By Jenneke Smit / KWPN
Photography: © Dirk Caremans
In 2022, Jean Dresen was named Limburg’s Breeder of the Year, and the list of his successful breeding products has continued to grow. With three robust lineages, Jean Dresen has established a flourishing breeding operation, supported on various fronts by Paul Hendrix.
This lucrative collaboration has seen Jean Dresen as the foundation for international showjumping horses such as Dagma, Barino, Golia, and Dino, as well as the KWPN-approved stallion Opus One JDV.
Jean Dresen has been involved in horse breeding for about 30 years, with his love for horses beginning as a recreational rider, eventually leading him into breeding. From the beginning, his goal was to breed a good showjumping horse, later aspiring to produce an approved stallion or an Olympic horse. The stallion has been achieved, and who knows what might follow?
Solid foundation
A key figure in Jean Dresen’s story, who over the years transitioned from cattle to horses on his mixed farm in Valkenburg, Limburg, is Paul Hendrix. According to Jean; “My cousin Ben Linckens was already involved in breeding and often met Paul at competitions. He introduced us, and through Paul I was able to buy a few valuable broodmares.”
One of the first valuable mares was Aberlina, a daughter of N-Aldato from the Oberlina line. Her dam was a half-sister of the international 1m60 horse Olympic Andretti T (G.Ramiro Z), owned by Henk van den Broek. Aberlina first produced the Caretino daughter Rolina at Stal Hendrix, who later proved herself in breeding as the dam of international 1m45/1m50 horses De Vleut (Vleut), Wolina Roundthorn (Numero Uno), and Baccord du Abnt (Colandro). Aberlina then moved to Valkenburg.
At Jean Dresen's, Aberlina produced five international showjumping horses, the most notable being the 1m55-classified Barino (Larino), who performed at 5* Grand Prix level with Marc Bettinger. They won the 1m45 Grand Prix of Oliva and placed third in the 1m45/1m50 Grand Prix of Vilamoura, as well as the 1m50 CSI3* Villach. “With Aberlina we had the chance to start our breeding on the right foot. I had bred some horses before, but not with mares that could make a significant difference. Aberlina had a hip injury that prevented her from competing, which was our luck. Otherwise, such a mare would probably never have entered our breeding program. We rode her recreationally in the woods here, and she produced 10 offspring for us. Paul wanted to buy back the foals, so we made the stallion choices together from that point on. I kept two good daughters of Aberlina, the Coriano mare Zoëlina and the Entertainer daughter Kaberlina JDV. We continue this line with them,” says Jean, who always relies on the support and help of his wife Maria for the horses... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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