Valegro (Negro x Maifleur keur by Gershwin); ridden by Charlotted DuJardin, breeder: J.L. Hanse of Burgh Haamstede

Since 2006, the KWPN has distinguished between four breeding directions in Holland and five in North America. The largest group (85–90%) consists of the Riding horses, which are subdivided into the Dressage, Jumping, and in N.A. the Hunter, disciplines. The other two breeding directions are the Harness horse and the Gelders horse. Even though each breeding direction has its own additional objectives, in the first instance all horses fall under the general KWPN breeding goal, which aims at:

• breeding a competition horse that can perform at Grand Prix level;
• with a constitution that enables long usefulness;
• with a character that supports the will to perform as well as being friendly towards people;
• with functional conformation and a correct movement mechanism that enables good performance;
• with attractive conformation along with refinement, nobility and quality.

Wynton (Jazz x Matador II x Rubenstein); ridden by Madeleine Witte Vrees, © DigiShots

For the dressage discipline the KWPN also aims for the following breeding goal.

• The dressage horse has a long-lined, generous, correct model with balanced proportions and an attractive appearance.
• The dressage horse moves correctly, is light-footed, in balance with suppleness, carrying power, impulsion, and good self-carriage.
• The dressage horse is easy to handle, easy to ride and intelligent, with a willing and hard-working character.

Judgement ISF (Consul x Faletta, Star, Pref by Akteur), ridden by Beezie Madden

For the jumper discipline the KWPN also aims for the following breeding goal.

• The jumper horse has a long-lined, generous, correct model with balanced proportions and an attractive appearance.
• The jumper horse moves correctly, in balance with suppleness, carrying power and impulsion.
• The jumper horse is easy to handle, easy to ride and intelligent, with a willing and hard-working character.
• The jumper horse has courage, jumps with quick reflexes, is careful, has good technique and has a great deal of scope.

Popeye K (Voltaire stb pref x Eloretta stb ster x L Ronald stb)
Hunter Type (HP)

The hunter direction is not an official breeding direction in the Netherlands, only in North America. For the hunter discipline, the KWPN aims for the following breeding goal:

• The hunter horse has a long-lined, generous, correct model with balanced proportions and an attractive appearance.
• The hunter horse moves correctly, in balance with suppleness, self-carriage and impulsion.
• The hunter horse is characterized by its steady and cooperative temperament.
• The hunter has a long, flowing stride that smoothly covers the ground in a steady rhythm, with little knee or hock action.
• A hunter is a beautiful horse with a well-bred, noble presence; and its comfortable, flat movement makes it easy to ride.

Henkie (Alexandro P x Beaujamanda by Upperville)

The breeding goal of the Gelders horse is specifically aimed at:

• A versatile horse that can be used for driving as well as under saddle and that is distinguished by a happy appearance and is reliable with a willing character.
• The Gelders horse moves correctly, in balance with suppleness, carrying power and impulsion.
• In the trot and canter the Gelders horse shows clear knee action in the foreleg and powerful use of the hindleg, good use of the hock and a lot of self-carriage.
• The Gelders horse jumps gladly with good technique and is careful.

Globetrotter (Cizandro keur x Lilonka ster pref by Harald), Photo by Wade Wilcox

For the harness horse the following applies.

• The KWPN harness horse must be able to sustain competition at the highest levels of sport.
• The harness horse moves correctly, in balance with suppleness, carrying power and impulsion.
• The harness horse is easy to handle, easy to drive and intelligent, with a willing and hard-working character.
• The harness horse has proud self-carriage combined with specific trot characteristics: good suspension, a foreleg that moves out well with high knee action and a hindleg that comes under the body with power.

Fortuna SCF sport (ev) (Balou du Rouet x Nova keur prest x Consul), Photo: JJ Sillman Photography

Although not a specific breeding type, an increasing number of KWPN horses are excelling in eventing. A good eventer demonstrates several key qualities. One is talent for dressage, which usually goes hand-in-hand with several distinct traits: a nice front and good basic gaits, the most important of which is the canter. In addition, an eventer is careful over jumps and quick off the ground. Furthermore, an eventer is more than an out­standing jumper—it possesses courage, tenacity, durability, and health.