BELGIUM (by Jo de Roo) Every year between Christmas and New Year, the Flanders Christmas Showjumping Eric Wauters Memorial takes place in Mechelen. On December 27, 2015, their ‘Breeding Day’ was on the agenda, including a free jumping competition for two-year-old horses, a showjumping class for six-year-old stallions, one for seven-year-old stallions and the prestigious ‘Léon Melchior class’, a Sires of the World competition for stallions of eight years and older.

To open the Breeding Day, Howard du Seigneur was awarded as the winner of the free jumping competition.

Free jumping

The members of the jury – former international showjumper Ludo Philippaerts and veterinarian Jan Greve, veterinarian and proprietor of De Watermolen stud farm – were unanimous in awarding the highest score to the sBs-registered Howard du Seigneur (Curby du Seigneur - Cibelle du Seigneur x Ogano Sitte), bred by Marc Vanlangendonck). Partnered with Jérôme Guéry, Howard’s dam, Cibelle du Seigneur, is performing at 1m35 to 1m40 level in international showjumping classes for young horses. Cibelle’s dam is the well known international showjumper Verybelle du Seigneur (sporting name: Oak Grove’s Heartfelt). Under the saddle of Sweden’s Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, the 11-year-old Verybelle du Seigneur is currently performing up to the five-star international showjumping tournament level. Verybelle is by the renowned jumping progenitor Heartbreaker, out of Quasibelle du Seigneur, in fact, goes back to foundation dam Ta Belle van Sombeke, the dam of London (ex Carembar de Muze), silver medal winner at the London 2012 Olympic Games. In Mechelen, Howard showed very good foreleg technique and demonstrated great scope...

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