The KWPN stallion Kigali (by Wolfgang) has died of a heart attack. The Wolfgang son stayed his last years in France, where he took his last breath at the age of 26.

Kigali, born in 1992, was approved by the KWPN in 1997 via the shortened performance test. In the same year the stallion jumped under Albert Zoer to the world title for young horses in Lanaken. After a career as a jumping horse the stallion moves to the stables of Dressuurstal Van Baalen in 2004. Wilmer Lanning takes care of the first part of the retraining process of the stallion and becomes Dutch reserve champion in the Z2 class. Later on, Coby van Baalen takes over the ride. After a successful period in the Small Tour, Coby brings the stallion in only a short time to Grand Prix.

Family horse

With daughter Marlies van Baalen, Kigali starts internationally at the highest level and the duo is included in the A-squad. They went to ninth place in the World Cup finals of Las Vegas and in 2007 the duo finishes fifth at the Dutch championship. Kigali remains a family horse, since in 2011 Marrigje van Baalen takes over the reins and after victories in the Future Test the duo also manages to win their first Grand Prix’.

Many sport horses

H.J.M. Huis in 't Veld from Lettele bred the bay stallion by crossing Wolfgang with Finesse (by Voltaire). This star mare jumped at the highest level with Emile Hendrix. A total of 487 offspring of Kigali is registered with the KWPN. The stallion did not bring any approved stallions, but Kigali gave a whole bunch of sporthorses that reached the highest level, both in dressage and in show jumping.

SR for KWPN; takeover without acknowledgment of the source is not allowed.

Photo: Copyright Dirk Caremans