Everdale Wins Grand Prix World Cup Final with dominance
With great ease and flair, the KWPN stallion Everdale dominated the arena in the FEI World Cup Final in Riyadh. Under his regular rider Charlotte Fry (GBR), the son of Lord Leatherdale secured the victory in the Grand Prix with a score of 75.388%. The KWPN recognized Blue Hors Don Olymbrio (s.Jazz) completed the KWPN celebration by clinching third place with 72.904% under Denmark's Nanna Skodborg Merrald.
Everdale and Charlotte Fry entered the World Cup Final as one of the favorites, knowing well that the competition would be fierce, with names like Isabell Werth (DSP Quantaz, fourth), Patrik Kittel (Touchdown, second), and Nanna Skodborg Merrald (Blue Hors Don Olymbrio, third) on the start list.
Charlotte Fry, the stable rider at Van Ols Horses in Den Hout, remained calm and rode Everdale (Lord Leatherdale out of Aliska K elite EPTM-dres PROK by Negro, breeder P. Kluytmans from Tilburg) flawlessly to victory. Everdale remained highly focused and consistent throughout the Grand Prix, delivering an impeccable performance. Particularly impressive were their scores in the canter tour, as well as in the piaffe and passage. Their impressive score of 75.388% secured the win.
The KWPN recognized stallion Blue Hors Don Olymbrio (Jazz out of Olymbria keur pref prest by Ferro, breeder J. Lamers from Oss) finished in third place under Nanna Skodborg Merrald for Denmark. Despite starting early in the field, the 16-year-old stallion presented a beautiful picture as always. Merrald commented, “We had a few minor hiccups in our test, but overall Don Olymbrio felt good. He was fresh and well-focused on me throughout the entire ride.” Merrald will compete with Don Olymbrio in a new freestyle on Friday.
Out of the four participating KWPN horses, an impressive three ended up in the top 5 positions. German rider Raphael Netz rode the gelding Great Escape Camelot (Johnson TN out of Amie Camelot prest by Turbo Magic, breeder C.C. Kerssens-Rademaker from Assendelft) to fifth place with over 72%. The combination displayed a harmonious and quiet connection throughout the test. Netz said about 'Camelot', “We've only been together for a year, but we've had a connection from the start. We're both young, a bit cheeky, and very motivated.”
The KWPN horse Fayvel (Zizi Top out of Ofra elite pref prest PROK sport-dres by Houston, breeders R. and I. Veninga from Stuifzand) finished thirteenth with 68.354% under American rider Anna Marek, securing their spot in Friday's freestyle final as well.
Mediaguide World Cup Finals
BvH for KWPN
Photo: Dirk Caremans
16 April 2024 | 16:43
Stallions evaluated in performance test
After last week's delivery for the performance test, today saw an official evaluation of the fifteen three-year-old show jumping stallions.
The entire stallion inspection committee convened today in Ermelo and assessed the stallions under the training riders. Overall, the stallions rode well and cleared several obstacles. Good progress was already evident in several stallions. "The committee gained a good initial impression of the jumping and will take these findings into account for the next evaluation, scheduled for next Tuesday. At 8 o'clock, the intake of older show jumping stallions is planned, and the assessment of the three-year-old stallions will commence around 9," senior inspector Henk Dirksen explains. "Today, two additional stallions could have been submitted, but this opportunity was not taken advantage of, so we will continue with the fifteen stallions submitted last week."
Overview page of performance test with participating stallions
JS for KWPN
16 April 2024 | 09:51
Sterrehof’s Opium (28) passed away
Stoeterij Sterrehof has unexpectedly had to say goodbye to the 28-year-old Sterrehof's Opium.
"An unfortunate moment in the pasture resulted in Opium (Polydor out of Ballerina by Bormio, breeder A. Haarlammert) injuring himself, and this injury proved to be, given his age, so severe that a peaceful passing was the best choice we could make for him," the stud farm writes on their website.
The KWPN-approved stallion was at the foundation of the partnership between Stoeterij Sterrehof and international show jumper Marc Houtzager. The combination finished seventh at the 2008 Olympic Games, triumphed in various Grand Prix events, and were part of the team that won the Nations Cup in Calgary in 2009. In 2015, the stallion bid farewell to the show jumping sport at Jumping Amsterdam.
Source: Sterrehof.nl/Horses
Photo Sterrehof's Opium: Dirk Caremans
9 April 2024 | 16:59
Ten dressage and one Gelder horse stallion delivered
Eight selected dressage stallions and two voluntarily were successfully delivered this afternoon for the performance test. In Ermelo today, the Gelder horse stallion and the older selected dressage stallions were also evaluated.
After several cancellations, this afternoon the stallion inspection committee had 14 dressage stallions to assess. Three of them have been referred to further examination, namely the Bonds son Brise (out of Vivaldi), the Jameson RS2 son Rhodos Ro (out of Jazz), and the Lantanas son Romeo (out of Jazz). The Gelder horse stallion inspection committee assessed the three-year-old Ronaldo K (Alexandro P x Heliotroop), and this stallion has also been accommodated at the KWPN centre for the performance test.
Saddle presentation
Eight three-year-old selected dressage stallions and both stallions participating voluntarily, Robin PLH (s.Dynamic Dream) and Royal Wimphof NSH (s.Just Wimphof), have been successfully delivered. "The stallions showed a relaxed performance and, overall, a level of training appropriate for their age," senior inspector Floor Dröge explains. Among those delivered is the premium stallion Rayano (s.Glamourdale). In addition, six older stallions were presented by their own rider as part of the second saddle presentation. "Of the seven registered stallions, the Le Formidable son L'Avenir was not presented today, he has been absent with the committee's permission and, like the other stallions, is expected back on April 22. Then the delivery for the 21-day test," Floor Dröge said. The next assessment for the three-year-old dressage stallions is scheduled for Friday, April 19, and the final presentation will take place on May 14.
Overview page performance test
JS for KWPN
9 April 2024 | 15:17
Fifteen show jumper stallions delivered in Ermelo
This morning, fifteen show jumping stallions were successfully delivered for the 35-day performance test. Two stallions can still be delivered next week.
The stallion selection committee convened to assess a total of nineteen show jumping stallions under their own riders. The Mumbai son Rich and Royal had a small wound and can be delivered again next week, as can the Chacco-Blue son Check Out Blue Z (dam sire: Heartbreaker), who was voluntarily offered. Two other stallions had issues with their vaccinations in their passports, and therefore cannot take up residence at the KWPN center.
Suitable for testing
The performance test began today for fifteen three-year-old stallions, including premium stallions Raikkonnen LK (Landino VDL x Zirocco Blue VDL) from VDL Stud and R (Mattias x Guidam) from the Tewis family. "The stallion selection committee has found the delivered stallions suitable for testing and will assess the stallions every Tuesday. It is unfortunate that two stallions did not have their vaccinations correctly filled out in their passports; according to the regulations, they should have been vaccinated against influenza and rhino at least two weeks before the test," explains senior inspector Henk Dirksen.
Delivery of older stallions
The first saddle presentation for older show jumping stallions, which can be delivered in two weeks, resulted in one newly designated stallion. The four-year-old Carambole son Pura Vida (dam sire: Stakkato) from Jan Greve and Arie Hoogendoorn is therefore expected back on April 23. On that day, the stallions A Moonlight Speciale Z (by Aganix du Seigneur) and Don Tarpania (by Dominator Z), previously designated via the stallion competition, can also be delivered for the 21-day test. The final presentation will take place on May 14.
Overview page performance test
JS for KWPN
5 April 2024 | 16:00
KWPN recognizes Gisborne VDL
The stallion Gisborne VDL has been proposed for recognition. This son of Zirocco Blue VDL has been successful at the highest level in show jumping with riders Daniel Coyle and Jeroen Dubbeldam. The stallion selection committee for show jumping has expressed positivity about the breeding product of VDL Stud. The General Board has formalized this recognition request.
With Jeroen Dubbeldam, Gisborne VDL won the Grand Prix of Leeuwarden in the autumn of 2023. With Daniel Coyle, the grey stallion led the Irish team to victory in the Nations Cup of Vancouver and second place in the Nations Cup of Rotterdam. Additionally, the duo secured fourth place in the Grand Prix of Wellington and sixth place in the World Cup of Ocala.
Performance lineage
The preferent Zirocco Blue VDL is the sire of Gisborne VDL. Zirocco Blue VDL was successful at the highest level in sport with Jur Vrieling. He now appears to be a top progenitor with a top 10 position in the WBFSH Sire Ranking. Mother Alpen Roos (by Goodtimes) also produced the Grand Prix horse Fancy Roos VDL (by Baltic VDL). Out of the four performance mares in a row, great-grandmother Wildroos (by G.Ramiro Z) in combination with Wellington produced the Grand Prix horses Deka and Ishan. From the direct motherline come a total of nineteen 1.50m/1.60m horses, and from this renowned lineage 474a also come the Grand Prix stallions Bubalu VDL and Verdi.
Requirements
Gisborne VDL meets the PROK requirements and the exterior assessment raises no concerns. Gisborne VDL has a genomic breeding value of 97 (51% reliability), and he is also not a carrier of WFFS. The stallion is available through VDL Stud.
Source: KWPN
Photo: Digishots
3 April 2024 | 14:18
Most popular foal names of 2023
The foaling season is in full swing, and as every year, breeders come up with a wide range of names for their foals. Which names were the most popular last year? We delved into the KWPN Database in search of the ten most common foal names among the KWPN-registered foals of 2023.
In 2023, more than 11,000 foals were born, all starting with the letter T. Very popular were the prefixes: Total (or Totally), Top, and The each came up hundreds of times. Also, names with Touch incorporated, or variations of Tom(my), were beloved.
Thunder most popular
More and more breeders are adding their stable name or initials behind the name of their foals. To determine which names were most commonly given, we excluded any suffixes from a name. Thunder is the most popular foal name of 2023, including all variants such as Thunderstorm and Thunderbird. Some names are spelled differently, such as Tiamo, which we also see as Ti Amo or Ti-Amo. These were counted as one name.
Top 10
Thunder
Tiamo, Ti Amo, or Ti-Amo
Treasure
Tiara
Talent
Thor
Tequila
Toscana / Toscane
Tiësto
Tiger
Popular names in 2024
In 2024, a considerable number of foals have already been registered with the KWPN. The initial letter of the year 2024 is the letter 'U'. But which names are the most popular in 2024 so far? Unique/Uniek is the name that has been most commonly bestowed this year. This is followed by the names Utah, Uptown Girl, and Undercover.
Are you expecting a foal soon? Or are you planning to breed in the future? We have handy tips, frequently asked questions, and information about breeding and registering your foal(s) lined up for you. Would you like to enjoy the foals of other breeders in advance or show your own foal(s) to fellow breeders? Then become a member of the special Facebook group for KWPN Foals.
Source: KWPN
26 March 2024 | 14:30
Veterinary Advisory Committee gives recommendations on PROK
In the summer of 2023, the PROK requirement was reintroduced within the stallion selection process. At the same time, the General Board formed a Veterinary Advisory Committee to reassess the current PROK requirement. This group of renowned veterinarians and radiologists has formulated several recommendations that the General Board has adopted.
The main objective of the KWPN is to breed horses that can perform at the highest level in sports. Ensuring the correct selection based on health characteristics is important to maintain the distinguishing feature of the studbook. For this reason, the approved stallions themselves must be sufficiently healthy, enabling breeders to make better choices and breed more sustainable horses.
Gold standard
The Veterinary Advisory Committee consists of members of the PROK committee (Gijs Jan van Selm, Bart Veldeman, Hans Peeters, and Hank van Campen), supplemented with practical experience via Arie Hoogendoorn, Don van de Winkel, and Jacques Maree. For the scientific basis and assessment, they are supported by radiologists A.J. van den Belt and Stephanie Veraa from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. As mentioned, this committee has examined the recalibration of the evaluation of the radiographic images. Veterinarian Hank van Campen explains: "The PROK examination, which stands for Project Radiographic Examination KWPN, has been in existence since 1997 and has given the KWPN a significant advantage in terms of health breeding goals. Other studbooks have largely copied this method of selection. We saw that this was slowly eroding our advantage. Additionally, breeding progresses in a certain direction, including health. Since 1997, only a few minor changes have been made to the PROK requirement. Therefore, it was time to assess PROK in light of today's horse, so that tomorrow's breeding product can also meet the high health standards of the KWPN. With this, we aim to establish a norm that will once again become the gold standard for the coming years, even internationally."
Recalibration and incidental findings
The Veterinary Advisory Committee began by inventorying abnormalities and variations encountered in practice. Van Campen explains: "We looked at everything we encounter on X-rays that is abnormal, such as chips, flattening, and cysts. Then we looked at the degree of heritability and clinical relevance: there may be an abnormality, but how likely is it that the horse will have problems with it in the future? If, for example, an abnormality rarely or never leads to future lameness, that particular X-ray image is not clinically relevant, and there is no need to select for it as a studbook. For each abnormality, we have assessed its clinical relevance, determining whether it could hinder the KWPN's breeding goal of achieving the highest level during the sports career. By compiling all possible information from practice and science, we try to reach a consensus on whether or not we want to select based on each skeletal part."
Extra photos of fetlocks and knees
This insight has led to several adjustments aimed at better alignment between the evaluation of the PROK radiographic images and the sports examination. One of the adjustments is the expansion of the number of required X-ray images, with four additional shots (two of the fetlocks, two of the knees) being taken. Incidental findings with proven clinical relevance are taken into account in the assessment for awarding the PROK predicate. Van Campen explains: "Previously, the hind fetlock was only photographed laterally, and now we supplement that with photos from the front. The same applies to the knees; we now also take extra photos from a different direction. These additional shots are mainly aimed at ruling out clarifications in bone structure, the so-called cysts."
Weighing in genomic breeding values
The Veterinary Advisory Committee advises that in the case of class B or C in the hock (sagittal tibiakam class B-C, lateral trochlear ridge talus class B) and class B in the knee (lateral trochlear ridge femur), the osteochondrosis (OC) genomic breeding value should be considered. If the OC genomic breeding value is 100 points or higher, a stallion can be accepted for performance testing. This advice is based on the addition of genetic information represented by the osteochondrosis genomic breeding value. By combining the radiographic images with the OC genomic breeding value, the two measurement tools reinforce each other.
Change in date of X-ray imaging
Until now, mares and stallions could be X-rayed for PROK from April 1st of the year they turn two. This date will be moved for stallions to September 1st, meaning two-year-old stallions will be X-rayed five months later. The Veterinary Advisory Committee indicates that genetic reparative capacity between April and September can still affect the X-ray status. However, other parts of the skeleton also undergo changes during this early developmental phase of the horse. Furthermore, it is essential to have up-to-date X-ray images during the stallion selection process. For mares, a different arrangement applies: from April 1st to September 1st, 2024, there is the possibility to request the PROK examination under the regular conditions. From September 1st, 2024, the new conditions described above also apply to mares.
X-raying of the back and neck
The Veterinary Advisory Committee proposes initiating an extensive study to accurately investigate the relationship between the presence of Kissing Spines and clinical symptoms. Data collection is considered the primary task. Don van de Winkel explains: "In addition to abnormalities that pose a high risk of lameness, there are also abnormalities that may not pose a high risk to future sporting use but may cause problems in the event of sale. An example of this is Kissing Spines, which literally means that the 'spinous processes' of the spine can kiss each other: they touch each other. It is not unusual for these processes to touch; the space between them often varies anyway. If you look at the horse's spine, it has a certain curvature. Additionally, the processes of the withers point backwards, at the last thoracic vertebra, the direction changes, and from the lumbar vertebrae, the tips point more forward. So, it is logical that at the deepest point of the back, the space between the processes is smaller, or they even touch each other. There is a large anatomical variation in this. Kissing Spines may not pose a risk in itself; problems can arise when there is a lot of bone reaction such as new bone formation or bone resorption. But even in that case, it may not necessarily lead to back pain; there are many degrees of severity possible. So, you have to be careful about drawing conclusions. What we want to find out is which degree will predictably lead to problems."
Kissing Spines are assessed according to the research of Zimmerman, Dyson, and Murray, where X-rays of the spine are classified on a scale from 1 to 7. For stallion selection, classes 6 and 7 are no longer accepted. For mares, assessment of back and neck photos can be requested, but this is still outside the norms for obtaining a PROK predicate. Currently, selection based on neck photos is not conducted, but the committee intends to inventory what is happening within the population in the coming years, to make future selection choices based on that information. Van de Winkel states: "What genetic trends do we see in the abnormalities? Especially in the area of the back, we want to inventory and gather knowledge. However, we will select for significant abnormalities—grades 6 and 7 on a scale of 7. Because we don't want breeding stallions with a deformed back in the industry. We will use the results of the inventory to look into the future regarding the heredity of the back, to determine if we may need to adjust genetic selection. Additionally, we will embark on a study to explore the relationship between various grades of back abnormalities and sports performance. Specifically, at what grade of back abnormality do we see a negative impact on sports results? Hopefully, this will provide us with a lot of useful information to keep the KWPN horse healthy: a very important quality criterion, alongside traits such as temperament and talent."
Text: Charlotte Dekker
Image: Anniek de Wit