The definitive rankings of the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) and the FEI were published on Thursday, October 9th. 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. Leading both the dressage and jumping rankings is the KWPN. In eventing, in which the Irish Sport Horse studbook heads the list, the KWPN ranks fourth.
KWPN horses earned the most points in both dressage and jumping. At the foundation of all these successes are breeders of KWPN horses.

First Place in Dressage

Of the top five dressage horses, four were bred under the KWPN flag. Among them was Valegro (Negro out of Maifleur keur by Gershwin, breeder: J.L. Hanse of Burgh Haamstede), who is continuing his series of triumphs this year and is number one in the individual ranking. Valegro, the top dressage horse, recently bested his competition in the World Equestrian Games, after scoring victories in Aachen, Lyon, and Amsterdam. This is the third consecutive year that the Negro son has topped the list thanks to his stellar scores, ranging from 85% to almost 94%, which prove his astounding talent.
Although Edward Gal had to scratch his talented Glock’s Undercover N.O.P. (Ferro out of Mimosavrouwe keur pref prest sport-dres by Donnerhall, breeder: M. Hendriksen-de Rijk of Lunteren) from the World Equestrian Games, the black powerhouse still secured third place in the individual rankings, thanks in part to his outstanding performances in Rotterdam, Treffen, Amsterdam, and ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Despite the absence of Totilas from the World Equestrian Games, 2014 was a comeback year for the Gribaldi son (out of Lominka elite pref prest s.Glendale, breeders: J.K. Schuil and A. Visser of Broeksterwoude). Ridden by Matthias-Alexander Rath, the black stallion performed impressively in Aachen, Perl, Wiesbaden, and Kapellen, scoring enough wins to rank fourth in the individual standings.
The number five dressage horse is the Jazz son Jerich Parzival N.O.P. (out of Fidora ster pref prest by Ulft, breeder: J.M. Beijer-de Kleijn of Puiflijk). Under Adelinde Cornelissen, the sturdy chestnut achieved wins this year in Rotterdam and Arnhem. At age 17, the gelding is still in excellent condition. Adelinde and her valiant knight Parzival won the team bronze and the individual bronze in the Freestyle at this year’s World Equestrian Games.
Kingsley Siro N.O.P. (Gribaldi out of Lady s.Hemmingway, breeder: H. Geurts of Venray) impressed this year under Daniëlle Heijkoop. Although the talented duo had qualified for the World Equestrian Games, an injury derailed their plans. However, Siro claimed victory in Dortmund and reached the podium in Rotterdam and ’s-Hertogenbosch, good for 11th place in the individual ranking.
The KWPN stallion Glock’s Johnson TN, ridden by Hans Peter Minderhoud, is the sixth dressage horse to contribute to the KWPN’s leading position (17th place). The handsome Jazz son (out of Roxane keur sport-dres by Flemmingh, breeder: P. van de Vleuten of St. Oedenrode) performed well this year at venues including Treffen and Rotterdam. In addition, he helped the Dutch team win the bronze medal at the World Equestrian Games.
The top three studbooks in the studbook ranking are the same as last year, with the Hanoverian Verband in second place, followed by the Westfälischer Pferdestammbuch. In the individual ranking, the KWPN-recognized stallion Damon Hill NRW finished second.

KWPN Number One in Show Jumping

In a repeat of last year, the KWPN emerged the leading studbook for show jumpers. Following in second and third place respectively are the Holsteiner-and the SBS studbooks. Chaman (Baloubet du Rouet out of Jadied by I Love You, breeder: Boa Agriculture BV of Enschede), who was registered with the KWPN as a foal under the name Soekot, is the highest ranked KWPN jumper (9th), as he was last year. Under Ludger Beerbaum, the stallion recently won competitions in Ebreichsdorf and Lausanne, in addition to capturing the Grand Prix of Lyon.
The KWPN stallion VDL Groep Verdi TN N.O.P. (Quidam out of Clarissa s.Landgraf, breeder: Veehandel Musterd BV of Hooge Zwaluwe) (10th) was part of the gold medal team at the World Equestrian Games. Under Maikel van der Vleuten, the stallion clinched the Grand Prix of Madrid and placed high in Rome, Rotterdam, Aachen, and London. In Caen, he again proved himself an invaluable team member and qualified for the individual final.
At age 10, Zenith SFN (Rash R out of Sascha keur prest s.Fuego du Prelet, breeder: Herman Voort of Den Ham) was one of the least experienced horses at the World Equestrian Games.
Even so, he gave a fantastic performance! The talented jumper made the “final four” under Jeroen Dubbeldam, after excelling in Rotterdam, Neumünster, and Braunschweig – all superb achievements. Recently, it was announced that Springpaarden Fonds Nederland (SFN) has decided to keep Zenith SFN and Jeroen Dubbeldam together, at least until the 2016 Olympics. The Rash R son ranks 16th individually.
The fifth jumper which contributed to the KWPN’s number one position in the studbook ranking is another 10-year-old horse: Zigali PS (Kigali out of P.Zermie by Palfrenier, breeders: E. Scholtens and R. Pepping of Gieten), ridden by the Olympic champion of 2008, Eric Lamaze. The Canadian rider and the Kigali son excelled in Rome and Spruce Meadows. Zigali PS is a promising horse for the future (23rd).
The final contributing jumper is the KWPN-recognized stallion Plot Blue (out of Ilotte ster prest s.Pilot, breeder: F.C.M. Burgers of Moergestel), a valuable asset to Marcus Ehning. He and the 17-year-old Mr. Blue son recently placed third in the Grand Prix of Hickstead. After finishing second in Madrid and Gothenburg, the duo ended third in Aachen.
Remarkably, the top KWPN jumpers can also be found among the top 30 horses in the individual list, which is also true of the dressage horses. This year, the top six horses include four newcomers. The KWPN owes its leading position to its quality across the board. Incidentally, Hello Sanctos is the number one jumper on the list.

Fourth in Eventing

The leading studbook in the eventing ranking is, like last year, the Irish Sport Horse Studbook, followed by the Selle Français- and Holsteiner studbooks. The KWPN ranks a commendable fourth place! The only KWPN eventer under a Dutch rider holds sixth place in the individual ranking: that is the Jazz daughter Vira (Jazz out of Option G by Whinny Jackson, breeder: I. van Rossum-van den Heuvel of Maren-Kessel). Ridden by Elaine Pen, Vira boasts several impressive achievements, among them winning the historic team bronze at the World Equestrian Games, where she finished 13th individually. Prior successes include winning the CICO3* in Fontainebleau and placing second in the CIC2* in Vale Sabroso. This fiery chestnut mare is an outstanding ambassador of the KWPN.
Also contributing to the KWPN’s fourth place position is the Karandasj son Wesko (out of Kolien ster pref prest by Mytens xx, breeder: R.J.M. Schoenaker of Rutten), ridden by New Zealand’s Tim Price. This year, Wesko ended second in the CIC3* at Hartpury and Ratoath; however, the duo’s highpoint was their victory in the Luhmühlen CCI4*. Wesko ranks 30th individually.
In 57th place is Valentino V (Perion out of Havila ster by Ditmar, breeder: the Klein bros. of Rheezerveen), who achieved good results in the Hartpury CIC3* (5th) and the Strzegom CICOC3* (4th) under the UK’s Sarah Bullimore.
Another contributing horse was Waltham Fiddlers Find (Jetset-D out of Sabina ster by Lux, breeder: P.J. Peters of Hernen) (73rd) under Tom Jackson. The duo won the CCI3* for young riders (U25) in Bramham.
This year, Isabelle Taylor of the UK finished fourth in Aachen with her Corland son Orlando (out of Panieta ster by Lancelot, breeder: F.E. Roos of Sonnega, studbook name: Urano). The gelding, formerly ridden by Georgie Davies, also finished at the top of the standings in the CIC3*’s in Bramham (2nd) and Chatsworth ( ) . He is the fifth KWPN eventer to count in the studbook ranking.
In 2013, the United son Bart L (out of Parisma ster by Gribaldi, breeder: H. Litjens, Afferden) clinched the bronze medal in the World Breeding Eventing Championships for Young Horses under France’s Mathieu Lemoine. This year, he won the CIC2* in Sandillon and recently showed in the three-star competition of Outdoor Breda, where he placed fourth.

(Source KWPN.org)