Angèle Toonen, from Odiliapeel, has been honored as the KWPN Dressage Breeder of the Year. Along with this prestigious title, she received the now well-known Huub van Helvoirt Challenge Trophy. During her tribute, several of her homebred sport horses entered the arena, as well as two NMK mares she bred. In the lap of honor, riding in a carriage drawn by the Gelder stallion Edmundo, she received a warm round of applause from the audience.

Floor Dröge: "It all started 45 years ago..."
“Angèle’s breeding story began about 45 years ago,” said Floor Dröge. “Her father bought a not-so-large jumper mare with a strong will of her own. Not only could the mare move exceptionally well herself, but she also passed that ability on to her offspring.”

Nine Grand Prix Horses
That purchase laid the foundation for a powerful dressage dam line from which not only Angèle continues to benefit, but which has also served many other breeders and riders. No fewer than nine Grand Prix horses have already been born in Odiliapeel. Horses from this line are seen every year at inspections and competitions. One of her most successful breeding products, Grand Galaxy Win, frequently appears as a sire in international start lists. From this same dam line also comes the KWPN stallion Koning and the highly promising KWPN stallion One Million, who sired the largest number of foals at this year’s National Foal Championship.

Olympic Success and a Global Legacy
Helix (Apache x Jazz) is Angèle’s first Olympic horse, representing the USA at the Paris Olympic Games with rider Adrienne Lyle, who recorded a congratulatory video message shown on the big screen in Ermelo during the celebration. Currently, Kristal Fan T, ridden by Tommie Visser, is also showing great promise. The full list of top-quality sport horses bred by Angèle is too long to include here, but it’s clear her breeding program is spreading across the globe like a successful oil slick.

More Information: KWPN Championships

GJ for KWPN
Photo: Jacob Melissen