By Bettine van Harselaar
Photography: Dirk Caremans
The dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in Verden was a huge success for Dutch breeding this year, including four medals: two gold, one silver, and one bronze. Red Viper, Proud James, Most Wanted Nero von Bellin, and Ilegro demonstrated that Dutch breeders continue to produce top-quality horses with potential for the highest levels of sport.
For the breeders themselves, these were unforgettable moments, full of pride and satisfaction.
The Championships returned to Verden this year, where they will also be held for the next two years. The six-year-olds kicked off the competition, and this group turned out to be one of the most exciting of the entire event. Expectations were high for Red Viper, who won the five-year-old title last year under Bart Veeze. In the qualifier, the top three were extremely close, and Red Viper narrowly placed third. However, in the final, Dinja van Liere took control. The enormous dark-chestnut stallion delivered an outstanding “I am certain he will become a Grand Prix horse. He is incredible in every way”, said Van Liere after the final. “He is the kindest and easiest horse I know. Thankfully, because he is huge.” The Romanov son even hinted at piaffe at the start of the turn, showing that work at home is already paying off. The jury commented: “What a horse! He has everything, a true horse for major championships in the future.”
Proud James shines
The impressive record of the five-year-old Proud James was further extended with a world title. The grey stallion had already been champion of his age group in the KWPN performance test, became a premium stallion in Denmark, and last year won the four-year-old category at the WK in Ermelo. He was bred by Yolien van Maasacker from Cuijk out of Cyraniek (elite PROK by Johnson) and sold as a two-year-old, shortly before the KWPN Stallion Show in Den Bosch, to Andreas Helgstrand.
In Verden, he was expertly ridden by Mette Sejbjerg Jensen, who guided him to the title with a broad smile on her face. Proud James moved through the arena with power, uphill movement, sharpness, and willingness, showing the perfect balance between engagement and relaxation. “I am very grateful to ride such a horse. With him, delivering a good test is easy. In Verden, I could just sit, ride, and enjoy. Proud James is so handsome and has the perfect color”, praised Sejbjerg Jensen...
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