competition. His two most influential stallion sons have been Zyklotron and Beach Boy (who has recently moved from Sweden to the United States). Zyklotron - out of a mare by Admiral I - has sired two International jumpers, Zuckerpuppe and Zarzuela. Beach Boy, out of a Lucky Boy dam, is the sire of Beach Game, and more recently the stallion, Brandenburger who has been ridden Internationally by Rob Ehrens.

As a sire of broodmares, Zeus has been very important, with the International competitors: Cat Ballou, Ermis, Lysias, Prim Zaro, Riccarda, and most importantly, Tinka`s Boy, all out of mares by Zeus. Zeus is ranked 6th in the standings for 1990 to 2000 with 34 representatives!

High Offley Stud have the zeus bloodline in Zip Z who is by Zandor Z,Zip Z was purchased at the Zangersheide Auction at the world breeding championships