By Elena Zobova
Photography: Elena Zobova

In total, 23 stallions were presented over the two days of free jumping action, assessed by a jury of experts, including guest judge, Wiebe van de Lageweg, alongside two locals – Viktoras Urbonas and Gediminas Pilipavius.

Like the Lithuanian riding studbook, the Lithuanian Horse Breeders Association (LHBA) stallion selection is growing year by year, as more Western European jumping blood is being introduced into the breed.
Among the three-year-olds the best stallion was the KWPN-registered Nevesto VDL (Etoulon VDL - Grande Dame VDL x Brugal VDL), owned by Viktoras Urbonas, who in fact did not judge his own stallions. This dark-bay pearl drew attention with his handsome appearance and afterwards caused the public to hold their breath when he did his free jumping. In fact, his scope over the fences proved that he has all the qualities of a top-class showjumping horse.
Nevesto VDL couldn’t have a better pedigree – his sire Etoulon VDL (Toulon - Utareusa x Calvados), with amazing jumping technique and reflexes, has been assigned the designation as one of the Netherlands’ most impressive and talented stallions, while his keur-awarded dam, Grande Dame VDL, has already founded her own damline at VDL Stud, since all her other offspring are mares.
The second best three-year-old was the Holsteiner-registered Can Can (Canvaro - Carla B x Lordanos), also owned by Viktoras Urbonas. The grey, good-framed stallion jumped with remarkable power and such a finely balanced technique that he also made the audience fall momentarily silent. His sire Canvaro is by Cassini I son Cannavaros (out of Larissa XII x Contender) and out of Venetia I (Con Air), who has already produced two premium mares and six horses performing over 1m30 courses.
The Hannoverian-registered Escudo MG (Escudo I - Queen W x Quaid I), owned by Marius Grude, was awarded as third best stallion. “Escudo MG has a lot of potential,” Wiebe van de Lageweg explained. “He displayed carefulness over the fence. This black stallion will be an interesting sport horse and we, the jury, took that into consideration in our selection.” His sire Escudo I has enjoyed great popularity amongst breeders with his most famous showjumping son, Embassy II, performing internationally with great success under the saddle of Germany’s Hans-Dieter Dreher. Escudo I has sired 104 mares that have been awarded State Premiums.
It is also necessary to mention the bay KWPN-registered Nevada (Baltic VDL - Zebrina Rilexy x Chin Chin), owned by Almutis Raila, who received the highest points from the Dutchman. “Nevada is a classy sport horse with a modern conformation. Supple and light-footed, like his sire Baltic VDL,” van de Lageweg said. “They are points that we, the jury, take very seriously.” Hopefully, Nevada will develop into a successful jumping horse in future... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber

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