KWPN News

Experience Exceptional Horses and Exciting Competition

Don't miss this festival of well-bred horses and thrilling sport! The KWPN is preparing for the big final of the inspection season and the young horse competitions in dressage, jumping, and eventing. This year again, the program for the KWPN Horse Days will include five full days of activity and offer a broad selection of events. In addition, the Guided Tour - a must-do experience for those visiting the Netherlands - will take place on August 21, following the conclusion of the KWPN Horse Days.

In response to last year's positive feedback, Dutch horse breeders will be on-site again to share with visitors in their own language about the KWPN and its criteria for selecting horses. This unique service is like having your own personal guide! Special seating is also available for foreign guests. Please contact us to reserve your seats.

Young Horse Competitions

The KWPN Horse Days event is the venue for the Pavo Cup finals for young dressage horses and the VION Cup finals for young jumpers. The best young horses of the country will compete for these prestigious awards.
On Monday, August 16, five- and six-year-old jumpers will compete in the preliminary rounds for the VION Cup. Young KWPN eventers will compete in their own championship. Founded in 2009, the VSN Cup for five-year-olds is a unique way to test the talent of KWPN horses for eventing. The competition includes three parts: a dressage test, a stadium course, and a cross-country test. The cross-country course features an inviting design, and instead of being timed, the horses are evaluated on their behavior over the course. A two-person judging panel will assess the horses in the cross-country in three areas: form over and between jumps, balance and obedience between jumps, and quality of the canter.

Something for Everyone

On Tuesday, August 17, three-year-old jumper mares will compete in the national KWPN free-jumping championship. The semi-final for four-year-old jumpers takes place the same day as well as the first round of the VION Cup for seven-year-old jumpers. Harness horses also compete on Tuesday. New this year is the singles competition in the Young Riders division, which is certain to be an exciting event! Also on the program is the semi-final of the FSP Championship for three-year-old harness horses. The final will take place at the National Harness Horse Day event on Saturday, August 21, following the conclusion of the KWPN Horse Days. The best foals will also return for a presentation.

On Wednesday, August 18, the Pavo Cup semi-final for five-year-old dressage horses will take place. Also scheduled is the second part of the VION Cup final for five-, six-, and seven-year-old jumpers.

Jumping Day

On Thursday, August 19, the focus is on jumpers. Featured are all the VION Cup finals, the national jumper mare inspection, the national jumper foal inspection, and the jumper Breeder of the Year ceremony. Foals are selected in the dressage rings, and the best foals will be presented in the main area for the final.

Dressage Day

On Friday, August 20, the spotlight is on dressage. Enthusiasts of the discipline shouldn't miss the Pavo Cup competition, in which talented young dressage horses compete for the prestigious award and lasting fame. The Pavo Cup is the crowd-pleaser each year. The best 25 competitors in the semi-final advance to the final on Friday. The top six horses in part one of the final will compete in part two, where they will be ridden and evaluated by guest riders, the best equestrians from the Netherlands and abroad. Past guest riders include Emile Faurie, Carl Hester, Heather Blitz, and Robert Dover. This year again, two top equestrians will ride and evaluate the young talents.
The main ring will be the venue on Friday for the pre-selection of the dressage foals that will compete in the Equimax Cup final on the main grounds. The same applies to the jumping-, harness-, and Gelder foals. Also scheduled for Friday is the dressage horse Breeder of the Year ceremony and the Gelder horse competition.

Guided Tour

The guided tour, which follows the KWPN Horse Days, provides foreign guests an opportunity to enjoy first-hand experiences at the best breeding, training, and sales facilities in the Netherlands. KWPN horse enthusiasts will enjoy a close-up view of Dutch breeding and horse management practices that have made the KWPN the biggest and most successful studbook in the world.
The guided tour - a must-do experience for those visiting the Netherlands - is scheduled for August 21. Guided by professionals, guests will visit several equestrian facilities. Be sure to register early. Charge: € 45.00 per person, including transportation, lunch, and beverages. To register, please e-mail: salespromotion@kwpn.nl. Write "Guided Tour, KWPN Horse Days" in the subject line and include your name, country, and mobile phone number.

Experience exceptional horses and exciting competition: visit the 2010 KWPN Horse Days!

Admission to the KWPN Horse Days is free. Attached is the complete program for the event. Please visit www.kwpn.org for possible changes to the program and the latest news. On the website you can also find information on route and accommodations.

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