By Sabine Timman
Photography: Sabine Timman
Normally, in the breeding of KWPN stallions, we still see that proven sires are mostly used. This was also true from the lists at KWPN stallion shows where ‘old’ bloodline favourites have tended to dominate.
Until perhaps this year, where we saw several accepted stallions from somewhat younger stallions, as well as a premium stallion.
Starting on page 28 in this issue you can read the report of the stallion selection of the KWPN Stallion Show in early February in 's-Hertogenbosch, but in this article, we will take a closer look at a remarkable trend. The use of younger stallions.
K and L year
Of course, younger stallions are often used in breeding, but many showjumper breeders are still relying on the proven sires for their breeding decisions. It’s too soon to say whether there will be a shift to the use of top-bred younger stallions, but it is striking that the offspring of the K and L year of the KWPN showed themselves really well at the recent Stallion Show.
If we take a look at the list of 50 accepted stallions, there were stand-outs mentioned below:
Eight-year-olds
• Kallmar VDL (2015: Carrera VDL - Geluk-Olaris x Indorado [Holst]), bred by Dirksen/Hijlkema; CSIYH1* and CSI2* up to 1m45 with Jur Vrieling (NED);
• Kannan Jr. (2015: Cornet Obolensky [BWP] - Van Meta x Quick Star [SF]), bred by M.G. Kramer vd Meer and S. Van der Lei; CSIYH1* up to 1m45 with Marcus Ehning (GER); and
• Kitt SB (Emir R - Butet’s Whoop There She Is x Sam R), bred by Stal Brouwer; CSI-1* 1m20, originally with Rob Schipper (NED), now ridden by Sylvana Wezeman (NED).
Seven-year-olds
• La Costa ES (Mosito van het Hellehof - Isolde ES x Cumano), bred by Egbert Schep; CSIYH1* up to 1m30 with Gerd-Jan Horsmans (NED) – winner of the first five-year-old qualifier at the WBCYH Lanaken in 2021; and
• VDL Liamant W (Diamant de Semilly - Zarina III x Heartbreaker), bred by Willy Wijnen; CSI1* up to 1m30 with Alex David Gill (GBR).
Even with the premium stallions we will see a descendant of the still young Kannan Jr. return.
Combination of young and proven
Riena Beuving-Steenbergen, the breeder of Pallmar B, has actually been using a few young stallions on her broodmares for years: “We have a number of broodmares and we always choose a few proven stallions and one or two young stallions. We make a list of which stallions could be interesting ourselves, and then Wiebe Yde van de Lageweg comes by to make the final selection together. We do a lot in consultation with the VDL Stud.
“At that time, we had the Douglas mare Een Dame VDL, which was bred by the VDL Stud out of the preferent performance mare Notre Dame (Silvio II). The mare had sufficient size and we thought Kallmar VDL suited her well because of his scope and rideability. We’ve closely followed the development of Pallmar B since he was sold to VDL Stud.
“This year again we have a mare in foal by Kallmar VDL and, in the meantime I have seen him pass by more often. I am a judge at showjumping competitions and see him regularly appear in the ring. I would rather see such a stallion at a regional competition which gives me more information than watching them at a stallion show. Also, this year we expect some foals from proven stallions such as Douglas (Darco - Fiona M x Capitol I, breeder A. Noordhof-Nieborg), but we are also trying out a younger stallion with New Pleasure VDL [ex Saltador ter Putte] (For Pleasure - Lady-A ter Putte x Diamant de Semilly)... To read the complete article you need to be a subscriber
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