By Lieke Boucneau (Courtesy Belgian Warmblood-BWP)
Photography: Spruce Meadows

Obviously, his story begins with the 16-year-old Imerald van’t Voorhof, a son of Emerald van’t Ruytershof out of the mare Fallerina van’t Voorhof (Bacardi Orange de Muze), a stallion who earlier this year won the CSI4* Grand Prix of Wellington under the saddle of Irishman Paul O’Shea.
Last year the pair won the New York CSI3* Grand Prix, and silver in the CSI4* GP of Mill Spring. Previously, they also achieved Grand Prix gold several times at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, and Lexington, KY.
It’s a handsome career pathway that Frans Voeten is following closely: “Going to watch on the spot is of course somewhat difficult in America, but I always follow it online. We don’t have any children of our own, but the children from across the street, who have grown up in the meantime, help us a lot and always come to show me all the videos. I enjoy following everything.
“I knew immediately that Imerald was a good horse. I sold him as a three-and-a-half year old, and he was really a very beautiful and a very good horse. Later he was sold to America. In total we bred about 100 foals I think. Since our marriage we have bred at least one foal every year, we never skipped a year. Sometimes we bred four or five foals, but never more... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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