First round viewings

The viewings for the KWPN selection process for jumping, dressage, and Gelder stallions begin in December. Over a period of several weeks, the stallions are presented daily to the stallion selection committee, which consists of three breeding and sport horse professionals. At the first round viewing, stallions are evaluated for any observable genetic abnormalities or deficiencies. Next, they are judged at the walk and trot on hard ground. This allows the committee to clearly observe any abnormal movement and/or leg stance. Finally, dressage stallions are judged on their free movement, and jumper and Gelder stallions are assessed for their free-jumping talent.

KWPN Salesroom

Each stallion participating in the first round viewing is videoed. The Online Salesroom is an excellent platform for prospective buyers from around the world to view video clips of each stallion. The clips will also be presented in the KWPN Salesroom at the KWPN Stallion Show in ’s-Hertogenbosch.

Prospective buyers can search for a stallion by name, catalog number, or lineage at kwpn.tv and view those in which they are interested. Last year, the Online Salesroom at KWPN.tv received more than 62,000 hits, a number which indicates a significant interest in the stallions. The Online Salesroom also facilitates easy contact between seller and prospective buyer, as each registered party’s phone number and e-mail address are placed next to the respective video.

Dressage stallions

Dressage stallions are evaluated specifically for carriage, stride length, rhythm and regularity, balance in turns, body use in the trot and canter, and the ease with which they perform flying changes when changing direction. In the free movement evaluation, the selection committee also observes the attitude of each dressage stallion. Following evaluation in the chute, the stallion is also judged on his walk and trot in hand. Because the walk is an important basic gait for a dressage stallion, the selection committee places great value on its purity, stride length, and suppleness.

Lunging
In between the first and second round viewing, the dressage stallions will be lunged on the KWPN-center in Ermelo. The lunging will be done by the owner/trainer themselves. The lunging is not a separate selection moment, but it provides the stallion selection committee with relevant additional information about the stallions.

Jumper stallions

Jumping talent is obviously very important for jumpers undergoing selection. However, because Gelder horses must be versatile, they are evaluated for jumping talent at the first round viewing. Observations of these stallions as they jump provide the stallion selection committee with important information about a stallion’s attitude and the way it uses its body. The stallions are jumped in a chute created by setting up a barrier in the ring. The chute, which is parallel to the long side of the ring, contains three jumps: two verticals and an oxer at the end. The jumps are initially set low but gradually raised. The stallions are brought into the ring individually and calmly directed over the jumps several times by KWPN representatives. This process allows the selection committee to evaluate a stallion’s reflexes, form, carefulness, and scope. In addition, stallions are judged on the canter in the chute. Afterwards, they are evaluated in hand on the walk and trot.

Harness horse stallions

The first round viewing for harness horse stallions takes place in January. These horses are presented to the stallion selection committee, which consists of three breeding and sport horse professionals. At the first round viewing, stallions are evaluated for any observable genetic abnormalities or deficiencies. Next, they are judged at the walk and trot on hard ground. This allows the committee to clearly observe any abnormal movement and/or leg stance. Unlike jumpers and dressage horses, harness horses are presented only in hand. The selection committee places great importance on the trot, which they evaluate on several key points: good suspension, long front leg stride length with high knee action, and powerful hindquarters that step under the body. These qualities should be paired with a proud bearing, facilitated by a long neck that extends vertically from the chest.

First round viewing older stallions

The event is also open to older stallions. At the first round viewing, stallions ages three and up must be evaluated on hard ground but do not have to demonstrate free-movement or free-jumping. Instead, they are evaluated under saddle and judged on carriage, body use, and movement. Jumper stallions must also jump a course, the height of which is determined by the age of the horse.

The selection committee also assesses older Gelder stallions under saddle. As part of their evaluation, they must either jump several obstacles or perform in harness. Stallions in harness are judged primarily on their body carriage and movement while pulling a cart.