By Sabine Timman
Photography: Sabine Timman
They’ve already bred more than 100 foals at Stal Thijssen in the Netherlands, and at the Dutch Masters-Indoor Brabant three of their home-bred horses were competing. Based in Sevenum, not too far from the Limburg border with Germany, international showjumper Leon Thijssen’s stable may focus on selling and top sport, but its breeding reputation is also growing.
We spoke to Leon and his oldest daughter Sanne who is riding some of the homebreds and has a huge interest in the breeding business too.
Leon begins by saying that he’s always been involved in a small way in breeding, with some good older mares. “Unorette (Numero Uno - Pirouette x Celano), the mother of Ambler Gambler, was one of those breeding mares. Following the approved stallion Ambler Gambler (Colander) she gave Hi There (Nabab de Reve) and I’m Here (Carambole) who were ridden by Sanne at The Dutch Masters. My son Mans was riding Hello (Ambler Gambler) at this competition. Sanne says that Ambler Gambler is even better than his dam. They all have a temperate character and the right attitude.“Because Unorette was such a great breeding mare I bought her mother too. But we have other 1m60 mares with whom I used to compete, such as Haertthago (Heartbreaker - Cassandra x Carthago) and Quitera (Kannan - Quicosse x Quick Star). At this moment we’re having quite some successes with our homebreds.
“Also, Ulena (Baloubet du Rouet - Olena x Indoctro) who brought Sanne up to the top-level of jumping and made her career, is used as a breeding mare nowadays.
“In 2006 she produced Batistuda (Emilion), a 1m50 horse, and after this her eldest offspring is four years old and just ridden. The young horses are not stabled at our location, but the boy who is training them, will ride them once a week at our place to jump. So, I see them sometimes. Till now it’s looking good. Ulena gives not only her quality, but also what made her special. So, I can’t wait till I can start riding them.”.. To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BREEDING NEWS
SUBSCRIBERS CAN READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE BY LOGGING IN AND RETURNING TO THIS PAGE
