Exciting New KWPN Approved Stallions Join North American Roster for 2013 Breeding Season
By Jennifer M. Keeler, Yellow Horse Marketing for the KWPN-NA
As the 2013 breeding season gets underway, mare owners across North America are tasked with deciding which stallion will help make their dreams come true through a fantastic foal. As pedigrees are analyzed and conformation critiqued, the Royal Dutch Warmblood Studbook in North America (KWPN-NA), the continent’s premier warmblood registry, announces new additions to its roster of approved stallions available to U.S. and Canadian breeders. These exciting stallions join an already impressive lineup of some of the best Royal Dutch Sport Horses in dressage, jumping, and harness-type sires available in the world.
Dutch Warmblood stallions that are “approved” for breeding have earned this honor through an incredibly rigorous inspection and approval process, consisting of evaluations both in-hand and under saddle, and sometimes possess an exceptional record in sport. The KWPN’s stringent standards for talent, performance, soundness, and character ensure breeders the “best of the best”: stallions that are capable of producing the finest sport horses in the world with an eye towards continual improvement of the breed. This ongoing pursuit of excellence has led to the KWPN being consistently ranked the number one studbook for both jumping and dressage by the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH).
“We’re always excited about new approved stallions standing in North America,” said Willy Arts, Chair of the KWPN-NA Board of Directors. “Having this ‘new blood’ is so important because it broadens the base of our bloodlines and maximizes choices for breeders, without having to obtain frozen semen from Europe.”
Joining the dressage lineup for 2013 is Connaisseur (Con Amore x Donnerhall), standing at JCS Reproductive Services in Langley, British Columbia. This impressive six-year-old stallion placed third in the prestigious 2011 Pavo Cup Finals in Holland with rider Emmelie Scholtens, then returned last year to place fourth in the Pavo Cup Semifinals and sixth in the Finals. Connaisseur’s first foals are 2-year-olds in 2013.
Those looking to produce talented jumpers have four new stallion options to be excited about. With Dakota VDL (Casall x Contender, standing at Hyperion Stud, LLC in Barboursville, VA), breeders have every reason to expect success from this jumping sire, as his 2011/2012 jumping expectation based on three generations is 154 (50%). Dakota VDL’s first foal crop arrived in 2012.
After winning his 2001 KWPN Performance Test, Rash R (Cash x Rebel Z) went on to prove his talents further in the competition ring. As a five-year-old, he was first in the stallion competition in ’s-Hertogenbosch, eighth at the Dutch Championships in Ermelo, and Reserve Champion in his jumper division at Lanaken. The following year, Rash R was first in the jumper stallion final in Zwolle and eighth in the Zangersheide World Championships in the six-year-old division, and has continued to garner top Grand Prix placings. Rash R has multiple accomplished offspring in jumping competitions throughout Europe through the 1.60m division. He now stands at Valley Green Farms in King City, Ontario.
Sydney (Goodtimes x Alasca) will stand the 2013 season at Centennial Farms in Palmetto, FL. After being voted the best young jumper stallion in Zwolle in 2005, this lovely gray earned an impressive international competition record at 1.30m and 1.35m, as well as placing third in the 2008 Nations Cup in Wellington, FL. His progeny have continued his legacy, with more than two dozen ster mares, 3 keur mares, and 100 offspring in jumping competitions in Europe; this stallion has also sired keur and star offspring in North America.
Descending from an accomplished family of jumping athletes, Bosch Blue (Cantos x Mr. Blue) made history in 2012 by becoming the first North American stallion approved through a 21-day performance test, held in Canada under the full authority and standards of the KWPN. Over the last two years, this 2006 gray stallion has also competed successfully in the competition arena, earning multiple championships through the 1.30m division at shows such as the Royal Winter Fair and Spruce Meadows. This exciting young stallion will stand at Bosch Farms in Red Deer, Alberta.
Driving enthusiasts need look no farther than the KWPN-NA’s fabulous harness-type stallions. Joining the roster for 2013 is the black stallion Vaandrager HBC (Manno x Renovo), a proven sire with thirteen offspring active in driving competition, as well as siring an approved son, 24 star mares, and three keur mares. This elegant stallion is joined at Farbig Farm in Goshen, IN by his own son Baanbreker HBC (Vaandrager HBC x Nando), who in his own right is an incredibly impressive and powerful young harness-type stallion.
Performance test champion Waldemar (Patijn x Joviaal) is a flashy bay harness stallion who has gone on to earn multiple wins and stallion championships in Holland. Already an accomplished sire (including an approved son), Waldemar will stand at Dutch Country Stables in Quarryville, PA for 2013.
To learn more about Royal Dutch Sport Horse stallions, the KWPN-NA welcomes equestrian enthusiasts to join in events and festivities during their upcoming annual meeting to be held March 14 – 16, 2013 in Chesapeake City, MD. Hosted by Scott and Susanne Hassler at the fabulous Riveredge facility, the 2013 KWPN-NA annual meeting will have exciting features for not only breeders, but also riders, breed fans, and the general public. The extensive lineup of activities will include lectures by an impressive roster of industry professionals; tours of local breeding facilities; presentations by international breed experts; and live demonstrations by fantastic dressage and jumping horses. Pre-registration at discounted rates for the entire 2013 KWPN-NA annual meeting and/or individual events is available for both organization members and the general public until February 25th.
For more information about these new approved KWPN stallions standing in North America for 2013 and to view the entire KWPN-NA stallion roster, or to learn more about the KWPN-NA annual meeting, contact the KWPN-NA office, http://kwpn-na.org/ or by phone (541) 459-3232.
PHOTO CAPTION: Several exciting new Dutch Warmblood stallions (such as Connaisseur, pictured) are now available to North American breeders. Photo: KWPN-NA
Jennifer M. Keeler
Phone (859) 806-1557
jennifer@yellowhorsemarketing.com
