The audience was treated to two nice tests yesterday by the stallions that participated in the Stallion Competition for Gelder Horses. The palomino stallion Edmundo received the winners rug after an appealing performance with Daniëlle van der Ploeg.

Gert van den Hoorn, Chairman of the jury, elaborated on Edmundo’s (Upperville) performance: “Edmundo is a stallion that stands out in his ride-ability and self-carriage and was pleasantly presented by his rider. He has a pure, four-beat walk that is active and spacious. In trot he showcases a nice posture, ease and a good technique. He performs the leg yield in trot with ease, although we would like to see a more active hind leg that is also placed further under his body in the trot tour. The canter is good; he always comes back well on his hind leg and the rider has no difficulty transitioning to the pace she desires. The stallion shows lots of suppleness and uses his body well. Furthermore, he has great presence and seems to have a willing character.”

Floris BS (Negro) did not participate in every competition round and could therefore not be declared champion. Co-breeder Sophie ter Brugge presented the stallion herself. Van den Hoorn: “I think we can all remember last year’s test, when Sophie experienced difficulties in riding the stallion through the ring. He has learned a lot since last year and performed a respectable test. The walk is pure and active and especially the extended walk is really good. He has a pure two-beat-trot and its quality is maintained throughout the exercises. In the extended trot he also shows abundant balance and a good posture. Floris has a good canter and the extended canter was performed well. We think he is able to come back on the hind leg even more, as he shows a lot of potential in this gait, but the tempo is slightly too fast. Floris is a stallion with a great moving mechanism and a willing character.”