Is14001pb v1 digimag

kwpn 1

Royal Dutch Sport Horse International

March 2014

A visit with

Michael Withaker

KWPN Breeder of the Year

Emmy de Jeu

Breeding Advice

Proven vs.

Young stallions

Fabulous Champions at

KWPN Stallion Show

HARTOG Range of forages and concentrates

HARTOG concentrate completely renewed!

Natural health...

Is your horse ready for the Stallion inspection? We are!

The Hartog range of forages and concentrates have been developed for and by top athletes. Your stallion also looks healthy and energized for the day with Hartog muesli. The high-quality grains, live yeast, linseed and Hartog Lucerne-fiber provide slow released energy for the right moment!

■ Energy Classic ■ Extra vitamine E, selenium and

■ Energy Special

natural antioxidants for a quick recovery after labor ■ Addition of live yeast cells with an optimal intestinal flora

■ Magnesium for strong,

healthy muscles and joints ■ Extra electrolytes for a quick

recovery afterintensive exer cise and hot weather ■ Particularly benefits stress sensitive and nervous horses

More power during riding without your horse becoming hot or nervous

Quick energy for peak performance without muscle acidification

■ Hartog Lucerne-mix

■ Efficient digestion, higher chewing frequency ■ Healthy looking coat that shines ■ Promotes the development of the muscles

in the neck, back and hindquarters

www.hartog-lucerne.co.uk

In this issue Inspections 08 KWPN Stallion Show

High quality stallions

Breeding 26 Breeding Advice

30 Breeder of the Year

Emmy de Jeu: “Together we’re strong!”

KWPN 1

Royal Dutch Sport Horse International

March 2014

in Practice

A VISIT WITH

MICHAEL WITHAKER

18 A visit with Michael Whitaker

KWPN BREEDER OF THE YEAR

EMMY DE JEU

BREEDING ADVICE

FABULOUS CHAMPIONS AT

KWPN Stallion Show

dirk caremans

PROVEN VS. YOUNG STALLIONS

Cover The KWPN Stallion Show powered by Massey Ferguson was an exciting event.

Glamourdale (s.Lord Leatherdale) became Champion Stallion dressage.

And More

04 News In Focus 06 News Opening

colophon KWPN International is the official magazine of the KWPN and is published 4 times a year, supplemented with a monthly electronic news release for members.

KWPN P.O. Box 156, NL-3840 AD Harderwijk, the Netherlands KPWN Center, De Beek 109, 3852 PL Ermelo, the Netherlands Tel: 0031 341 255555, Fax: 0031 341 255535 Editorial Staff Charlotte Dekker, Yvonne Buis-Franken Design Annemiek Felthuis E-mail: redactie@kwpn.nl Translations: Marji McFadden, www.dutchenglishtranslation.us

Advertising Sanoma Media, P.O.Box 14010, NL-2130 ML Hoofddorp, Tel: +31 88 751 8930 E-mail: alexander.denbraber@sanoma.com While all reasonably efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility for loss occasioned to any person, acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication can be accepted by the publisher, editor or contributors. The KWPN has the right to withdraw or reject advertisements without statement of reason.

According to our articles of association, the financial year starts January 1st and ends December 31st. Anyone wishing to resign membership of the KWPN or IdS International for the following year must submit their application in writing before the 1st of Decemberof the preceding year. If this written notice is not received before the 1st of December, your membership will be automatically prolonged and you are obliged to pay the contribution for the following year.

Contents

Young stallion vs Proven Sires

news

in focus

Valegro: 2013 KWPN Horse of the Year On Friday evening at the KWPN Stallion Show Powered by Massey Ferguson, the Olympic dressage champion Valegro was proclaimed the 2013 KWPN Horse of the Year. Charlotte Dujardin rode the Negro son (out of Maifleur keur prest by Hemmingway) in the Brabanthallen as his owners, Carl Hester and Rory Luard, and his breeders, Joop and Maartje Hanse, looked on with pride. As Charlotte demonstrated her training methods on Valegro, Carl Hester explained how he had purchased Valegro as a 2-1/2-year-old from Van Olst Horses, then sold him to a client who ultimately didn’t buy the horse, and subsequently wanted to return him to Van Olst because he thought Valegro was too small. However, Anne van Olst convinced Carl to keep him a while longer. As a four-year-old, he began to surprise Carl. “I’m so glad I didn’t sell him: he’s been a star in England since he was four years old. When he was four, he was the champion four-year-old; as a five-yearold, he was champion; and every year after, he was the champion of his level. And that hasn’t changed to this very day”, explained Carl.

Charlotte is very pleased with the KWPN Horse of the Year title: “I feel incredibly honored and really enjoy showing Valegro to all these people who voted for him.

We think it’s important that fans have an opportunity to see him. He’s a Dutch horse and even though I, a foreign rider, show him in the sport, he received this title from you. We were very pleased to make time to bring him back here. Carl joked during the awards ceremony that ‘it’s too bad for you that you sold him, but we’re so happy that we have him.’ He’s simply a very special horse.”

4

KWPN International 1 • 2014

news

KWPN International 1 • 2014

5

opening

news

The 14th annual KWPN Select Sale (KSS) was the closing act of another successful edition of the KWPN Stallion Show Powered by Massey Ferguson. Four wildcards were added to the 25 stallions already selected for the auction. Despite no mega-bids this year, sales totaled more than €1,000,000. Eighteen of the stallions auctioned have been selected for the performance test.

The KSS opened by garnering support for a good cause: the DVB Foundation, which will receive a €4,000 bid for a breeding to the KWPN stallion Franklin (s.Ampère). Among the regular bids, the elegant Jazz son Gibson (ds.Lingh) was laid claim to by Russia’s Nataliya Bronnikova for €78,000. Gibson is expected to undergo his performance test in Ermelo. At a previous KSS, Nataliya purchased the now KWPNapproved stallion Kartsevo’s Etoile (s.

Don Schufro); and on a side note, she brought the Gelder stallion Upperville with her from Russia, where he normally stands at stud. The purpose of his visit to the Netherlands was to show in the VHO Trophy competition and attract more breeders. Upperville succeeded on both counts! Bronnikova is very enthusiastic about her purchase: “I really wanted this stallion because of his lineage: I’m a huge fan of Jazz blood. Besides, I think he’s a very handsome stallion with good gaits.

Gibson can do his performance test here in the Netherlands. If he’s approved, he’ll stay here for one breeding season and then I’ll bring him to Russia. I’ll breed him to my own mares in Russia, but he’ll also compete. I want to use him for both goals.”

The selected stallion Glamour Boy (Bojengel x Jazz), who boasts strong movement, was purchased by President Investment for €58,000, and Stoeterij De Begijnhoeve paid €75,000 for the handsome selected stallion Genesis (Jazz x Silvano N). In addition, Glock Horse Performance Centre expanded its collection by purchasing the strong stallion Gironn L (Uphill x Ferro) for 44.000 euro.

6

KWPN International 1 • 2014

Jacob Melissen

Top KSS Horse to Russia

Robbie van Dijk and Cizandro won the Oregon Trophy for the third consequetive year.

Cizandro Wins Oregon Trophy Again

Although Oregon Trophy title defender Cizandro (Waldemar x Manno, b/rp: the Den Otter bros. of Bruchem and the Van Manen bros. of Ede) is just seven years old, he took home the coveted trophy for the third consecutive year. Based on his outstanding record of service, he was nominated for the 2013 KWPN Horse of the Year title. This year, the battle for the Oregon Trophy was between Cizandro and Delviro HBC. In the final, excitement filled the air. According to jury chairman Henk van Dieren, “Cizandro radiates relaxation from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. The stallion has lots of allure, a wonderful and fancy front end, a strong hind leg, which combined with the carriage in his pure movement made him the winner.”

KWPN TV For four full days, horse enthusiasts enjoyed a celebration of sport and stallion selections at the KWPN Stallion Show Powered by Massey Ferguson. In the selections, 48 jumper stallions, 42 dressage stallions, 9 harness horse stallions, and 3 Gelder stallions earned a ticket to the performance test, which will be held at the new KWPN center in Ermelo. Talented

and renowned KWPN horses were also showcased in the event’s evening programs. If you missed the 2014 KWPN Stallion Show Powered by Massey Ferguson or simply want to enjoy the spectacular event again, please visit www.kwpn.tv and enjoy the great atmosphere and the lovely horses. You can find video’s of all the shows and all the third round viewing stallions.

The KWPN stallion Rhodium will stand at stud this year in Scotland. The Ferro son has been leased to Scotland AI Services for one breeding season to meet growing demand in the country’s dressage horse breeding sector. Ben Wentink of Scotland AI Services explains: “Recently, I’ve had more demand for fresh semen from a proven dressage stallion. The stallion Hemmingway has been at our facility for years; Silverstone and Vegas also stand at stud here. We lacked a dressage stallion, so that’s why I decided to ask around for one. An acquaintance put me in touch with Rieneke Fokker, whose daughter Rachell competed Rhodium in the sport.

We drafted the contract at the stallion selection, and the stallion leaves for Scotland tomorrow.”

Rhodium placed sixth in the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young

Dressage Horses with Hans Peter Minderhoud and competed in the Small Tour under Diederik van Silfhout. He is a proven breeding stallion. In 2012, his daughter Evita won the championship of Noord-Brabant and probably Rhodium’s most notable offspring to date is Duval’s Capri Sonne, the silver medalist at the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden.

“In addition to dressage horse breeding, I think Rhodium can play a role in breeding eventers”, says Wentink. “With his Ferro x G.Ramiro Z x Voltaire bloodlines, I think there will also be demand for him from that discipline. Rhodium will arrive here this weekend. My resident rider will ride the stallion and compete him a few times so that breeders here can see him.

I’m very happy that I’ve been given this opportunity.”

news

Rhodium to Scotland

The first ever KWPN Online Auction took place in the first weeks of february.

Over a period of six weeks, participating horses received professional training at the KWPN Center in Ermelo. The new KWPN initiative attracted ample interest in the Netherlands as well as abroad, with online bidders from countries including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, the UK, and the USA. The auction website, www.kwpnonlinesales. com, tallied numerous visits, with almost 64,000 page views over the past weeks.

Among the jumpers auctioned, the Cicero son Emmerson (out of Relena by Cash, breeder: M. Smets of Eersel) sold for €32,500. His buyer, Thom de Koff of the Netherlands, tried out Emmerson at the KWPN Center and liked him. “Of course, I want to go as high as I can with him. I think he has a lot of scope, a nice front leg, and a good hind leg.

I’m certainly very happy with him!” said Thom enthusiastically.

Peter and Carolyn Belshaw from England purchased the elite mare Evita Vienna D (Lord Leatherdale out of Vienna elite Jazz, breeder: J.C. Kool and W.M. Dalm-Kool of Oud-Alblas) sight unseen for €30,500. Although Peter is mainly interested in racehorses, Carolyn rides dressage. “We had a Lord Leatherdale with a good temperament, and we were looking for another horse for the sport, which we could breed later on. We’re really looking forward to seeing her in person!” exclaimed Carolyn.

The Vincenzo daughter Evakarla (ster PROK out of Aytenkarla stb PROK by Lupicor, breeder: H.J.W. Stapelbroek of Vierakker), who competed in the final of the GMB competition, was sold to Jeroen Hendriks of the Netherlands for €10,500.

“Nienke van Roekel will train her for eventing. I think she’s a horse with potential for that,” said Jeroen, who was upbeat about the KWPN Online Auction, adding: “I think that this is the way to promote sales for breeders.”

BEF Trevor Meeks

KWPN Online Auction

Jennie Loriston Clarke present the award to Pat Ruck, breeder of the best six-year-old dressage horse Carilla.

British Breeding awards to two KWPN’s Every year, the BEF rewards the British breeding awards to outstanding young horses bred in Great Britain. This year two awards went to breeders of KWPN horses. The British Dressage Young Horse Awards (Sponsored by British Dressage and presented by Jennie Loriston-Clarke) for six-year-olds went to the grey mare Carilla (Flemmingh d.Ozarilla by Jazz. Owner /Breeder: Pat

Ruck) who was very succesfull with Louise Davison. The British Showjumping Young Horse Awards (Sponsored by British Showjumping and Presented by Justine Naylor, National Director of Sport) for 7 Year Old was awarded to Bintang II by Tangelo Van De Zuuthoeve out of Orlalyn (s.Orlando) He was bred by Mr Edward Bleekman and is owned by Laura Renwick.

KWPN International 1 • 2014

7

KWPN Stallion Show

High quality in all breeding directions selection

This year again, the KWPN Stallion Show Powered by Massey Ferguson was a huge success! With world-class stallions and exciting show evenings featuring talented young stallions, the event showcased a series of highpoints. In the stallion selection, Glamourdale (s.Lord Leatherdale), Genius (s.Baloubet de Rouet), Graaf Kelly (s.Manno), and Garino (s.Alexandro P) were declared the rightful champions. In the competitions, Zirocco Blue VDL jumped to victory in the Grand Prix, Arlando took home the VHO Trophy in dressage, and Cizandro claimed the Oregon Trophy for the third consecutive year. To top it all off, the Olympic champion Valegro was awarded the KWPN Horse of the Year title. In short, the 2014 KWPN Stallion Show Powered by Massey Ferguson was a spectacular event.

T

he progress in KWPN dressage horse breeding was clear in ’s-Hertogenbosch, where 40 stallions were selected for the performance test. In the end, the handsome black Lord Leatherdale son Glamourdale convincingly captured the championship, relegating the popular stallion Governor-STR (s.Totilas) to second place. This year’s stallions were characterized by good conformation, excellent movement, and promising pedigrees. “We selected for size, substance, and good movement in all three basic gaits. I think we selected a very good group of stallions for the performance test, with not only a strong top six in the championship but also surprisingly high average quality. And that’s perhaps the biggest gain,” explained jury chairman Wim Ernes after the event.

Championships

With his fantastic movement, self-carriage, and strong work ethic, the impressive stallion Glamourdale (s.Lord Leatherdale) bested his competition to win the highly-coveted Champion title.

8

KWPN International 1 • 2014

The Saturday was completely devoted to the selection of the young stallions. The selection committee for dressage stallions invited six horses for the championship: sons of Bordeaux, Vivaldi, Jazz, Totilas, Charmeur, and Lord Leatherdale. Ultimately, the battle was between

Totilas The reserve champion Governor-STR has remarkable genes. This eye-catcher is from the first crop of foals by the phenomenal dressage horse Totilas, who sired three sons selected for the performance test. In addition, GovernorSTR’s dam Orleans is a full-sister to Adelinde Cornelissen’s top horse Jerich Parzival. The Totilas son convinced the jury in all three selection rounds with his light-footed movement, talent for collection, and athletic ability.

Furthermore, he has good conformation and everything it takes to become a top dressage horse. Like his sire, he can effortlessly alternate between states of relaxation and positive tension. An announcement was made in the Brabanthallen that his owner Gerard Korbeld will make Governor-STR available to Adelinde Cornelissen, who is looking forward to riding the world-class talent.

Third place in the championship was for a stallion with strong movement: the Vivaldi son Gentle T (out of Wocky elite IBOP-dres s.Biotop breeder: the Traa family of Maren-Kessel), registered to Joop van Uytert and Jan Lamers.

This dam-line has produced horses including the Grand Prix dressage competitor Tatler (s.Ferro),

who was active under Charlotte Dujardin in 2012; and the Grand Prix show jumper Leandro (s.Hugo). Gentle T is a long-legged stallion with a youthful appearance, who moves with abundant expression and power.

Following in fourth place was a Charmeur son: the genetically interesting Grande E (out of Pandora elite sport-dres s.Jetset-D, breeder: F.J. van Esch of Sint-Oedenrode). Registered to Nico Witte and Tim and Leida Collins, this stallion is out of a dam who competed in the Small Tour and produced a ZZ-light dressage horse. Ernes: “He’s a youthful-looking, attractive stallion with very light-footed movement, and he’s out of an interesting dam and dam-line. He moves with good form and carriage.” Fifth place was for Google (Bordeaux out of Cadansvrouwe elite IBOP-dres s.Johnson, b/rp: H.J.M. Schutte of Wamel, co-registered to Joop van Uytert), another stallion with excellent movement. In addition, he is out of the same dam-line as Glock’s Undercover. Google is one of three Bordeaux sons selected for the performance test.

Last but certainly not least in the championship was the Jazz son Galaxie Terra (out of Zon Terra elite EPTM-dres s.Future, breeder: P. Bregman of Benningbroek), registered to the Van Vliet family of Maasdijk. “A very complete stallion with five consecutive Grand Prix dressage stallions in his pedigree. He has three good gaits, good talent for collection, and he always moves uphill. A true athlete,” remarked Ernes. Three other Jazz sons were also selected for the performance test, including Gibson (out of Claire L elite IBOP-dres s.Lingh, breeders: A. van de Goor and Jan Lamers), who was purchased by Natalya Bronnikova of Russia at the KWPN Select Sale that topped off the KWPN Stallion Show, also this

Governor STH, whose dam is a full-sister to Jerich Parzival, is from the first crop of foals by the legendary stallion Totilas.

KWPN International 1 • 2014

selection

the strong favorite Governor-STR (Totilas out of Orleans elite pref s.Jazz, breeder: J.B.J.M. Streppel of Wilp, registered to Gerard Korbeld of Nijverdal) and the extra special Glamourdale (Lord Leatherdale out of Thuja s.Negro, breeder: Joop Rodenburg of Ouderkerk aan den IJssel, registered to Gertjan van Olst of Den Hout), who attracted more fans with every round. In the end, the committee declared Glamourdale the champion. Ernes: “Glamourdale is the result of the now-proven Lord Leatherdale x Negro combination. He showed powerful, correct, and big movement every time. He has long-lined conformation and remarkable movement and, as a result, he caught our attention. He’s a very impressive champion!”

Glamourdale’s dam Thuja is a full-sister to the international Grand Prix dressage horse Numberto, ridden by Severo Jesus Jurado Lopez. The Small Tour dressage horse Willem Alexander (s.Negro) and Michael Whitaker’s Grand Prix show jumper Händel (s.Wolfgang) also come out of this direct line. With abundant elasticity, excellent self-carriage, and expressive movement, Glamourdale boasts amazing talent.

9

KWPN Stallion Show year (see opening). Other leading sires of the selection included Johnson, Totilas, and Apache, each of whom boast three sons who were selected for the performance test.

selection

Jumpers

Baloubet du Rouet-son Genius is halfbrother to Grand Prix stallion Vleut and grandson of Grand Prix-mare Jikke.

A promising group of 45 three-year-old jumper stallions were selected for the performance test.

Abundant jumping talent, excellent show jumper genes, and large size are traits which typify this year’s outstanding jumper stallions.

Convincing on all fronts, Genius (s.Baloubet du Rouet) won the championship. “We’re absolutely very enthusiastic about this year’s stallions, although we won’t really know what we have until the performance test. But our expectations are high: we were able to select many good stallions which have convincing jumping talent, conformation, and pedigrees - athletic horses with size and substance,” explained jury chairman Daan Nanning after the event.

The jumper champion Genius (Baloubet du Rouet out of Nicce s.Cantus, breeder: Rik Ongering of Groningen), co-bred by Anna and Wilma Wolters of Groningen and co-registered to Cees van den Oetelaar and Eric van der Vleuten, exemplifies notable traits of this year’s stallions. He has athletic, youthful, and attrac-

tive conformation combined with exceptional jumping talent: lightning-quick reflexes, excellent focus, a good measure of carefulness, and a surplus of athletic talent. Furthermore, Genius has an exceptional pedigree as the son of the world’s best jumper sire: Baloubet du Rouet, out of the Cantus mare Nicce, who is also the dam of the KWPN-approved Grand Prix stallion Vleut (sport name: Guccio). To top it all off, Genius’s granddam is the renowned Grand Prix jumper Jikke keur sport-jump (s.Concorde), whom Eric van der Vleuten competed at the highest level for many years.

The reserve champion was another very complete stallion: the Numero Uno son Giorgio (out of Odisina elite pref s.Nimmerdor, breeder: O.O. Vries of Drogeham), registered to Reesink Horses of Winterswijk and Gerard Jansema of Groningen. Giorgio’s dam Odisina, a representative of the celebrated Sina-line, also produced a ZZ-level jumper. A number of international show jumpers descend from this direct dam-line. Nanning: “Giorgio has abundant stallion presence, and he jumped very convincingly in the first- and second round viewing, where he showed remarkable functionality, reflexes, and form.”

Third place was for the athletic, long-lined Eldorado van de Zeshoek son Grodino (out of Sorina prok s.Celano, breeder: Jos van Loon of Valkenswaard), registered to Alan Waldman of Putten. This line has produced multiple Z- and ZZ-level show jumpers. “Grodino has beautiful conformation and is well developed, and he jumped fantastically in both the first- and second round viewing. Although the dam and granddam haven’t produced many sporthorses, farther back in the line is Franke Sloothaak’s international show jumper Dorina,” explained Nanning. In the second round viewing, the gray garnered attention for his athletic talent, quick reflexes, and the way he finished his jump.

VDL success Fourth place was awarded to the very handsome Baltic VDL son Galdo (out of Rienaldine ster s.Great Pleasure, breeders: H. and Andreas Barenkamp of Ter Apel), registered to VDL Stud, R. Rikkert of Enter, and Willy Bourgondien of Enter. Galdo’s granddam Haldine, who produced several Z-level jumpers, is also the granddam of the international show jumpers Seraldo (s.

Corland), Urlando (s.Indoctro), and Woody WH (s.Cantos). The international show jumper and

10

KWPN International 1 • 2014

old. The international show jumper Uata (s.

Heartbreaker) and the KWPN-approved stallions Zaïre (s.Le Val Blanc xx) and Universeel (s.Olivi) are other products of this line. “The Carambole son is youthful-looking and has good rectangular-shaped conformation. He jumps in a functional manner, and in the second round viewing in particular, he convinced us with his form and scope,” stated Nanning.

In addition to the champion stallion Genius, two other interesting Baloubet du Rouet sons were selected for the performance test: Boogie Boy d’Ive Z (out of Quilana d’Ive Z s.Quidam de Revel, breeder: I. van Eeckhout of Outer-Ninove),; and Baloulisco du Lozon (out of Eolysca s.Jalisco B, breeder: M. Laurent Vignaud of Manche, Basse Normandie, France), both registered to VDL Stud of Bears. Zirocco Blue VDL, who won the Grand Prix (1.50m) on Thursday evening, was also well represented in ’s-Hertogenbosch. Three of his sons were selected for the performance test.

Numero Uno-son Giorgio combines a good model with superb jumping form. He was reserve Champion.

selection

KWPN-approved stallion Faldo (s.Purioso) is also a direct descendent of this dam-line.

Nanning: “This Baltic son has abundant bloodhorse presence, and in both viewing rounds, he showed that he’s a very complete jumper. He sets himself apart with his good reflexes and athletic talent.”

Following in fifth place was a stallion with attractive, correct conformation and excellent jumping talent: Glory of Stud OMHG (Whitaker out of Ramontane elite pref s.Cavalier), bred by Ronald Kouwenhoven of Oldemarkt. He is a half-brother of the international eventer Bayano (s.Contendro II) and is out of a line which has produced a number of Z- and ZZ-level jumpers.

Nanning: “This handsome Whitaker son jumps really well. He’s out of a predicate-rich dam-line which has produced a sufficient number of sporthorses.” Glory of Stud OMHG was praised for his good body use, carefulness, quick reflexes, and power. He has a nice canter and good push over obstacles.

Although the powerhouse jumper Bacardi VDL has produced few offspring to date, his son Gehazia VDL (out of Tolivia VDL elite pref s.

Corrado I), bred by VDL Stud of Bears, finished sixth in the championship. “This well-developed Bacardi VDL son stands out because of his good push and abundant scope,” remarked Nanning.

Another son by a VDL stallion followed in seventh place: Glen (Zirocco Blue out of Uthalina-M s.Julio Mariner xx, breeder: H. Coenen of Heyen), registered to Herman Jacobs of Weert. An athletic horse, Glen is a product of the Oberlina-line, whose direct descendants include a number of show jumpers which have competed through the 1.40m level. Nanning: “The Zirocco Blue VDL son is well developed and has good rectangular-shaped conformation. He got our attention in both viewing rounds and showed unlimited scope. He’s also genetically interesting with his high percentage of Thoroughbred blood and the fact that he’s out of the Oberlina-line.”

Eighth place in the championship was for the complete Carambole son Gregor (out of Ruata ster pref prest s.Iroko), bred by A.J. Veenhoven of Schildwolde and co-registered to Gerardus Post of Groningen. Gregor’s dam Ruata has produced multiple successful Grand Prix jumpers, including Mariano Ossa’s mount Vignet (s.Heartbreaker), who was also selected for the KWPN performance test as a three-year-

Harness- and Gelder Stallions In the harness horse breeding direction, the selection committee invited three stallions for the championship. In the end, Graaf Kelly (Cat. no. 685, Manno out of Wiskelly by Patijn x Fabricius), bred by U. Rovers and registered to J.W.A. van Dijk, claimed the title. According to jury chairman Johan Hamminga, “Graaf Kelly is a fancy stallion with good type and very abundant presence. The bay needs to be a bit bigger and better developed, but he’s not short-coupled. The neck has sufficient length, good shape, and good placement. The stallion shows abundant front end action in the trot, good body use, and very good leg technique. He has quick reflexes and the ability to collect.” His dam Wiskelly is a studbook

KWPN International 1 • 2014

11

KWPN Stallion Show

selection

chestnut also has nobility and talent. The neck has good length, shape, and placement. He is a very complete stallion. He also uses his neck well in the trot and shows ample stride length.

The hind leg is good but needed to be slightly more convincing in the first round viewing.”

The Gelder stallions likewise had a champion among them: the Alexandro P son Garino. He and two other Gelder stallions were selected for the performance test in Ermelo. Garino was bred by T. Buitink of Klarenbeek and registered

by B. Verwaijen from Borculo. Jury chairman Reijer van Woudenbergh explains:”Garino really improved after the first round viewing. This youthful son of Alexandro P has good length in his body en moves with a lot of push. He really rises in the front, and makes himself beautiful.”

The other two stallions selected are by Fantastique and Charmeur.

Jumping Evening Champion Harness Horses Graaf Kelly (s.Manno).

Alexandro-P son Garino was the Champion Gelder Horse.

12

KWPN International 1 • 2014

mare, and his granddam is the acclaimed mare Kelly. She earned the keur and sport predicates and enjoyed an impressive inspection- and show career. Robbie and Chantal van Dijk purchased Graaf Kelly from breeder Udo Rovers at the stallion selection in Hardenberg. Robbie van Dijk: “We’ve had him for about three weeks now. He always performs his work very enthusiastically and really likes it. He seems to enjoy showing.”

The Reserve Champion title was for Gerard (Cat. no. 686, Atleet out of Zalina keur by Manno x Fabricius), bred by G.E. Veenstra and registered to W.G. Cazemier, H. Dekker, and K. Buist.

Hamminga: “Gerard is a stallion with long-lined conformation and good harness type. The

A tradition at the KWPN Stallion Show Powered

by Massey Ferguson, the jumping evening kicked off with the stallion competition finals. In a sizzling jump-off, the Vleut son Edinburgh claimed the day victory and, as a result, won the overall L-class competition under Kristian Houwen. The genetically interesting stallion showed off his quick reflexes in the jump-off, easily clearing all the obstacles. Edinburgh, who had qualified for the performance test by way of the VION Cup competition, was approved last fall. His dam Olympic Queen (s.Darco) is a former national show jumper, whose half-sister produced the Grand Prix stallion Tyson (s.

Numero Uno). Kristian Houwen: “Edinburgh felt super. He had never done a jump-off before, but he performed amazingly. When the first turn went well, I knew I could keep riding him the same way.” Edinburgh’s co-registered party Jos Althuyzen added: “I’ve always had faith in the horse and the rider, so this is a dream come true.”

Going into the final, Etoulon, the reserve champion of the 2012 stallion selection, held the lead in the overall standings. In the final, he once again showcased exemplary form and abundant scope, going clear in both the basic course and the jump-off. Unfortunately, his good jump-off round was not quite fast enough, resulting in a second place finish in the competition. Rider James Billington had consciously played it safe with the stallion: “Etoulon VDL is still inexperienced when it comes to jump-offs,

Cidane won all the competition classes including the final in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

selection

so I didn’t know how much I could ask of him.

The big ring with lots of distractions and the huge crowd of spectators were impressive enough, so this seemed like an appropriate speed for the jump-off.”

The M-class of the stallion competition final was the largest class of the evening. Of the twelve stallions competing, five were separated by fewer than ten points at the start of the final. It promised to be a thrilling competition. VDL Groep Do Spiritivo gave a good performance in the final under Sweden’s Niclas Parmler and emerged the winner. The impressive Indoctro son demonstrated abundant scope and quick reflexes in the final, which is not surprising considering that his dam, Think Twice II, formerly competed in the Grand Prix under Leopold van Asten. Parmler piloted the efficient chestnut jumper at lightning-quick speed over the course but lost the day victory to Dantos HBC (s.Numero Uno) by just 500th of a second.

With second place in the final and good performances in previous rounds, VDL Groep Do Spiritivo captured first place in the overall competition. Parmler was full of praise for his mount: “Do Spiritivo jumped fantastically, and he’s very talented. Now he’ll get some time off and start competing again in the outdoor season. Next year, he’ll go to Leopold van Asten.”

In the Z-class, the battle for the title in the overall standings had already been fought before the final. Nevertheless, Cidane, the leader in the standings under Kristian Houwen, showed no mercy and claimed the day win too. Despite the guaranteed win, Houwen still gave his best in the final aboard the Heartbreaker son. The combination, which had won last year’s M-class in the GMB Stallion Competition, succeeded in prolonging their title this year. Cidane, who boasts an efficient canter, has won the competition five times, counting this victory. Houwen, of course, was very pleased: “I wanted to win. I also knew that Cidane could go faster. The stallion is a fantastic jumper and has such a good disposition. Of course, we have to consider breeding season, but in the summer, he can go to shows, two of which will be at the international level.”

In the final, the black stallion with ample Thoroughbred blood, S.L.I. Chacco Boy, jumped effortlessly once again. With both Cidane and S.L.I. Chacco Boy going clear in the jump-off, an

exciting battle for the day win ensued. Going on the offense, Arnold Boerekamps navigated the Chacco Blue son over the jump-off course without accumulating faults, but the effort was not enough for the win.

Zirocco Blue VDL was the convincing Grand Prix winner.

VHO Trophy and Grand Prix Although this year’s 1.40m class for the VHO Trophy was relatively small, the competition was strong. Three of the four combinations vying for victory returned to the ring for a jump-off.

KWPN International 1 • 2014

13

KWPN Stallion Show

selection

The M-class stallion competition was very strong. Vivaldi-son Desperado was the convincing winner.

Find all approved KWPN Stallions in the Stallion Database on www.kwpn.org

14

KWPN International 1 • 2014

Although Bustique kept the competition exciting to the last jump, Bugatti VDL ultimately took home the VHO Trophy. Last year, the now eight-year-old stallion jumped to victory in the Z-class of the stallion competition. Eighteen months ago, Suzanne Tepper took over the Silverstone son. The fact that the two are a relatively new combination was not evident in either their performance or their result. Tepper and the cooperative gray stallion, who easily cleared the obstacles thanks to his quick reflexes, raced through the jump-off. Tepper: “It feels as though we’ve been a combination a lot longer; he’s so easy. Bugatti is fast and sharp, and I hardly have to think as a rider.” Under Michel Hendrix, Bustique jumped to second place in the VHO Trophy competition. The reserve champion of the 2009 stallion selection and two-time winner of the stallion competition once again showed off his maneuverability and his carefulness. Bustique, a bay stallion with interesting bloodlines, gave his best in the jump-off, speeding toward victory. Unfortunately, a pole fell from the cups at the last obstacle, relegating the Indoctro son to a commendable second place. Brainpower ended third. For the second consecutive year, the Grand Prix wrapped up jumping evening. Spectators had looked

forward to this major class and were duly rewarded. In the jump-off, the Mr. Blue son Zirocco Blue VDL showcased his matchless scope. Second to last in the ring, Jur Vrieling and the phenomenal stallion bested their third place finish in last year’s Grand Prix by winning this year. According to his co-registered party Adrie Jespers: “When I was watching Jessica Kürten’s jump-off with Arezzo, I really didn’t expect a faster time. But yes, Jur always goes for it, and he’s known for that. It’s fantastic that he succeeded again. What’s more, the stallion showed a nice collection of offspring here, including three selected sons. As far as I’m concerned, it was a very successful Stallion Show for Zirocco Blue.” The current top horse Zapatero VDL (s.Chin Chin) ridden by Ireland’s Jessica Kürten, has made considerable progress in the past year. At the 2013 Stallion Show, the combination captured the VHO Trophy. This year, they gave their all again, bringing spectators to the edge of their seats. Despite a speedy jump-off round, the duo crossed the finish line less than a half-second behind Jur Vrieling to end in second place. Wiebe Yde van de Lageweg of VDL Stud: “Zapatero is jumping better than he did last year, and he clearly has a promising future ahead of him.”

Dressage

After her ride, Emmelie expressed great satisfaction with the black eye-catcher: “He’s truly one of my favorites. He really has an exceptional temperament; he’s so cooperative. And he’s unbelievably nice to ride. But don’t ask me to choose between Desperado and Dorado because I can’t. They’re two exceptional horses that have a great future ahead of them, and I hope I can keep riding and showing them both for a long time to come.”

The large chestnut stallion Dorado (s.Krack C) ended in second place. Displaying his talent as always, this bronze medal winner of the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden showed off his power and talent for collection. Following in third place was Don Tango with Diederik van Silfhout. The clear winner in the Z-class was Cupido, who went into the final as the favorite and lived up to expectations. Looking fresh, the black Daddy Cool son showed plenty of “go” under José van Haaren. She has been Cupido’s rider since last March, when he was sent to her following a lay-up due to an injury. “Relative to his peers, he’s still behind in his training. He won because of his willingness and talent. His greatest strengths are his good carriage and elasticity. The contact needs to be more consistent, but that’ll certainly happen in time,” commented José.

selection

True to tradition, Friday was devoted to dressage. And the evening was one to remember! Thanks to its high-quality horses, this year’s GMB Stallion Competition final thrilled and captivated from start to finish.

In the L-class for E-year stallions, the big battle was between Expression and El Capone. Both emerged winners: Expression the day winner and El Capone the overall winner.With excellent carriage and abundant push, the black stallion El Capone danced to the competition victory under Marieke van der Putten. This UB 40 son was bred by and is registered to De Dalhoeve.

Nol and Jeanette Gerritsen of De Dalhoeve were rightfully proud of their top stallion: “We’re really crazy about this horse. With his naturally powerful and light-footed movement, he’ll go far. He’ll stay with Marieke and be trained for the selection trials for the World Championships in Verden.”

The other major contender in the L-class, Expression, lived up to his name with his expressive trot, characterized by excellent balance and self-carriage. He was the only stallion in his age group in ‘s-Hertogenbosch to score a 9.5 for the trot. Bred by and registered to Gert Willem van Norel, Expression is out of the keur sport preferent mare Melody (s.Vincent), who was the national champion at age three.

“Expression’s movement combines incredible ease with power. We also saw his talent for collection in the canter. All in all, he presented a very pleasing picture,” stated jury spokesperson Mariëtte Sanders-van Gansewinkel. With 87 points, the stallion claimed the day victory in the L-class. His rider Diederik van Silfhout is very enthusiastic about possibilities for the extremely talented Vivaldi son: “This horse has it all. Three good basic gaits. A dream of a temperament. Hot, sensitive, but not looky.”

Arlando showed his talent for piaffe and passage. He won the VHO Trophy.

M- and Z-Class With respect to quality, this year’s best stallions were arguably in the dressage M-class. The top two contenders each competed under Emmelie Scholtens. The one, Desperado, won the overall competition; and the other, Dorado, ended second. With few scores less than a 9, Desperado (s. Vivaldi) ruled his class. Jury spokesperson Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel praised his big and workable walk, his consistent rhythm in the trot, and his ability to collect in the canter.

KWPN International 1 • 2014

15

KWPN Stallion Show The decision to let Patrick van der Meer show the Jazz son President’s Chagall D&R was a good one. Compared to last year, the stallion is performing much better and more consistently.

If Patrick has the opportunity to train Chagall D&R further, the stallion’s obvious natural talent will come to fruition, and he will pleasantly surprise us next year. This time, however, he finished second in his class. Third place was for Sollenburg’s Charmingmood with Tom Franckx.

Carl Hester

VHO Trophy Later in the evening, Small- and Big Tour stallions vied for the coveted VHO Trophy. This year’s surprise winner was nine-year-old Arlando, who’s a true piaffe and passage powerhouse. According to his rider Diederik van Silfhout, “What Arlando naturally offers is unprecedented. Last year, I rode him a couple of times in the Future Test and recently showed him once in the Grand Prix. He’s still green, but he has unprecedented potential.”

Also contending for the VHO Trophy was the Gelder stallion Kartsevo Upperville, who had travelled from Russia especially for the occasion, along with his rider Tatiana Dorofeeva. Demonstrating abundant power, the Cabochon son Kartsevo Upperville performed a Grand Prix freestyle which showcased a high level of difficulty and stole the hearts of the numerous

selection

As always, dressage evening was interspersed a number of fun and exciting exhibitions and demonstrations, including a quadrille challenge between Young Dutch talents from the Rabobank Talent Team and past members of the stallion selection committees; a performance by the three-time VHO Trophy winner Vivaldi, who showed off his phenomenal movement; and a presentation of competitors from past FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, who convened to demonstrate their current level of training. In addition, Carl Hester made an appearance in the Brabanthallen. Riding Chippendale, he gave an educational clinic infused with a good dash of humor, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The evening also included a presentation of the celebrated stallion Krack C, who was joined in the ring by his son United, grandson Bordeaux, and great-grandson Ferdeaux. spectators in the Brabanthallen. The stallion’s passage and piaffe were very impressive, as were his endless series of one-tempi’s and extensions.

Third place in the VHO Trophy competition was for Tuschinski under Kirsten Brouwer.

The evening wrapped up with an amazing exhibition. To everyone’s delight, Valegro traveled from his stables in England to be honored as the KWPN Horse of the Year in the presence of his rider Charlotte Dujardin, registered parties Rory Luard and Carl Hester, and breeders Joop and Maartje Hanse. The Olympic champion showed off his exceptional movement in the Brabanthallen. In a clinic format, Charlotte and Carl demonstrated their daily training program. As always, Valegro stole the hearts of spectators who had come to see him in the sold-out Brabanthallen. It was a wonderful end to an amazing dressage evening.

Carl Hester gave a very informative clinic with the KWPN stallion Chippendale. “A Grand Prix horse should be able to ‘sit and push’, he stated.”

•

KWPN International 1 • 2014

17

A visit with

Michael Whitaker In Practice

The Whitaker family name is synonymous with showjumping and the dynasty has made an enormous contribution to the sport for nearly 40 years – Michael and his younger brother, John have been at the cornerstone of the British showjumping team for decades. World Championships, Olympic medals and Nation’s Cups have been won, and top horses and riders are being produced as a result of the Whitaker family’s extraordinary affinity with horses. Many of their success stories have been with KWPN’s and John’s current ride Peppermill is a fine example of the breed. Time for a visit to the stables in England?

“All top horses are a little bit quirky. They’ve got something different – the X-factor.”

B

orn into a family of equestrians on a farm in Yorkshire, North England in the 1960s, Michael and his three brothers, John, Steven and Ian were taught to ride by their mother, a keen horsewoman herself. By the tender age of just seven, Michael was competing on ponies and made his international showjumping debut at a mere 16 years old. His talent meant he quickly moved on to horses, and he earned a reputation as a powerful and dedicated rider. Then, at 20 Michael became the famous Hickstead Derby’s youngest winner and this was the start of a glittering career that would take him to all the major competitions in the world, establishing

The business in brief • 80 acres • 1-acre jumping field with Hickstead Derby-style fences • Approx 80m x 40m sand and fibre outdoor arena • 4-bed flat in the yard • 3-bed cabin just outside the yard • Main office in the house • 40 boxes, mostly indoor • 35 horses (three top horses, Viking, Amai, Elie van de Kolmen) • 10 staff – all but one lives on-site • Head grooms: Amy Ward and wife Melissa • Indoor arena • Solarium by Sun Switch – used every day for drying, warming and relaxing the horses • Treadmill for horses coming back into work, ones recovering from an injury or for that extra bit of work • 7-horse walker • Mercedes Equitrek lorry, transports 8 horses • Nearest showground Arena UK and Valeview, about 30 minutes away • Large rest boxes

18

KWPN International 1 • 2014

him as being one of the most accomplished and successful riders of our time.

Soon after, came the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where Michael and his team took home silver, and in the years since, the medal count has grown: Michael has won 11 team medals at championship level, three of them gold. He also holds two individual silver medals and one bronze medal won at European Championships.

In total, he has competed at four Olympic Games, four World Championships and 13 European Championships.

His most memorable career moment is without doubt winning the European Championships with his team at Rotterdam in 1989 – he and his Irish horse Mon Santa also took home individual silver that year, a remarkable achievement. Other notable achievements include second place at the World Cup final in Las Vegas in 2005 riding KWPN Portofino, and third place with Team GB at the Continental Championships in Mannheim in 2007, again with Portofino.

2013 has seen him take it to the top with another champion KWPN, Viking. Whitaker was the only rider out of a 48-strong start list to ride three clear rounds, sealing victory in the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Madrid, a true success.

In Practice

Michael Whitaker and his top horse Viking. “A very exceptional horse�, according to the Brit.

In Practice

A visit with

Michael Whitaker has several young KWPNhorses in his stable, like this Handel II son, some to be sold off. “We select thoroughly which ones can stay for the top-sport and which ones will be sold, mainly to amateur riders, Not everybody wants a Grand Prix horse.”

20

KWPN International 1 • 2014

Home truths Today, Michael lives in Nottingham, England, with his wife Melissa and his three children Jack, Molly and Katie Jane. The farm is set in amongst the fields, up a long quiet track off a country lane – an idyllic setting to keep horses and maintain privacy. The landscape surrounding the property is flat, an unusual sight in Britain where so many regions are known for their hills, and the view stretches on and on, giving a feeling of solitude. “It’s a great climate up here, very nice in the summer; we miss a lot of bad weather, although it can be windy being quite flat”, says Michael of his surroundings.

The small farmhouse stands in a large driveway that’s dominated by the stables, outbuildings and horseboxes. Beyond is a track leading out to an outdoor arena full of showjumps and a grass school housing Derby-style fences, such as a dyke, bank and water jump – clearly where Michael and his team fine-tune his horses for the big events. “When we’re training, we do most of the jumping practise in the sand school as we can only use the grass areas in the summer – I don’t want to churn the ground up.”

The property nestles in 80 acres of grassland separated by fences and hedges, and soon we come across a small herd of youngsters. “At the

moment, we’ve got five foals and the dam to three of them is KWPN Portofino,” explains Michael. “The sire to one of them is a Belgian stallion, Elvis, but sire to the other two is Gem Twist”. Surely this combination is a showjumping match made in heaven.

Going Dutch So what is it about the KWPN breed that Michael and his family are drawn to? “I think they’re a very good type for a start, you don’t see very many bad ones. The KWPN’s seem to have nice conformation and temperament, they’re normally pretty good. I think as jumpers they are the best – Viking is one of the really good ones. The very special ones are a little bit freaky, individually they all have something special that you can’t breed into them. I’m not sure what it is as they’re all different, like people, and all the very best athletes, like Ussain Bolt, are a little bit quirky. They’ve got something different – the x-factor.”

“I think I’m successful with KWPN’s because the breeding’s so well done, there’s a probably a bigger choice of quality horses these days, more options. I wouldn’t change the breeding as it is at the moment, as I said, the really good ones are freaks and you can say you don’t like this,

“I don’t know if I do it right or wrong here, but when I have a foal I just completely leave it bring him in as a three-year-old, start to break him, and get him fitter and starting to jump. I do think people do tend to do too much with them as two, three and even four-year-olds. We want them to go in this job until they’re 16, 17, even. I think in showjumping you can burn them out mentally – there isn’t so much of a physical impact, but there can be too much mental pressure too soon and they can burn out at six or seven. The youngsters just need a bit of time to mature and come on in their own time, and when they’re seven or eight you can start to put more pressure on them. That’s the way I do it anyway.”

“Amai came to me as a six-year-old having not done much. I’ve had him for seven years now and look where he is, I think that in some cases you can even leave them until 10.”

“There aren’t that many top horses about so you have to look after them when you get one.”, according to Michael.

Here you see Viking with Michaels wife Melissa.

In Practice

that or the other, but if he jumps unbelievably you can let him off.”

But would he change anything about the future sport horse? “The way the sport’s going we need more blood, I can see us bringing the thoroughbreds back into it. The jump-offs are getting faster, even the times in the first round are faster. I think the horses I like are real ‘blood’ types, like Viking, and I think we’ll see more and more.” And when asked if he thinks there is a market for KWPN horses in the UK, he replied: “Yes definitely, we’ve got all the young horse shows here, most of the up-and-coming ones are KWPN. It’s not a trend this breed, it’s here to stay.”

“When it comes to British breeding and competing, with a breed like the KWPN I still think we’re quite a long way behind, but obviously places like the Billy Stud (a joint venture between British Olympic eventers Pippa and William Funnell, and breeder Donal Barnwell) are breeding well. You see quite a few good British-bred horses about, so it’s going to come. People just need to understand that you have to breed from the best mares ¬– don’t just put any mare in foal, if it’s lame or got an odd way of going, it’s not right to put her in foal. At the moment, you don’t see many big studs cropping up in the UK, as it’s time-consuming and expensive. Those who are lucky have a place big enough to do it and someone who knows what they’re doing – it’s not an easy job. I can definitely see people having one or two good mares and breeding out of them. You don’t have to do it all on a massive scale, it’s quality rather than quantity.”

All horses go in the field, also the tophorses like Viking. “Now he’s much more settled in the job, you can give him a couple of weeks off in between shows”, according to Michael.

Bringing up youngsters When Michael isn’t globetrotting and keeping the Whitaker name in the arena, he’s kept extremely busy producing horses at home in Nottingham. “We do everything from the four year-olds right up to the Grand Prix horses. You have to bring them up properly. I need at least three Grand Prix horses on the circuit at any one time and at the moment I have Elie van de Kolmen, Viking and Amai. I can’t keep hundreds every year, we have to sell some and decide which to keep. My team and I really sift through ours and pick the ones who can go right to the top, and choose those who’ll make nice horses for amateurs. Not everyone wants a Grand Prix horse! We produce horses for everybody.”

KWPN International 1 • 2014

21

In Practice

A visit with

In the morning Michael rides four to five horses, in the afternoon he teached son Jack with his ponies.

Star treatment Moving along from the youngsters in the field and into the loose box area of the yard, Michael pauses at a huge horse walker. “It fits seven!” he laughs. The horses walking round have plenty of room to manoeuvre and turn when they’re asked to, and there is one with a particularly confident ‘swagger’. As he strides purposefully round and out of a shadow, the famous white face of Viking appears. He has an incredible air about him.

“They go on this walker twice a day on top of their exercise and turnout. I turn out Viking as

A day in the life of Michael Whitaker 8 am Breakfast with the kids before school.

9 am-1 pm Training, Michael rides about four or five maximum a day, mainly flatwork or jumping. (Joe Clayton, Michael’s second cousin and protégé) and the others start at seven 1 pm – Lunch 2-4 pm “I do things around the yard, mending, tidying, or sometimes setting a course for the next day.”

4-6.30 pm Does some jumping with son Jack and the ponies, and spends time with daughters Molly and Katie Jane 6.30-8.30 pm Dinner then a film and kids TV 8.30 pm Kids bed time 10.30 pm Michael and Melissa bed time

22

KWPN International 1 • 2014

much as possible.” explains Michael. “When he came two years ago, he needed a fair bit of jumping. You couldn’t give him very much time off because he’d get too fresh and hyperactive, and too enthusiastic at the show. Now he’s much more settled in the job, you can give him a couple of weeks off in between shows. I do that quite a bit, I don’t jump him a lot between shows, as I like to try and give him a bit of a break then hopefully he’ll come back fresh. He’s a very tough fellow, very tough.” muses Michael, “The more you do with him, the more he does, and he can stand a fair bit of work and jumping.

It’s about finding out which horses need more or less jumping and now he’s got to the stage where he doesn’t need to jump that much at all, it’s a question of keeping him fresh and not letting him get bored.”

Michael’s horses are renowned for being consistently successful, his partnership with Portofino won them over 406,000 euros. “I think a lot of it is the way you look after the horse for a start, for example, you have to give them enough time to get over an injury, things like that.” He explains.

“Also more general care, there aren’t that many top horses about so you have to look after them

when you get one. If he needs that extra month off then give him that extra month off because he’ll pay you back later on. If you jump a horse with an injury, of course he’s not going to perform as well as he would without an injury and the injury will get worse if it’s not properly healed. Just give him that little bit more time to get over it.” It’s this empathy that Michael has towards the care of his horses that could be the key to his success over the years.

Future perfect

A lot of trade is done in Nottingham. Here you see Michael and Melissa with two French clients, who just looked at some horses.

In Practice

Passing through the arch into the massive indoor stable block filled with 40 boxes, the atmosphere is bright and airy, and there is a hive of activity – there is one horse in the solarium enjoying the warmth and a few with their heads poking over their doors, watching the action. With exciting rides in the pipeline all the time, Michael looks to the future of the KWPN. “Over the next 10 years, I don’t think the KWPN can evolve much more, although they’re always trying to improve everything, you know, breeding better, sounder horses. Thankfully now you don’t really hear of things like navicular however, 20 years ago, a lot of jumping horses would have some kind of navicular problem in later life. I think things like that have been bred out of today’s successful showjumper – we’re breeding sounder stallions and sounder mares so we’re going to have fewer problems. I think selective breeding will help, as I said earlier, don’t breed from unsound mares and stallions.”

“Also, compared to 20 years ago, the courses are much more technical, less time is allowed, and I don’t see how they can get much more difficult – they can’t get much bigger and the poles can’t get much lighter. The standard of riding has gone up, there are more people doing it, and so lots comes down to who has the best horse.

You’ve got to have the best horse on the day.”

“I still enjoy the competing, the travelling not so much, but I really enjoy the shows. As long as I’ve got good horses and I still feel that I can do it, that’s the main thing. And as long as you’ve got your health and fitness you can keep going forever! I’ve got a lot to look forward to: the World Cup Final in April as both Viking and Amai are very good horses indoors. Then obviously the World Equestrian Games in the summer. They’re going to be my main focus.

The shows don’t stop, you could go to shows every week if you wanted!”

Whitaker has the availability of a horse walker, a solarium and a tredmill, used here by Michaels top-horse Amai.

“I think I’m successful with KWPN’s because the breeding is so well done.”

•

KWPN International 1 • 2014

23

Advertise on KWPN.org

We’ve redesigned the entire KWPN website! With our team of equestrian specialists bringing you the latest news, photos, and videos, the KWPN website is the online platform for sporthorse breeding.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ONLINE ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES, PLEASE CONTACT ALEXANDER DEN BRABER AT + 31 (0) 6 23162997 OR ALEXANDER.DENBRABER@SANOMA.COM.

Voor nieuwbouw of renovatie van uw stal zijn hoogwaardige stalproducten van Corton onmisbaar. Corton gaat al 40 www.HorseService.nl jaar voor kwaliteit. Wij geven een deskundig advies en zorgen voor een prima WWW (ORSE3ERVICE NL resultaat, daar kunt u op rekenen; afspraak is afspraak!

Bezoek onze showroom of vraag de brochure aan.

Ertsstraat 15, 8263 BN Kampen T.038-3317157 F.038-3317909 E.info@corton.nl I.www.corton.nl

Kracht & dynamiek

Cees Berkhof B.V.

www.bedafstallenbouw.nl

Buntweg 2 4885 KT Achtmaal Tel: +31(0)76-5984885 Fax: +31(0)76-5985951 info@bedafstallenbouw.nl

Importeur van Knikladers I Telescoopladers

Barneveldsestraat 20 I Renswoude I 0318 - 57 23 45 info@ceesberkhof.nl I www.ceesberkhof.nl

• Pagina's IDS_Int._0413.indd 1

SportHorses.nl

26-11-13 16:56

Verkoop uw paard internationaal op

Naamloos-5 2

ŠBCM

www.sporthorses.nl

30-08-13 13:17

Breeding

The preferent stallion Numero Uno is a proven sire. He has produced numerous good offspring, which can often be recognized from a distance.

Breeding Recommendations

Young Stallions Versus Proven Sires Taking the gamble out of breeding

Breeding

Prior to every breeding season, an important task awaits breeders: choosing a stallion to pair with their mare. Often, that task begins with a choice between a young stallion and a proven sire. The first option results in faster progress, while the second provides more certainty. In this article, we discuss the major advantages and disadvantages of each choice.

Text: Jenneke Smit • Photos: JACOB MELISSEN, et al

K

WPN Senior Inspector Arnold Kootstra recognizes that the choice between a young stallion and a proven sire depends on various factors. “I think the most important thing is for breeders to learn as much as possible about their own mare and her lineage because the more they know, the more targeted their search can be for a stallion. And they have to look at more than just the stallion himself: his immediate relatives also provide a lot of useful information”, explains Arnold.

tion. It’s very important to know a stallion’s exact breeding. Dam reports also provide a lot of useful information because they’re drafted for the stallion approval process”, explains Arnold.

“Young stallions include those right out of Ermelo as well as those several years older.

Stallions currently participating in the KWPN stallion competition provide breeders with additional information by way of their performance in the sport. Those stallions have usually produced their first crop of foals, which gives breeders even more information.”

Improvement

Openness

In general, the following rule applies to horse breeding: young stallions result in the fastest progress. The goal is to achieve progress with every generation; therefore, a filly should be better than her dam. The same goal applies to stallions. “The fastest progress in breeding can be achieved with a well-bred stallion, out of a good dam-line, who has proven his natural talent in the performance test [and possibly in the sport too, red.], and who is suitable with respect to the indexes. The indexes are a handy tool because they include a stallion’s immediate relatives, which provide a lot of useful informa-

A breeder’s goal should be to achieve progress with every generation and maintain small generation intervals (the average number of years which separate two generations). It is important to know that the greater the generation interval, the more time required to achieve progress. Genetic progress is determined per generation, and such progress takes time, as mares produce only one foal per year (without the use of modern technologies, such as embryo transfer). In general, a mare’s first breeding takes place no earlier than the year she turns three.

Arnold Kootstra:

“The more you know about your mare, the more focused you can be in your search for a stallion.”

KWPN Senior Inspector Arnold Kootstra: “Stagnation is decline, and we need to go full speed ahead in breeding.”

KWPN International 1 • 2014

27

Breeding Recommendations Advantages of Proven Stallions

Breeding

- Greater understanding of traits passed on, which facilitates more targeted pairings - More offspring produced, resulting in a more reliable breeding picture - Less risk of a ‘weak link’ in the dam-line - Stallion often a proven Grand Prix competitor

“The fastest progress is made with younger stallions, but if not much is known about a mare or her dam-line, I recommend using a proven stallion”, says KWPN Senior Inspector Arnold Kootstra.

“If you compare breeding now with breeding 15 years ago, it’s clear that we’ve made great progress. The KWPN’s strict stallion selection policy has definitely played a role in this, but I think there’s still a lot of progress to be made with mares. Breeders are becoming more critical, which is a good thing, and the studbook is doing everything it can to maximize the information available to breeders so that they can make informed choices”, asserts Arnold.

As a result of its open philosophy, the KWPN has been a leading studbook for many years. The KWPN readily shares information on its stallions, including detailed performance reports, dam reports, breeding values, indexes, and offspring reports. In addition, the public is welcome to view KWPN stallions as they perform in the mandatory stallion competitions. “Breeders also have the task of knowing about the quality of their mares. The more they know about both the stallion and the mare, the more precise a pairing can be. Then breeding to a young stallion isn’t a gamble”, states Arnold.

Insight Breeders have many options for learning more about the strengths and weaknesses of their mares. One option is the KWPN inspection, where mares are evaluated and compared with their peers. Another option is the IBOP test or EPTM test, both of which provide information about a mare’s ability under saddle. Yet another option is studying the KWPN breeding values, which describe a mare’s genetic makeup.

Arnold adds: “It’s also a good idea to have a knowledgeable neighbor or fellow-breeder look at your horses, or you can have a KWPN inspector come to your location to evaluate your mare. Breeding is emotional, and that’s why it’s difficult to look at your own horses critically and independently. I think the ability tests are ideal for this purpose because they indicate a mare’s strengths and weaknesses under saddle and allow breeders to make an informed stallion

Understanding the Mare The more breeders know about their mares (and the stallion they choose), the more informed their pairing decisions will be. Below are just a few of the numerous educational KWPN services and resources available to breeders: - The studbook inspection (central- or home location) - IBOP and EPTM tests - The genetic profile (contained in the KWPN Database)

28

KWPN International 1 • 2014

decision while a mare is still young. Moreover, the fees for these tests are reasonable for breeders. Although a multiple-year sport career also provides a lot of valuable information, it comes with a different price tag.”

Certainty The more information we have available, the more we can learn about how a stallion or mare breeds. Breeders often work with one line for generations, and as a result, they learn about the traits typical for horses from that line. Such information should be considered when choosing a stallion in order to increase the chance of success. “If not much is known about a mare or her dam-line, I recommend choosing a proven stallion. We know how these stallions breed, and their indexes have high reliability percentages.

Take, for example, a stallion like Numero Uno or Jazz. Those are stallions that breed uniformly: their offspring can often be recognized from a distance. They’ve produced a lot of offspring, and how they breed is well documented. When little is known about a mare, we recommend playing it safe and choosing a proven sire. But the fastest progress is made with younger stallions, and the KWPN has always been a leader in that respect.

Now, take a stallion like the Toulon son F-One USA, who was recently approved. That stallion comes out of a strong performance line, and he excelled in the performance test. Expectations in breeding are high for stallions like him”, says Arnold.

Offspring Inspections “We know a lot about the talent and sport capabilities of stallions age seven or eight and up, and we’ve inspected their first offspring. We have to view about 25 to 30 offspring to get a representative picture, which also increases the reliability of their indexes. This year, the offspring inspection was held in Ermelo at a central location for the first time, which was very interesting for breeders. In addition to the foals viewed in Ermelo, the KWPN inspected even more foals at their home locations, the results of which are included in the complete report. Now, take the E-year: a lot of stallions from that year competed in the VION Cup or Pavo Cup last August. Their first foals were inspected, and now the stallions just finished the stallion competitions. All this data together give breeders a lot of information”, asserts Arnold.

The stallion Dark Pleasure (Ufo x Jazz), whose foals excelled in the inspection this year, is a good example of informed breeding. “That stallion is out of a good line, specifically Negro’s line, and he excelled in the performance test.

Breeders didn’t line up for him, but he was bred to good mares, which resulted in good foals.

Considering his pedigree and talent, that’s no surprise. Breeders who’ve used him want to use him again, which is also interesting from a business standpoint”, explains Arnold.

Predictive Value

A Good Dam-Line For Arnold, the dam-line of both the mare and the stallion is crucial. “A good damline is always a good investment. A strong pedigree is also very important in the KWPN stallion selection.

We’re dealing with breeding, not holding an election for the best sporthorse because a good sporthorse isn’t necessarily a good breeding horse. There can be lots of flukes in the sport, but they’re not valuable for breeding. Those kinds of horses are uncertain factors in breeding and rarely lead to success. In contrast, a young stallion with good genes probably won’t be a weak link in a pedigree, even if he doesn’t excel in the sport”, states Arnold.

For years, Arnold worked for Stal Roelofs, the world-famous jumping stud where dam-lines are also highly valued. “At that facility, mares are often bred at a young age to minimize the generation interval so that breeding can advance as fast as possible. But to do that, it’s important to use only the best horses, and that’s actually the task of individual breeders”, Arnold adds.

The offspring inspection is an excellent opportunity for breeders to acquire information about foals by young stallions. Foals are evaluated at the KWPN Center or their home location using the linear score form, which results in an immediate breeding value and provides information about the traits they inherit.

Weighing Choices Proven stallions remain very valuable because of their significant contributions to breeding.

Arnold: “There’s not as much blood distribution in dressage horses, and we have a number of prominent stallions which are well represented in breeding. We know how these stallions breed.

Furthermore, we’re always looking for stallions with ‘different’ blood. These stallions are well received in the stallion selection and gladly given an opportunity in the performance test.”

Breeding is always a matter of weighing choices.

“Each stallion or mare has strengths and weaknesses, and there’s not one horse without shortcomings. We have to be critical without becoming fault-finders. A critical breeder reduces the lower-end mares, which ultimately leads to progress in the stallion collection. This way, we all raise horse quality to a higher level.

Choosing a stallion is always about weighing choices: certain traits must be compensated for, and good traits need to be anchored. Both can be accomplished with a young stallion or a proven stallion, if breeders make use of all available information as well as their own intuition. Look forward!” concludes Arnold.

Breeding

Research has shown that stallions which excel in the performance test subsequently excel in the sport or breeding. “Now take a stallion like Baltic VDL: he definitely excelled in the performance test, scoring 87.5 points, and he has good bloodlines. His first foals received very positive evaluations, which was also the case in past seasons in the mare inspection and stallion selection. Baltic VDL is excelling in the sport, and this kind of stallion facilitates fast progress in breeding. Breeders who have used him generally now have good, saleable offspring from him in their barns”, asserts Arnold.

“Stagnation is decline, and we need to go full speed ahead in breeding. That’s also why we need to keep using younger stallions.”

Advantages of Young Stallions - Greater chance of fast progress - Abundant information available about a young stallion’s performance test and sport career - Stud fees usually lower - First crops of foals more marketable; positive evaluation at stallion selection

•

“Blood” Retention Retaining ‘blood’ is a key issue in today’s performance horse breeding. In recent years, stallions with abundant Thoroughbred blood like Envoy (Numero Uno x Pharaon xx) and Famous (Albaran xx x Karandasj) have been approved, in part, because of their high percentage of Thoroughbred blood. “By using stallions like these, breeders can add ‘blood’ and continue to make progress. By using horses with abundant ‘blood’, breeders can stay closer to their breeding goal but still add the necessary ‘blood’ and associated traits to the horses they breed”, explains Arnold Kootstra.

KWPN International 1 • 2014

29

Breeder of the Year

Emmy de Jeu:

“Together we’re strong!”

Breeding

As the 2013 KWPN Dressage Horse Breeder of the Year, Emmy de Jeu of Oosterstreek, Netherlands, is following in the footsteps of her role models Huub and Tiny van Helvoirt, the breeders of the legendary stallion Jazz. Avoiding magic formulas and secret breeding recipes, Emmy lets her feelings be her guide when it comes to choosing stallions for her mares. “And quality is paramount because it ultimately gets you the farthest,” she asserts.

Text: karin de haan • photo’s: Jacob melissen et Al.

“I like to switch stallions.”

E

mmy de Jeu began breeding horses in the late 1990’s, when she and her husband Ton bought several broodmares and started their own breeding program.

Several years later, the couple purchased horse property in Oosterstreek, in Friesland province, to live out their dream of breeding top quality dressage horses. Unfortunately, Ton passed away just two years later. The couple’s last horse purchase was Sisther (Gribaldi x Amor) , who was bred by their great role models: Huub and Tiny van Helvoirt. The Van Helvoirts are renowned for breeding the legendary stallion Jazz, the KWPN stallions Zuidenwind and Charmeur, as well as a number of top dressage horses. In memory of her husband Ton, Emmy bestows the suffix ‘de Jeu’ on all her horses, a name which has become synonymous with dressage talent.

Recently, we caught up with Emmy to find out how she became a horse breeder. “We thought

Emmy de Jeu (62) lives in Oosterstreek, Friesland. Although she doesn’t operate a commercial horse business, she nonetheless owns 35 horses, almost all from her own breeding program. Her broodmares are stabled at Stal Seldsum in Jelsum, where she has 11 mares in-foal. Among them are five mares with foals in-utero from Sisther, two of which have already been sold. The first foal of Sisther was recently born, a filly called Jubilee de Jeu (s.Charmeur).

30

KWPN International 1 • 2014

Huub van Helvoirt was an amazing man. He had so much knowledge, drive, and passion. He and his wife Tiny went to all the inspections and events. They had an eye for horses, and they knew a lot. They were major role models for us when we became serious about horse breeding,” Emmy begins. “That was almost 20 years ago now. Ton was still alive at the time. Although Huub and Tiny were important to our development as breeders, our involvement with horses began earlier, when our daughter Fleur was a little girl. She used to ride ponies at the riding school in Spaarnwoude. Ton was more interested in driving horses, so he took lessons from international four-in-hand driver Ton Monhemius.

“Not long after that, we started breeding horses.

At the time, we had a Trakehner mare that we had bought in Austria. We wanted to breed her because we thought it would be nice to have a foal. Back then, we didn’t know anything about breeding. I had seen Contango in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, and I told my girlfriend who was at the Stallion Show with me that I thought he was a good stallion. But I didn’t breed my mare to him; her first foal was by Larno. In hindsight, I still think it’s remarkable that in all my ignorance I fell for Contango. He was an important

Breeding

Jacob Melissen

stallion in my own breeding program: he passed on power and a good temperament.

“In the early years, our breeding program wasn’t very special. But that quickly changed. We were driven and zealous, and we knew that if we wanted to get to the top, we needed to start with a good foundation. Once we were committed, there was no stopping us! That’s how we met Huub and Tiny van Helvoirt. We also bought a few mares in Germany, mostly with Rubinstein blood because of his good temperament. My breeding program still benefits from the investments I made in good mares back then.”

Breeding Goal We also asked Emmy about her breeding goal.

Emmy: “My breeding goal? A university-level student recently asked me that question. I don’t really make detailed plans when it comes to breeding. I also don’t have a magic formula.

Every mare is different, every horse is different, and I adjust my goal for each horse. From the start, we strived to breed a special horse with the conformation, movement, good health and willing temperament to excel in the sport or one which we would want to use as a future broodmare. Our background is in the floral industry,

and we went far in it by always making quality paramount. It’s a principle we carried over to horse breeding. ‘Quality first’ is the theme of my breeding program.”

The Perfect Sporthorse When we raise the topic of the perfect sporthorse, Emmy lets out a laugh. “That’s because my idea of the perfect sporthorse has changed over the past 25 years,” she explains. “What I thought was perfect back then isn’t good enough anymore. My starting point, where I begin, is a determining factor in that respect.

And the amount of progress I want to make also determines my perfect horse. We always wanted to progress. When we first got into horses, our daughter Fleur rode at the riding school, where the best a rider could do was show at Z-level. To get 60% at that level was really good: then you were allowed to wear a top hat and show your horse in a double-bridle. Back then, that kind of Z-level horse was the perfect horse for us.”

As Emmy’s breeding program became more professionalized, she began attending inspections, horse shows, and other events, raising the bar even higher. However, the biggest change came with Sisther de Jeu. Emmy explains: “I met Edward [Gal, red.] and Nicole [Werner, red.]

Emmy de Jeu visibly enjoys being honored as the KWPN Breeder of the Year in dressage. “I wonder if I’ve really earned it? I consider it a huge honor, and I’m very appreciative,” says Emmy.

“Make sure you’re happy with the mares you have.”

KWPN International 1 • 2014

31

Breeder of the Year between breeders, owners, and riders. Everything has to be right: only then we can get the perfect picture. Together we’re strong!”

Emmy also shared her decision-making process for choosing stallions to pair with her mares.

Emmy: “I make a decision about a stallion after the first foal is born. For each mare, I first decide whether I’ll breed her again or use her as a sporthorse. I don’t have a secret recipe for choosing the right stallion. I use young stallions as well as proven stallions. This year, I have five mares in-foal to Jazz, one to De Niro, and one to Negro – proven blood. But in the past, I’ve used various young stallions. I like to switch stallions: one time this, another time that. Then I see how it turns out. I make my decisions, often impulsively, based on feeling. I’m not one who pours over stallion books and spends days on the computer studying pedigrees. I just have to feel good about a combination.”

“In addition, I choose stallions with some commercial value. Each foal costs me €5,000 to €6,000. Not every horse I breed gets to the top, and things unfortunately go wrong sometimes.

Every foal has to be marketable so that breeding stays financially viable. My theme with choosing stallions is to get a certain level of quality, certainly with respect to movement. I like to see a horse move around the arena with push, suspension, and elasticity - and it has to collect easily. I also look for those traits in the stallions I choose.

Sisther de Jeu is the major standard-bearer of De Jeu dressage. The mare was bred by Huub and Tiny van Helvoirt, Emmy’s greatest role models in the breeding industry.

“Keep educating yourself and working on your network. And share that knowledge, too.”

32

through our international horse Sisther de Jeu. Because I’m her owner, I went to their place regularly for nine years, and that really changed my view of the perfect sporthorse. Thanks to that experience, I was able to make a mega-jump forward. And through Sisther, I was able to really become acquainted with the international dressage circuit. I saw horses do the Grand Prix and score 70% and more. But that doesn’t make it easier; on the contrary, it makes it more difficult to describe the perfect sporthorse. Look at the top international horses: there’s a big variety among them, if you look at conformation, movement, and even temperament.

“I thought Sisther was an amazing Grand Prix horse. If I look at videos from a few years ago and see her dance around the arena with her power and presence, I still get a good feeling. But loud noise made her tense, and that always had an adverse effect on her performance. Thanks to Edward, she achieved what she did. That combination was unique. The perfect sporthorse probably doesn’t exist; rather, it’s the perfect combination that makes the difference. It’s about cooperation between rider and horse. It’s like a Stradivarius violin with its violinist, who create beautiful music together. The violinist can’t do anything without his violin, and less talented hands never play the right strings on the Stradivarius. A good horse and a good rider aren’t enough. Ultimately, it’s about cooperation

KWPN International 1 • 2014

Dirk Caremans

Dirk Caremans

Breeding

Stallion Choice

Vivace de Jeu, ridden by Gregor Tacx, is one of many Small Tour horses from Emmy de Jeu’s breeding program.

-.An embryo from Sisther and Charmeur (x 2) -.An embryo from Sisther and Glock’s Zonik -.An embryo from Sisther and Jazz (x 2) -.Etango de Jeu ster (Negro out of Tango de Jeu pref by Contango), in-foal to Jazz -.Edoste de Jeu (Negro out of Elfe by Ex Libris), in-foal to De Niro -.Okara keur pref (Jet Set x Rubinstein), in-foal to Jazz -.Eclair de Jeu (Voice out of Rubinette elite by Cocktail), in-foal to Jazz -.Bijou de Jeu (Florencio out of Rullienda ster

by Rubinstein), in-foal to De Niro -.Fiesta de Jeu (Don Schufro out of Achat de Jeu by Prince Thatch xx), in-foal to Negro

“If I breed to a young stallion, then the line he descends from becomes important. I like to see consecutive proven sires in the stallion’s dam-line. It’s best when a stallion comes out of a good sporthorse-line, and I deliberately say sporthorse-line. There aren’t many true dressage horse-lines, although they do exist. Consider a stallion like Voice: he comes out of the proven Bria-line. I bred to him a lot when he was young, which people don’t understand. But I bred good horses with him, and that was long before Edward showed Voice internationally.”

Commerce With the conversation turning to business matters, Emmy shares how her background in the floral industry benefits her as a horse breeder. “No matter how you look at it, horse prices and sales are primarily determined by horse quality,” asserts Emmy. “Of course, it

helps to use one’s networks. Thanks to my contacts, I sold several of my sporthorses to buyers in Australia and New Zealand last year.

Those sales pay back investments I’ve made for several years. I also sell a few foals every year, but not all of them. I always like to keep a few for the future. I like joint ventures, too, with other owners or with a rider. That way I can share expenses, and if the horse is good enough, there’s always a financial return. Horse breeding isn’t a business for me; it’s a private affair. But it has to stay financially viable, which has been the case in recent years, despite the financial crisis.

“I’m business-oriented, which comes from my experience in the floral industry. We used to buy flowers at the flower auction, and then we had to sell them in three days. On the fourth day, we threw them in the trash can. As a result, I learned to calculate fast and sell fast. I learned to know when to accept a certain price and be satisfied with it. Of course, I’ve also had some luck. That was the case with Sisther: she put the name ‘De Jeu’ on the map internationally. From there, I was able to build my network. I use social media a lot. I have more than 4,000 friends on Facebook, which allows me to reach a big market. And I don’t make up any stories. I tell it like it is. I’m transparent, also when it comes to price. That’s how to build trust, and people know what I’m about. Honesty is the best policy.”

Last year, Che de Jeu competed in the FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses under Marieke van der Putten. The black stallion now has a new home in Australia.

Breeding

More than 20 years ago, Emmy de Jeu began her breeding program with several Rubinstein mares from Germany. She chose Rubinstein blood because it is known for producing horses with a good temperament, an example of which is Jonkara keur sport (dres) (ds. Weltmeister), the granddam of the National Mare Inspection champion Eskara. Other such examples include the mares Rullienda ster (ds. Buceaphalos) and Mandolina elite (ds. Figaro). O. Esther (Jazz x Ulft) was purchased as a foal from Huub and Tiny van Helvoirt. With these mares, Emmy launched the De Jeu name in breeding. Last year, Emmy bred seven of her mares. Among them is Sisther de Jeu, who is expected to produce three foals for Emmy via embryo transfer. A total of five embryos were flushed from her, two of which have already been sold.

Below is an overview of Emmy’s mares and the foals which are expected in 2014:

Dirk Caremans

Emmy de Jeu’s Most Important Broodmares

“Dressage is like a Stradivarius violin with its violinist, who create beautiful music together.”

Good Advice What advice does Emmy have for other breeders?

“My advice to other breeders is to make sure you’re happy with the mares you have,” she asserts. “That’s where it starts. Mares that aren’t good enough for the sport or that have a bad

KWPN International 1 • 2014

33

Breeder of the Year

Dirk Caremans

Breeding

Notable Breeding Achievements

W.Esther de Jeu competed in the Small Tour under Jessica Buying. The Rousseau offspring was sold to a buyer from Australia, where she shows in the Small Tour.

Eskara de Jeu was the 2012 Dutch Champion.

Last year, she finished 13th in the PAVO Cup final.

temperament are completely unsuitable for breeding. Everything is genetic – health and temperament, too. Why start with an average mare? Everyone wants to finish in first place, right? If you’re not sure about the quality of your mare, then get advice from inspectors from the studbook. Go to an inspection or an IBOP test with your mare and make your decision based on the result. And if you’re looking for a suitable broodmare but can’t afford a high-quality mare, then save for a few years and buy that high-quality mare. Use the time in between to educate your-

- Eskara de Jeu (Jazz out of Okara keur pref by Jet Set), 2012 National Mare Inspection champion, IBOP: 83.5 points - Don de Jeu (Jazz out of Okara keur pref by Jetset), approved in Sweden - Ungaro de Jeu (Contango out of Okara keur pref by Jetset), ZZ-advanced dressage - Tractor de Jeu (Contango out of Rullienda ster by Rubinstein), ZZ-light dressage - Vivace de Jeu (Contango out of Rubinette elite by Cocktail), Small Tour dressage - W.Esther de Jeu keur sport (dres) (Rousseau out of O.Esther elite pref prest by Jazz), Small Tour (now a Small Tour competitor in Australia) - Asther de Jeu (Contango out of O.Esther elite pref prest by Jazz), Small Tour dressage (Edward Gal, now with Tosca Visser in the UK) - Che de Jeu, PAVO Cup (Voice out of Wench de Jeu elite eptm (dres) sport (dres) by Jazz), 2011 and 2012 PAVO Cup final, 2013 World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, rider: Marieke van de Putten; sold to Australia - Wench de Jeu elite EPTM (dres) sport (dres) (Jazz out of Tango de Jeu pref by Contango), Small Tour dressage with Geert Jan Raateland, sold abroad

self: attend inspections, events, and other activities that the regions and breeding associations organize. Keep educating yourself and working on your network. And share your knowledge, too. Again, we’re stronger together than alone. And ultimately, everyone benefits – breeders as well as the studbook – if we keep developing and making progress.”

Dirk Caremans

The Title Of course, we couldn’t end our conversation with Emmy without asking her how it feels to be the KWPN Breeder of the Year and about other goals she still wants to achieve. “It’s very special to receive the Breeder of the Year title. But I wonder if I’ve really earned it? In my view, there are so many breeders who’ve achieved greater results and have been doing it a lot longer than I have. I consider it a huge honor, and I’m very appreciative. And it motivates me to continue my breeding program and keep promoting KWPN horses throughout the world. What do I still want to achieve? I don’t think that way. In any case, I hope to breed several more super attractive sporthorses so that I can make even more people happy with my ‘De Jeu horses,’ concludes Emmy.

•

34

KWPN International 1 • 2014

. . . . . . .

excellent moisture absorption reduces manure volume efficient and economical in use soft and comfortable bedding dust-free sterilized by heat treatment large scattering volume

THE IDEAL ABSORBENT FOR HORSES

PLOSPAN.COM YOUR INNOVATIVE PARTNER IN PROCESSED WOOD PRODUCTS