By Jenneke Smit / KWPN
Photography: © Jacob Melissen
The group of stallions that received approval following their performance test which concluded in mid-May, is both qualitatively and quantitatively strong. In the jumping direction, 15 stallions received their breeding license, while in the dressage direction there were 11.
Additionally, the Gelder horse stallion Raffael K was approved, and two older Gelder horse stallions completed their driving performance, thereby also being definitively approved. All in all, a strong expansion of the stallion stock and plenty of new options for breeders.
The three-year-old stallions participated in the 35-day performance test, while the four-year-olds and older stallions only needed to complete 21 days. In both age groups, interesting and talented stallions emerged in Ermelo.
Detailed reports
On the advice of the breeding council, a pilot project is underway, eliminating the assignment of scores to jumping and dressage stallions in this performance test. The stallion inspection committee chairmen, Wout-Jan van der Schans and Bart Bax, provided extensive explanations for each stallion. The reports published in the KWPN Database and elsewhere in this article also provide insight into the specific characteristics of the stallions. This allows breeders to precisely determine which stallions best suit their mares.
The reports not only offer information about the stallions' qualities but also insight into their character, work ethic, and attitude. After two years, an evaluation will determine if this approach enables mare owners to make better assessments of what the stallions can contribute to their mares and if there is less emphasis on stallions with the highest scores. After all, the top performer in the test may not necessarily be the best option; it’s about making the right combinations. This spring test has provided a host of interesting options for breeders.
International pedigrees
Among the new group of jumping stallions it’s notable that many have a strong sports pedigree. For instance, the premium stallion R Caribou van de Dassenheide (Caribis Z - Shakira de Kreisker x Diamant de Semilly, breeders Nick and Jill Adams-Goossens), owned by Albert de Boer, Lennard de Boer, and Jan and Rita Ubels, is bred from a full sister to the Olympic stallion Quickly de Kreisker who competed at 1m45 level. Moreover, the dam, Shakira de Kreisker, has already produced a 1m50 jumper. R Caribou van de Dassenheide showed that he’s cut from the same cloth, impressing in the performance test with his uncomplicated performance. He gallops with great balance, jumps well upwards, and possesses a lot of reflexes and athletic ability.
Similarly, Rocket Man (Kasanova de la Pomme - Otina x HD sport-spr El Torreo de Muze, breeder Danny van Hooydonk), owned by Reinie Tewis and Henk van der Sluis, comes from an internationally 1m45-ranked mother from a strong lineage. In the third generation, he traces back to Pieter Devos’ top jumping horse, Candy. Rocket Man is a well-manageable stallion with a spacious gallop. He jumps with excellent technique in the forehand, demonstrating a lot of power and overview... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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