BY BETTINE VAN HARSELAAR / KWPN
PHOTOGRAPHY: DIGISHOTS

This summer, Angèle Toonen-Arts from Odiliapeel was named KWPN Breeder of the Year 2025 in the dressage category during the KWPN Championships. A title she owes in part to the impressive number of 13 Grand Prix–level horses produced by her breeding program to date.

Among these top dressage horses is the Olympic competitor Helix (Apache). Horses bred by Toonen-Arts are successful in sport all over the world and are known for their excellent movement technique. We asked her to share the breeding lessons she has learned over the years.
“You learn a lot by watching. Watching different horses at inspections, events, and all kinds of competitions. Whether it’s at B level or Grand Prix, I enjoy observing the horses that are competing, and ideally I also want to know their pedigrees. If that information isn’t listed on the start list and I still want to know, I’ll simply ask. For example, when my daughter is competing at a basic-level show, I always look around carefully. That doesn’t have to be only at the very good horses, sometimes the less impressive ones can be just as informative, because they show you what you don’t want. I always appreciate it when the sires of the horses are listed on the start lists, ideally, I’d also like to see the dam’s sire included.”
A personal vision
“You learn a lot by being critical of horses,” Angèle says. “In the past, I often sat in the stands during stallion inspections, among others with my father. When the audience started applauding; they were by no means always enthusiastic. For example, they might feel that a horse was moving too much with the hocks towards the tail, albeit with great bravura. Then they would say: ‘It looks impressive and very spectacular, but in fact this horse does not move correctly.’ Those are the kinds of days from which I learned numerous live competitions and inspections, it is a platform she regularly turns to. “If you watch a lot, you, hopefully, develop a good eye for a horse’s movement. That’s what I primarily breed for: movement, and especially a strong hind leg.”
Don’t settle too quickly
“Always remain critical of your own breeding products and don’t be satisfied too quickly. I can always find something in a foal that could be improved. I think I’m quite critical of the foals I breed myself. That doesn’t mean I can’t see that they are beautiful and good foals, but I always notice something I would still like to improve. Everyone can recognize an exceptionally good or a very poor foal, but everything in between is more difficult. Remaining critical of the foals you breed helps you make better stallion choices for the following year.”...

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