KWPN Dressage Horses 1st, Jumpers 2nd, and Eventers 5th

Source: KWPN.org

The definitive rankings of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) and the FEI were published on October 13th. The rankings are a comparison of all WBFSH-recognized studbooks and are based on the performance of the best horses from each studbook over the past year. In the dressage horse rankings, the KWPN is number one. In the jumper rankings, the KWPN is second, behind the Holsteiner studbook. As for the eventing rankings, which are led by the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, the KWPN is again in the top five. We owe these outstanding results to the breeders of successful KWPN sport horses.

Dujardin Charlotte, (GBR), Valegro – Aachen 2015, © Hippo Foto – Dirk Caremans

Five in the Top Ten
Just like last year, KWPN dressage horses reigned supreme. And it’s no surprise that Valegro (Negro out of Maifleur keur by Gershwin) topped the list in the individual ranking again, along with his breeders Joop and Maartje Hanse of Burgh-Haamstede. In addition to winning the European Championships, Valegro captured the World Cup in Las Vegas and proved unbeatable in Hartpury, London, and Amsterdam. For the fourth consecutive year, he is the uncontested number one dressage horse.

The top ten includes four more KWPN horses: in a repeat of last year, Glock’s Undercover N.O.P. (Ferro out of Mimosavrouwe keur pref prest sport-dres by Donnerhall, breeder: M. Hendriksen-de Rijk of Lunteren) is number three. The black powerhouse bested his competition in Odense and ‘s-Hertogenbosch plus placed second in the World Cup Final, behind Valegro. Glock’s Undercover N.O.P. also contributed to the team gold victory in the European Championships.

Fourth in the ranking is Unee BB (Gribaldi out of Ilarichta keur pref by Dageraad, breeder: J.J.H. Spronck of Berg en Terblijt), ridden by Jessica von Bredow-Werndl. The rising star’s achievements last year include winning the World Cup competitions in Kaposvár and Göteborg, as well as the CDI4* Grand Prix in Munich. The Gribaldi son also contributed to Germany’s team bronze medal at the European Championships last summer.

The KWPN-approved stallion Glock’s Johnson TN (Jazz out of Roxane keur pref sport-dres s.Flemmingh, breeder: Piet van de Vleuten of Sint-Oedenrode), the pride and joy of Hans Peter Minderhoud and Team Nijhof, has excelled in the show ring this year. In addition to his top placings in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Treffen and Rotterdam, he made a significant contribution to the team gold medal at the European Championships in Aachen, where he also clinched the individual bronze in the Spécial and placed fifth in the Freestyle. He ranks seventh.

Following in eighth place is Kingsley Siro N.O.P. (Gribaldi out of Lady by Hemmingway, breeder: H. Geurts of Venray). Although he was injured at the time of the European Championships, the Gribaldi son and his rider Daniëlle Heijkoop enjoyed success earlier this year, including winning the Freestyle in Mechelen, placing second  twice in Amsterdam, and finishing in the top three in the World Cup competitions in Lyon and London.

Finishing just outside the top ten, the KWPN dressage horse Nip Tuck (Don Ruto out of Irena stb by Animo, breeder: Paardenmelkerij & Fokkerij J. van Breemen of Bavel), ridden by Carl Hester, ranks 12^th. Last season, the duo won competitions at venues including Doha, Barcelona and Hartpury; and secured a place on the podium in multiple other international competitions. In the European Championships, they contributed to the team silver, finished fifth  in the Spécial, and placed eighth  in the Freestyle.

The top three in the dressage horse studbook ranking is the same as last year. The KWPN is first, followed by the Hanoverian Verband and the Westfälischer Pferdestammbuch.

Gaudiano Emanuele, (ITA), Admara 2 – Aachen 2015 © Hippo Foto – Stefan Lafrentz

KWPN Second in Jumping
Last year, the KWPN ranked number one in jumping; this year, the KWPN is in second place, behind the Holsteiner studbook. Third is Belgium’s SBS studbook. Below is an overview of the top six KWPN jumpers.

The best KWPN jumper, Admara 2 (Padinus out of Somara ster prest by Murano, breeder: A. van Nuland of Nistelrode), ranks second under Emanuele Gaudiano. The duo’s successes include winning the Grand Prix of Lamprechtshausen and placing third in Doha and Monte Carlo.

Next is the KWPN stallion VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. (Quidam out of Clarissa v.Landgraf, breeder: Veehandel Musterd BV of Hooge Zwaluwe), who was part of the golden team at the European Championships. Under Maikel van der Vleuten, the stallion also proved his worth on the winning Nations Cup teams in Barcelona, Rome and Falsterbo, as well as on the team which won the team bronze in the Nations Cup Final at the end of September. Verdi jumped to second place in the World Cup competition in Verona and finished sixth individually in the World Cup Final.

Jeroen Dubbeldam’s former trump card Simon (Mr. Blue out of Naline ster prest by Polydox, breeder: M.J. Vermeulen of Altforst), who was sold to Beezie Madden prior to the London Olympics, is the third KWPN jumper to count toward the studbook ranking. Among the duo’s achievements are winning the Grand Prix of Saugerties and placing high in Wellington, Calgary and Washington. In the World Cup Final, the talented Mr. Blue son finished in fourth place.

The fourth jumper to contribute to the KWPN’s second place WBFSH ranking is 17-year-old Romanov (Heartbreaker out of Narzisse ster prest by Fedor, breeder: the Bosch bros. of Luttenberg). Under Bertram Allen, the gelding jumped to victory in the World Cup competition at Bordeaux, the Grand Prix in Dortmund, and the Global Champions Tour in Paris. In La Baule, he placed second in the Grand Prix.

The Twister son Willink (out of Lorraine by Landsieger, breeder: W.M. Lisman of Utrecht) reigned supreme in the international show ring this year under Henk van de Pol. With victories in the Grands Prix at Drammen and Gijon in addition to good results in La Coruña and Valkenswaard, he is the fifth best jumper in the KWPN studbook ranking.

Rounding out the top six is Amelia (Cantos out of Uretta keur pref prest by Numero Uno, breeder: G.J. Bosman of Heerde). Under Karim El Zoghby, the elite mare jumped to victory in Paris and  second  place in Brussels, Drachten, and Amsterdam.

Despite his success, the European Champion SFN Zenith N.O.P., who ranks 70^th  individually, did not count toward the studbook ranking due to a lack of starts.

The KWPN owes its leading position to its quality across the board. Incidentally, the number one horse in the ranking is the same as last year: Hello Sanctos, bred by Willy Taets of Lembeke, Belgium. Hello Sanctos, Scott Brash’s top horse, is a grandson of the preferent stallion Heartbreaker on his sire’s side, as is the number two KWPN jumper Admara 2.

King Kitty (GBR) – Ceylor LAN – Le Lion d’Angers 2013, © Dirk Caremans

Fifth in Eventing
In a repeat of last year, the leader in the eventing ranking is the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, followed by the Hanoverian and Oldenburg studbooks. The KWPN ranks a commendable fifth place. Below is an overview of the top six KWPN eventers.

Ceylor L.A.N. (Veron out of Winanda L.A.N. sport-jump by Ahorn, breeders: R. Lycklama/A. Nijeholt of Workum) earned the most points for the KWPN. Under the UK’s Kitty King, he placed third in the three-star at Blenheim, although his highpoint achievement was winning the CCI3* in Rotoath.

Veronica (Pacific out of Kimbel keur pref prest by Ferro, breeder: J. Basten of Meijel), ridden by the USA’s Lauren Kieffer, achieved good results this year in the three-stars at Bramham (7^th), Aachen (15^th) and Blenheim (6^th). In addition, Veronica ended ninth in the four-star at Pau.

Next is the only KWPN eventer under a Dutch rider: Concrex Bayro. The Casantos son (out of Vanya by Corland, breeder: H.W.J. van den Bosch of Best) is a worthy successor to Tim Lips’ top Olympic horse Oncarlos. In the challenging four-star at Luhmühlen, Bayro finished seventh and also achieved good results in the three-stars at Boekelo (16^th), Fontainebleau (12^th), Houghton Hall (6^th) and Aachen (23^rd).

Raphael II (Krunch de Breve out of Toulouse stb by Niagara, breeder: S.M.J. van de Burg of Berkel en Rodenrijs) is ridden by the UK’s Dani Evans. The duo achieved notable results in the three-stars at Chatsworth (11^th), Hartpury (9^th) and Blenheim (9^th).

The United son Bart L (out of Parisma ster by Gribaldi, breeder: H. Litjens, Afferden) clinched the bronze in the 2013 World Championships for Young Eventers under France’s Mathieu Lemoine. This year, he won the CCI3* in Saumur, finished 11^th in the CIC3* at Barbury Castle, and placed 16^th in the European Championships at Blair Castle.

Last year, the Karandasj son Wesko (out of Kolien ster pref prest by Mytens xx, breeder: R.J.M. Schoenaker of Rutten) won the CCI4* in Luhmühlen; and this year, he placed second in the CCI4* at Lexington. This super talented horse also finished fourth in Aachen (CICO3*).

The KWPN is proud of its breeders achievements and congratulates them on these outstanding results!

KWPN Press Release, photos: www.hippofoto.be

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