The youngest jumpers who will progress this coming year to the highest level, the Grand Prix, will be from the F-year and will turn 9 years old this year. We are curious who these horses are and which upcoming talents we have to keep an eye on. Also curious? Then read on!

Approximately 12,500 foals were registered with the KWPN in 2010, of which more than 7,000 jumper foals. In the first KWPN Magazine this year there was an analysis about the D, E and F-years. It showed that 511 jumper horses from the F-year compete at 1.40m level or higher. Strikingly enough, almost 40% of these horses are mares.

1.60m-level

Out of these 511 9-year-old showjumpers, 320 were competing at 1.40m level at the end of last year, 154 at 1.45m level and 37 at 1.50m level and higher, of which three at Grand Prix level. These are: Floris (Cantos x Ahorn, breeder T.W. Kruizinga), Flaire Unlimited (Carthino Z x Lupicor, breeder De Ruyter Stables BV) and Freedom (Eldorado van de Zeshoek x Corland, breeder: M. Raaben). All three of these horses have competed in one or even more World Cup qualifiers in the past season. Another horse that is produced in the 1.60m is Fasther (Vigo D'Arsouilles x Farmer, breeder: G.J.A. Moerings). But due to two jumping faults, he is not yet officially 1.60m classified. A few weeks ago Fasther was sold to the American rider Lillie Keenan. In addition there are three 9-year-old horses at 1.55m level, including two Zirocco Blue VDL offspring: Flair (ds.Indoctro, breeder A.H.J.M. Kerstens) and Fancy Girl (ds.Silverstone, breeder A.C. van der Peijl). The third in this list is Finn Lente (Gaillard de la Pomme x Colandro, breeder: W. J. M. Neijensteen).

Main supplier

Zirocco Blue VDL has two offspring  of this F-year at 1.55m level. Looking at the number of offspring doing 1.40m level or higher, he is the proud leader with a total of 26 offspring. Followed by Numero Uno with 21 and Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve with 17 offspring.

On the dam's side we see Indoctro the most with 24 offspring, followed by Voltaire with 20 and Indorado with 16 offspring.

Young stallions

Out of the the first year of Baltic VDL there are already 13 offspring at 1.40m level and higher. Flying Sam (ds.Indorado, breeder Chr. M. Snepvangers) competes at 1.50m level with Amber Feijen, Farona (ds.Lux, breeder NHG Broeders) does the same ridden by the Irish Daniel Coyle and First Baltic (mv.Chin Chin, breeder FC Raats) also competes at 1.50m level but then ridden by the American Michael Hughes. Bustique, who recently returned to Dutch soil, has six offspring competing at 1.40m / 1.45m level just like the Indoctro-son Boss. Three of Bugatti VDL's offspring are at 1.45m level and from Bacardi VDL one is at 1.40m.

Approved stallions

Eleven approved stallions from the F-year are classified at 1.40m level or higher. Zirocco Blue VDL son Florian and Freestyle (by Cantos) are competed the highest, at 1.50m level. Farmgraaf (by Verdi), Floris TN (by Quality Time), Fire (by Vleut), First Verdi (by Verdi) and the recently gelded F-One USA (by Toulon) are all at 1.45m level released. For The Moment (by Mr. Blue), Fanlac (by Arizona), Flying Dream (by Zapatero VDL) and Freeman VDL (by Emmerton) are competing at 1.40m.

Well-tested mares

Out of the 201 mares that are active at 1.40m level and higher, 30 mares have the elite predicate. Fleurbelle N (Heartbreaker x Cavalier, breeder: H. Nijland) is the only one of these elite mares that jumps 1.50’s and does this under the French top rider Kevin Staut. This mare has already received 80.5 points for her IBOP. Flower Power G (Ultimo x Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve, breeder: W. Geerdink) also got 80.5 points, she is placed in the 1.40m’s. The 1.40m-mares Filandria (Indoctro x Quidam de Revel, breeder: Y. Copal), Flairvona (Air Jordan Z x Numero Uno, breeder: J. Sturkenboom) and Freya (Baltic VDL x Numeor Uno, breeder: GJ Bosman) got with 81 points even more than that. The mare Faizemieka (Zirocco Blue VDL x Darco, breeder: A. Moore CAN), competes at 1.45m and received 81.5 points for her IBOP. 84.5 points were for Feddebezi SW (Contendro I x Lupicor, breeder E.H.L.A. Schuurmans and C.M.L. Wagemakers). Ginus daughter First Buresco (ds.Untouchable Z, breeder J.J. Smit de Goede) scored no less than 86 points for her IBOP and is now also competing at 1.40m.  Eldorado van de Zeshoek-daughter Funiki (ds.Lancelot, breeder: H. Hartlief) scored 87.5 points earlier for her IBOP and is now competing at 1.40m as well, just like Fancy Roos VDL (Baltic VDL x Goodtimes, breeder VDL Stud) who achieved a top score of 88 points for her IBOP.