With the end of the year approaching, the Horse of the Year 2025 election is also nearing its conclusion. Voting for the nominated dressage and showjumping horses is open until Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

The winners of the titles Dressage Horse of the Year 2025 and Jumping Horse of the Year 2025 will be announced during the 2026 KWPN Stallion Show in ’s-Hertogenbosch, where they will be officially honored.

Dressage Horse of the Year
In the dressage category, three horses are in contention for the title. The preferent KWPN stallion Vivaldi (by Krack C) passed away several months ago at the age of 23, but has left a lasting and significant impact on dressage breeding that is still clearly visible today. Within the KWPN, he produced eleven approved sons. The second nominee is the nine-year-old Hexagons Luxuriouzz N.O.P.T. (by Johnson). This gelding made strong progress at international level this year and also represented the Dutch team at the European Championships in Crozet. The third nominee is Red Viper (by Romanov Blue Hors). This approved stallion captured the World Championship titles for both five- and six-year-olds at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses and continued his excellent form by recently winning the Anemone Stallion Competition in Kronenberg once again.

Jumping Horse of the Year
Three horses have also been nominated in the showjumping category. One of the candidates is the influential stallion Kannan (by Voltaire). The stallion passed away in 2020 at the age of 28 and left an impressive legacy in both sport and breeding. Kannan topped the WBFSH Sire Ranking in 2014 and 2024 and produced ten approved sons within the KWPN. Also nominated is the grey gelding Incredible (by Clinton). In 2025, he delivered an outstanding series of results, securing major victories with his rider, including wins at CSI5* Calgary (1.55m) and the prestigious CSI5* ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1.60m) at Spruce Meadows. The third nominee is Karonia L (by Harley VDL). The mare enjoyed an exceptionally strong season and stands out as the only mare among the nominees. Under Portuguese rider Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida, she achieved a total of 26 international victories and competed at the European Championships in La Coruña last year.

Win tickets for the KWPN Stallion Show
Voting is open until Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Everyone may cast one vote for their favorite horse. Among all voters, two tickets for the 2026 KWPN Stallion Show will be raffled. Duplicate votes will be automatically filtered out. The winners will be announced after the voting period through a draw.

KWPN Stallion Show
From January 28 to 31, 2026, the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch will once again be transformed into the absolute highlight of Dutch sport horse breeding during the KWPN Stallion Show. In addition to the stallion selection, visitors can enjoy a spectacular program featuring exciting sport and show classes, showcasing the very best of the Dutch sport horse world. Don’t have your ticket yet? Be sure to order it soon. Unable to attend in person? The KWPN Stallion Show can also be followed via the renewed KWPN.tv platform.

Vote for Horse of the Year 2025

Source: KWPN
Photo: HippoFoto