Breeding is a passion that often stems from the love of horses. And how wonderful is it when a couple can share this passion. It makes even sadder when one of the two is no longer with us to experience the success. 

Unfortunately, that’s the tale of the Breeder of the Year 2023: Jelke and Linda Heida. Linda passed away last spring. 

Chances

Last KWPN Stallon Show, Linda witnessed two stallions getting appointed to the performance test. Their small breeding program produced jumper and dressage horses that reached the highest level of sport. Breeding a good sport horse comes first, and the pair then did everything they could to provide these horses with the best chances to develop their natural abilities. 

Jumping and dressage

The couple started off with two mares in the 80s, both of which generated success in their own way. Wamberto, an offspring of the Luitenant Generaal-mare Twiggy, was announced champion of the Stallion Show. Veronica, a daughter of the thoroughbred Wahtamin, laid down the foundation of top progenitor Blue Hors Zack. 

Carefully nurtured dam line

The Linda-line also traces back to Twiggy. A line that is quickly labeled a dressage lineage because of the Grand Prix horses such as Cupido and Witschge. However, this carefully nurtured dam line also produced the KWPN-recognized 1.60m stallion Talan and the 1.50m mare Happy Linda. 

The memory of Linda lives on in the quality horses bred and to be bred by Jelle. 

Photo Jacob Melissen