From January 26 to 31, 2026, the KWPN of North America is organizing a special trip to the Netherlands in cooperation with the KWPN. Participants will enjoy exclusive farm visits, inspiring educational tours, and, of course, attend the KWPN Stallion Show together as a group. Registration and organization are handled by KWPN-NA. You can book your spot via their sign-up form on the KWPN-NA website. After registering, their office will contact you with further details and payment information. The form also includes a hotel discount code. Make sure to sign up before December 10 th , after this date, discounted hotel rates and reserved seats at the Stallion Show and on the tour bus can no longer be guaranteed. KWPN-NA sign-up form KWPN Stallion Show 2026  Bron: KWPN Foto: KWPN*

From January 28 to 31, the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch will once again be the vibrant stage for the KWPN Stallion Show. The world’s largest stallion inspection offers four days full of breeding, sport, and knowledge-sharing. Ticket sales for KWPN members start on November 7 at 10:00 a.m., while non-members can purchase their tickets starting November 14. Visitors can enjoy the very best show jumping, dressage, Gelder and harness stallions during inspections, competitions, and presentations. In addition, there will be ample opportunities to get inspired through lectures, conferences, and special moments in the arena. International breeders’ conference The KWPN Stallion Show kicks off on Wednesday with the second viewing of the show jumping stallions. In the evening, at 7:00 p.m., the international conference “The Future of Showjumping Breeding” takes place in the Hertogzaal. Leading breeders and experts from the Netherlands and abroad will share their insights on the future of showjumping breeding. Tickets for this conference are sold separately via our ticket shop. Showjumping spectacle Thursday is fully dedicated to showjumping. After the second viewing, the older stallions will be presented in-hand, followed by an afternoon program featuring the Blom Stallion Competition and the KWPN Select Sale Jumping, where talented stallions find new owners. Later in the day, the second viewing under saddle and the presentation of the approved 2025 showjumping stallions will take place. The evening program continues with the presentation of new predicate stallions, the finals of the Blom Stallion Competition, and the honoring of the Jumping Horse of the Year. At the same time, the conference “Shaping the Future of Dressage: Where Breeding Meets Performance” will be held in the Hertogzaal, aimed at both Dutch and international dressage breeders and enthusiasts. Tickets for this conference are also sold separately via our ticket shop. Dressage and Gelder Power On Friday, attention shifts to the dressage and Gelder stallions. The morning is reserved for the second viewing of the dressage stallions, followed by the Gelder stallions in the afternoon. The day concludes with an evening program featuring the finals of the Anemone Horse Trucks Stallion Competition, the presentation of new predicate stallions, and the honoring of the Dressage Horse of the Year. Saturday The final day focuses on the dressage and harness stallions during their second viewing. Both breeding directions will compete for the championship titles, after which the Harness Horses will delight the audience with spectacular performances in the battle for the Oregon Trophy. The event concludes with the KWPN Select Sale, where promising stallions find their way to ambitious breeders and riders. This year, the traditional Harness Horse evening will not take place; it will be organized at a later date. More information will follow soon. Tickets Ticket sales for KWPN members open on November 7. Members benefit from exclusive discounts and first access to the best seats. Non-members can purchase their tickets starting November 14. To make the most of the event, visitors can opt for a combination ticket for Wednesday and Thursday or Friday and Saturday, enjoying two full days of showjumping or dressage at a reduced rate. KWPN Stallion Show 2026 Program Information KWPN Stallion Show 2026 Source: KWPN Photo: Dirk Caremans

Today, under great public interest, the final presentation of the harness stallion performance test took place outdoors on the Pavo arena at the KNHS Centre in Ermelo. Four stallions had qualified for this final, and all were accepted for registration. Their breeders and owners were subsequently honored, after which the stallions made a proud lap of honor to enthusiastic applause. The group consisted of one three-year-old, one four-year-old, and two five-year-olds. After the interim evaluation on October 11, five stallions remained in training at the KWPN Centre in preparation for the final. One stallion was referred to the next performance test earlier this week, and the remaining four were accepted today. Chairman of the stallion selection committee Thomas van der Weiden commented: “Of course it’s a pity that not more of the three-year-old stallions who were presented at the first viewing in January made it to the finish line. However, we are pleased with the performances of these four stallions, three of whom have already competed successfully in harness classes. The committee has evaluated the stallions several times throughout the test. The final presentation is not decisive on its own, there have been multiple assessment moments, all contributing to the final scores.” Three-Year-Old The three-year-old bay Sjimmie HBC (Macho x Lirzela stb by Dylano, breeder Anja Leeuwis de Wit from Wijngaarden) registered HBC-Stal from Boyl was accepted during the re-evaluation, after his dam was re-inspected along with two of her offspring, at the owner’s request. Based on this additional information and his own strong performance during the re-evaluation, he received an invitation to participate in the performance test. Sjimmie HBC shows a very typical harness horse expression, with plenty of front and an alert, audience-friendly presentation. He received seven scores of 8 and one score of 7. Four-Year-Old The four-year-old bay Realist van Altrido (Innovatief x Heolanda D keur pref by Cizandro, breeder Albert and Trijntje Doornbos-Bos from Beilen) registered Henk Bos from Hierden has already enjoyed a successful show career, earning 26 WP under Henk Hammers. Realist van Altrido entered the arena with great presence and impressed with his generous, controlled way of showing. He was accepted with three scores of 8, four of 7.5, and one of 7. Two Five-Year-Olds The five-year-old chestnut Palladium (Hubert VDM x Inita M st. elite by Patijn, breeder J.J. van der Meulen from Haskerhorne) registrered Lambertus Huckriede from Enschede achieved one score of 9, five scores of 8.5, and two scores of 8, making him the highest-scoring stallion of this performance test. Palladium is a harness horse with elegant, balanced action and a dignified way of showing, reflected in his high marks. He already has an impressive record in the sport, being a national competition winner with 30 WP earned under his owner. The second five-year-old, Pavarotti (Bocellie x Emely stb by Manno, breeder A.G. from Ooyen) registered Leendert Veerman from Wittelte, was accepted with four scores of 8, three of 7.5, and one of 7. Like the other older stallions, Pavarotti has already made his mark in competition. The charming, neatly and elegantly moving stallion has now accumulated 33 WP. Overview page performance test Harness Horse Report Palladium  Report Pavarotti Report Sjimmie HBC Report Realist van Altrido DB for KWPN  Foto Palladium: Jacob Melissen

The sale of foals is a topic that continues to spark debate. Each year, the KWPN registers around 10,000 foals, many of which change ownership at a young age. We spoke with two jumping and two dressage breeders, each with different numbers of foals, to share their experiences, tips, and insights on the subject.  In 2025, dozens of auctions are held in the Netherlands to help breeders sell their foals and give international buyers the opportunity to invest early in the sport and breeding horses of the future. In recent years, many of these auctions have largely moved online, including on the KWPN Auctions platform.  Introductions  A brief introduction of the breeders at the table begins with 2025 Breeder of the Year, Angèle Toonen, from Odiliapeel in Brabant. She has bred nine Grand Prix dressage horses from a relatively small mare line, including the Olympic horse Helix (s.Apache) ridden by Adrienne Lyle. The KWPN stallion Grand Galaxy Win (s.Apache), who competes at Intermediaire II level, also serves as a global showcase for Angèle Toonen’s breeding program. Each year, she breeds between five and ten dressage foals. Noortje Radstake, also specializing in dressage horses, has increasingly made breeding a central part of her operation in Voorst, Gelderland, alongside her training activities. The Small Tour rider has pursued a German-oriented breeding approach, thanks to her former employer, Eugène Reesink. She has established a thriving program with, among others, Hot Shot, the dam of the successful Grand Prix horse Vamos Amigos (s.Vitalis), ridden by Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour at the WEG in Herning and the full sister of two-time world champion Florencio (s.Florestan I). In recent years, Noortje and her partner have been breeding around ten to fifteen dressage foals. Recently, she was appointed by the KNHS as national coach for TeamNL’s para-dressage riders.  Jumping breeders were represented at this table by the ‘small-scale breeder’ Doede de Jong from Spannum in Friesland, a former Breeding Council member, and the ‘large-scale breeder’ Erik Sleutels of Keystud from Roggel in Limburg. Doede de Jong’s breeding program is currently in the spotlight thanks to the striking stallion Nadim Il Faut (s.Comme Il Faut), who already made a big impression last year in the final of the World Championship for six-year-olds. The passionate breeder has produced more than 60 foals in total. Erik Sleutels runs a professional jumping stud farm together with his wife Josje, where between 20 and 30 foals are born each year. His father, Piet, bred the well-known preferent sire Etoulon VDL, and their own breeding has already produced numerous international showjumpers, including top-level performers such as G&C Quick Star (s.Quick Star), Cleopatra (s.Quick Star), and Peninsula Croisette (s.Indoctro).  Are you still able to sell foals directly or is everything via auctions?  Noortje: “It’s becoming increasingly difficult in recent years. If I offer a nice, correct foal myself, sometimes I get zero responses, which wasn’t the case a few years ago. Most of my foals are sold through German auctions, and that has worked well for me.”  Angèle: “I still sell most of my foals at home, but I actively promote them. I make videos and reach out to both returning and potential clients. I put a lot of effort into the videos, often showing the foals at a different location. It not only creates better videos but also gives me valuable insight into the foal. Sometimes I even approach top riders at international competitions to see if they’re interested in one of my foals. Usually, it doesn’t result in a sale, but if just one or two buy, it’s worth it. The biggest advantage for me is knowing they go to the right home.”  Erik: “There are always buyers for standout foals. With our numbers, auctions actively reach out to us, which is a luxury, but we still sell foals at home as well, mostly to returning clients and those who first purchase via an auction and then want one or two more. My wife is active on social media, and we also proactively reach out ourselves.”  Doede: “As a small breeder, I start early to create demand for our foals. My daughter helps with videos, and I maximize my network to promote them.”  How do you ensure your foals are presented at their best?  Erik: “It starts right after birth. We want our foals in top condition, which requires more than grooming. Proper care is crucial: we give colostrum by bottle right after birth, feed both mare and foal well, deworm on schedule, ensure the farrier does his work, and we keep our foals outside during the day and in the stable at night.”  Doede: “We also ensure optimal management and plenty of outdoor time. You see the difference in muscle development and overall health. Breeders must stay on top of things until weaning. In Friesland, most foals have plenty of space, but on a recent trip to the Achterhoek, I saw foals in sand paddocks, honestly not ideal for growing foals.”  Noortje: “Our foals are outside day and night. The day before the auction, we bring them in to wash and braid them. Most of our foals are auctioned in Germany, so I don’t clip them, and I don’t feel it’s necessary. A good foal sells itself. I do trim the ears and soles slightly to make them look neater.”  Angèle: “I agree. My foals are all inside at night, and I don’t clip them. Care starts with feeding the mare well. Lactating mares can lose condition quickly, which doesn’t make a good impression. I provide unlimited roughage and mare pellets as needed, then just fine-tune them before photo days, auctions, or client visits.”  How do you choose which auctions to attend?  Noortje: “Over the years, I’ve built many contacts in Germany, and loyalty works both ways. I live with one foot in Germany and started out with German mares. Occasionally, I sell through Dutch auctions, but that hasn’t brought me the same success as in Germany. Often, real success can’t be fully planned, you’re also dependent on chance or luck. For example, three years ago I had a Vitalis filly in the Westfalen Online Auction. I had high expectations, but her full brother, Vamos Amigos, happened to win all three Grand Prix classes in Aachen that same week. Thanks to 87 bids, the price ended up at €110,000. That current success really drove the price up, and I really owe that to Cathrine Dufour.”  Erik: “Many auctions have come and gone, so we always try to spread our opportunities. For jump foals, live auctions linked to international shows work very well. They attract slightly different buyers and increase the chance that foals end up in the right place. Often, such auctions also have fewer lots than online or traditional sales, which makes it easier to get the attention of the right people.”  Do you use the KWPN Online Foal Auction?  Angèle: “Yes, and it has already brought me successful sales. Three years ago, I sold the My Blue Hors Santiano filly Spring Nal T via the KWPN Online Foal Auction. She ended up in Chiel Pouwels’ hands and did very well at inspections this year, scoring 80/85 and earning an invitation to the NMK. So it’s definitely not just the lesser foals that find a new owner through this platform. This year, I sold another foal there as well. My only critique is that there isn’t a story about the foal’s lineage included, perhaps something for the future.”  Noortje: “There’s a lot of criticism about these auctions, but I think it’s unjustified. Breeders participate to sell their foals, and that doesn’t always go along with fantasy prices. Costs are low, which makes it very accessible. I absolutely see it as a platform with real value, especially now that breeders, both large and small, experience how difficult it is to sell foals at home.”  Doede: “It’s a nice safety net, although it sometimes gets criticized, especially on social media. Foals are sold at realistic prices, and for many breeders, it’s already a success if they at least cover costs. There’s a clear group of ambitious breeders, but there are also many who breed purely out of passion and love for the mare and foal, not for profit. For them, it’s less about breeding the best genetics. But even they often need to sell their foals at the end of the season, and the KWPN Online Foal Auction makes that very accessible. Through one of my foals, I’ve made many contacts in Ireland, and I’ve noticed they actively look for KWPN foals because our horses are known there for their health, rideability, and correctness. That’s something the studbook could promote even more.”  Erik: “Previously, Hedel was the market for the last foals. It’s great that foals can now be presented via an online platform, and that high-quality foals are certainly being offered. If they perform well in sport later, it further enhances the KWPN auction’s reputation.”  How important is relationship management?  Noortje: “Very important, and this is something a good auction can really stand out with. A good auction looks after its clients, approaches them actively, and provides solid aftersales. They can really ‘warm up’ certain clients for foals that suit them, which is a talent some auctioneers have. As breeders, of course, we also make sure our clients are happy with our foals by giving them the best possible start and keeping in touch with the people we sell to.”  Doede: “I try to follow our foals as closely as possible and make an effort to maintain good contact with buyers. For my small breeding program, it’s a blessing that a horse like Nadim Il Faut is now in the spotlight. I keep in touch with his Irish owners and have also approached them about foals from Nadim’s bloodline that we have for sale. ‘Out of sight’ doesn’t mean ‘out of mind’ the book is definitely not closed after a sale. On the contrary, we try to make it an even better chapter. So we’re making the most of the platform Nadim is on now. Almost all horses closely related to him have already been sold.”  Erik: “Good relationship management is very important, and it works both ways. Returning clients can even save on commission because they can buy foals directly from us rather than through an auction. I’d say we still sell about 25–30% of our foals at home.”  Nadim IL Faut (s.Comme IL Faut) How do you prevent only top foals from selling?  Erik: “We make sure not to miss any opportunities and give even the lesser foals plenty of attention. These foals also come from good families and are interesting. But let’s be honest: no breeder produces only top foals, and neither do we. Each year, we try to reduce the risk by selling the mares that are least suitable for breeding.”  Noortje: “I participate in auctions mainly to sell, and not every foal brings a top price. For me, it’s important from a business perspective that the overall result at the end of the season, across all foals, is positive. In recent years, that has definitely been the case, and breeding now accounts for more than half of our revenue. And just like Erik said, I think it’s very important to keep selecting carefully, so the chance of lesser foals is reduced. I like to ride my own broodmares, which gives me insight into their rideability and character. When choosing stallions, I also pay close attention to these qualities.”  Angèle: “When I participate in an auction, I do it with the real goal of selling, regardless of the price. I’ve only made one exception, and I’m so glad I did. Zeester, the dam of Helix and three other international horses, was the first foal up in the auction back then, and it went so badly that I was happy to take him home again.”  Do commercial considerations influence stallion choices?  Doede: “I’m almost 70, so I really have to sell my foals as foals. That’s why I pay attention to what the market wants. For that reason, I almost always choose proven stallions. If I were breeding to keep the horses myself, I wouldn’t have to play it so safe. But the risk of having an uncertain factor on paper is too big for me, many buyers of showjumping foals prefer proven bloodlines. It’s a shame, because there are many good young stallions, and breeding with proven stallions still feels to me a bit like breeding in the rearview mirror. Only the market determines the value of your foal, so I definitely take that into account.”  Noortje: “I also take that into account, but now that we breed larger numbers of foals, I’m more willing to make less commercial choices. Funny enough, it works exactly the opposite in dressage breeding compared to showjumping. A proven stallion like Johnson, who is at the top of the WBFSH Sire Ranking, covers far fewer mares than a young, talented stallion. If I believe in a pairing, I follow my instincts, which is why I used Johnson this year.”  Erik: “My wife likes to make choices I’d call non-commercial, but fortunately I can usually step in. From a business perspective, we can’t take too much risk it’s all too costly.”  This has come up previously, but just how important is social media for foal sales?  Erik: “Although I’m not always a big fan, it’s clear to me that social media are incredibly important for sales. I regularly have discussions with my wife about which photos should or shouldn’t be published. You really have to handle it carefully. Especially nowadays, you always have to consider how things might come across to others. For example, this year we had a set of twins, and online criticism was sometimes completely over the top. If the ribs of a mare are visible right after birth, it immediately generates unjustified comments. Fortunately, social media also brings a lot of good and provides a huge reach.”  Angèle: “I also actively use social media to show my foals and horses. On top of that, I notice that my website gets a lot of views, where I can share more information about my vision, bloodlines, and successful horses. That also builds trust with foreign buyers. I always look at everything I publish with a critical eye, and I’m sometimes surprised that other breeders don’t take that task as seriously.”  To finish, what advice do you have for other breeders?  Doede: “If one of your foals performs well, make the most of that spotlight! And if you know you want to sell a foal, don’t wait until the end of the season. Your marketing machine has to start working much earlier, because ideally you want more than one potential buyer. If you participate in an auction, make sure you can review the photos, videos, and any text before publication. That way, everything is perfect when your foal is shown to the world. My advice is also always to start with a good mare, closely related to successful sport horses. That always makes selling easier.”  Erik: “Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. They benefit from a foal that’s been cared for perfectly from birth to delivery. The market can be unpredictable; one foal may bring less than expected another more. But it’s still better to sell with some regret than to hold onto them, especially now that rearing costs are so high. On the other hand, I can honestly advise buyers to invest now. The supply is large, and I don’t expect demand for quality showjumping horses to decrease in the coming years. Investing as early as possible is always the best approach. Uncertain times can actually bring opportunities, you might find your future sport horse or a better broodmare now.”  Angèle: “Often, the place where a foal can get opportunities is more important than the price. If your foals grow into successful sport horses, their relatives immediately gain attention. As a breeder, I work every day to make sure they want for nothing, and there’s nothing better than seeing your foals thrive in the right environment. I also keep close contact with other breeders in the region, which is valuable. We regularly visit each other’s horses and discuss stallion choices. Breeding connects people, and we should never lose sight of the joy it brings us all.”  Group photo people: Angèle Toonen (bottom left), Noortje Radstake (bottom right), Doede de Jong (top right), and Erik Sleutels (back left).  Text: Jenneke Smit Images: Dirk Caremans et al. 

As is tradition, the leaderboard at the World Championships for Young Eventing Horses in Le Lion d’Angers, France, was thoroughly reshuffled during the final phase of this multi-day event, the show jumping. Noa W delivered a fantastic performance in the very competitive seven-year-old class and even secured a place on the podium. Noa W (Baltic VDL out of Gucretia by Indoctro, bred by G. Wierts from Emmen), ridden by Irishman Ian Cassells, stood in 32nd place after dressage but climbed impressively to seventh following a brilliant cross-country round. In the demanding final show jumping phase, Noa W left all the poles up and, with only a minor time penalty, Ian was able to step onto the podium and receive the bronze medal at the end of the competition. Clear Round The damline of Noa W has produced several successful sport horses, including Bucretia (s.Sidney), a 4* eventing horse out of the performance mare Tucretia (s.Osmium). Fifth place today went to MBF Party Time (Emir R out of Jaloma by Zapatero VDL, bred by A.H. Müller from Odoorn). Born as Nature E, this grey performed exceptionally well with Cosby Green from the United States, completing the show jumping phase clear and inside the time. Less Fortunate Less successful today was Nice King, now competing under the name Ayrton Senna (Comme Prévu out of Heaven Angel reg. A by Callahan VDL, bred by S.A.M. Egbergen from Valthermond). After the first two phases, the pair stood in an excellent sixth place with British rider Jack Pinkney, but three downed rails and sometime penalties dropped them to 21st. In the six-year-old class, Orlando (Haynes GH out of Eline ster pref by Arezzo VDL, bred by R.J.M. Schoenaker from Rutten) and Italian rider Andrea Cincinnati made a good attempt at improving their standing, but the course proved just a bit too challenging this time. GJ for KWPN Photo Noa W: Hippofoto.be