Much to his surprise, Jan Greve was announced as Jumper Breeder of the Year in Ermelo. His entire family was present during this award ceremony.

“I noticed the carriage and thought to myself: ‘Ah fun, it’s readied for the breeder of the year election. For not one moment it came to mind that I could be the one to be bestowed with this honour this year. I am very happy my family is here so we can experience it together”, responds Jan Greve.

Progressive

Jan Greve earned this distinction thanks to his enormous progressiveness, vision and achievements. As a breeder and stallion owner he is always looking for new blood and is especially likes thorough bred genes. Health has always been on the priorities. Greve bred very successful horses in multiple breeding directions. Together with Henk Nijhof, the founder of veterinary clinic De Watermolen purchased the then-two-year-old stallion Voltaire in 1981, the stallion that would mark the start of his stud farm. In the eighties and nineties Jan Greve brought several thoroughbred horses to the Netherlands, such as Mytens xx, Julio Mariner xx, Colway Bold xx, Painter’s Row xx and Albaran xx. Thanks to stallions such as the international sport stallions Guidam, Carambole and Karandasj, Jan Greve has left his mark on modern jumper breeding. 

Grand Prix horses

The own breeding program of Jan Greve produced a wide range of international jumper horses. He is inextricably linked to the Twiggy-line, out of which he bred, among others, the international sports stallion Creool. Aboard that stallion, daughter Joffra won team bronze at the 1997 EC for Youth. Later, son Willem won silver at the National Championships and the combination participated in the EC of Münchwillen. Other successful horses from this lineage are the Ramiro-son Domino and the international sports stallion Madison. Jan Greve also obtained fantastic results with the lineage of Mermus R-daughter Selien: he bred the Grand Prix mare Ellen out of this dam line, that in turn produced stand-out horses Karelien W, Kathelien W and the KWPN-approved stallion Lifestyle. Jan Greve bred many horses that advanced to the highest level, including the Quidam de Revel-daughter Kyraleen, the Madison-sons Vandavid and Barrichello, the Guidam-offspring Wietvot, Carambole-daughter Facybelle, Viceroy T-son Gonzalo and the successful Coolcorron Cool Diamond-son Waterford.

Presented stallions

The presentation included the KWPN-approved stallions Mees van de Watermolen (s.Vannan), Lingo van de Watermolen (s.Connect) and On the Spot (s.Diamant de Swmilly). All these accomplishments make Jan Greve a well-deserved winner of the Breeder of the Year 2023 election. His sons Willem and Kees are two fervent successors in this dynasty.  

Photo Jacky van Tartwijk Horses.nl/Paardenkrant