By Claartje van Andel
Photography: Peter Llewellyn, FEI

A KWPN Stallion Show online. No audience members, no discussions, no applause or cheering, no agreements or disagreements.... As KWPN delivered 48 showjumpers and 44 dressage stallions to be invited for the stallion test

VDL-Stud had no less than a 25% share, with 12 stallions invited for the test, including the very interesting Night Life VDL (Erco van de Roosakker x Arezzo VDL). In dressage, Peter van de Sande was the happy owner of two premium stallions, likewise Ad Valk
The showjumping selection committee consisted of chairman Cor Loeffen, Henk van den Broek, and Arie Hamoen, who replaced Wout-Jan van der Schans due to quarantine restrictions for the latter.
Several sires were represented by their first sons, including the eight-year-old Ibolensky (Cornet Obolensky -Catriona Z x Contender, bred by N. Wouters van den Oudenweijer), who saw two sons directly invited.

Proven progenitors

Several proven progenitors lived up to their reputation: Cornet Obolensky, Diamant de Semilly, Thunder van de Zuuthoeve, and Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve, who each saw two of their offspring receive an invitation for the performance test. Meanwhile, Olympic stallion Apardi (VDL Corland x Kannan, bred F. van de Linden) had three sons invited for the stallion test.
Very impressive in his pedigree with lots of sport in the mare line was Niancard EB (out of Siancara VDL keur prest x Marlon, bred by R. de Vlieger, owned by Gerrit and Leontine ter Harmsel-Zanderink). His dam is also the mother of KWPN-approved Azteca VDL (Indoctro) and international showjumper Dakar VDL (Cardento x Nimmerdor, bred by W. Abbring).
The KWPN-recognized Quabri de l’Isle (Kannan x Socrate de Chivre, bred Etienne Poisson) had two sons invited for the performance test, both bred by Egbert Schep. Nighfire ES (out of Tatjana Bo ster pref prest x Concorde) is a half brother to KWPN-recognized stallion Zerlin (Berlin), showed among other riders by Marlon Zanotelli. The dam is also full sister to Grand Prix Pasca B partnered by showjumper Philippe Putallaz.
Also, Baltic VDL (Quaprice du Bois Margot x Jus de Pomme, bred E. van Ittersum) saw multiple sons advance to the next phase of the stallion test.
Chairman Cor Loeffen explained: “We made our selection based on conformation, pedigree, and free jumping. As always we kept an eye out for scope, reflexes, and light-footedness in the canter. A genetically interesting stallion we sometimes gave the benefit of the doubt, as we always have the best estimation of the natural abilities during the performance test.”
The stallion selection committee was pleased with the way the stallions were prepared and complimented the great team in the cage. “They made it possible for the stallions to present themselves in a calm and horse-friendly manner,” Loeffen emphasized... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber

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