During the show evening of the KWPN Stallion Show, Vivaldi was honoured as Dressage Horse of the Year 2025. The influential stallion, who passed away in 2025, received this title thanks to the public, who voted for him in large numbers.

More than 4,000 votes were cast in the Horse of the Year election, with the majority going to Vivaldi (Krack C out of Renate-Utopia ster pref prest D-OC by Jazz). The stallion was represented this evening by his two Grand Prix sons Desperado and Dream Boy. In total, Vivaldi produced more than sixty Grand Prix horses and succeeded in establishing his own sire line both in the Netherlands and internationally.

Beloved
Present at the ceremony were Vivaldi’s rider Hans Peter Minderhoud, as well as his last owners Joop van Uytert and Ad Valk, and the daughters of the late Antoon Versantvoort, Vivaldi’s breeder. “Vivaldi’s offspring are loved by every rider because of their good character and rideability,” explained Floor Dröge. “Vivaldi’s breeding influence reaches far and wide; I think there is hardly a show or competition where we do not see a horse with Vivaldi in its pedigree. We are pleased that the general public once again recognises and appreciates this influential stallion.”

MvE for KWPN
Photo: Dirk Caremans