Traditionally, Thursday evening at the KWPN Stallion Show concludes with the VHO Trophy. Last year, Lambada Shake AG convincingly claimed the overall victory, but which stallions will take center stage this year in the highlight of the KWPN Stallion Show’s showjumping evening?

One pair eager to secure the win is Stargos VDL (Stakkato Gold out of Estella by Conthargos, bred by W. Winkeler of Herzlake) ridden by Hessel Hoekstra. This combination won the Blom Stallion Competition in the 1.20m class in 2023 and repeated their success in 2024 by claiming the 1.30/1.35m class of the same competition. Another offspring of the same sire, Menno H (out of Toy H ster pref prest sport-spr by Baloubet du Rouet, bred by P.H. van Hees of Uden), will also compete for the VHO Trophy with Joep van der Kampen.

Successful competition records
Several stallions competing for the VHO Trophy have also won in previous stallion competitions. For example, Mindset ES (Aganix du Seigneur out of Hosanne ES keur pref sport-spr by Kannan, bred by E. Schep of Tull en ’t Waal) took the 1.10m title in 2022 and will now compete with Alex David Gill. That same year, La Costa ES (Mosito van het Hellehof out of Isolde ES elite pref sport-spr PROK by Cumano, bred by E. Schep of Tull en ’t Waal) won the 1.20m class and will now partner with Frank Schuttert. Also in different competition the stallions are successful. Don Tarpania Z (Dominator Z out of Iralinde Tarpania ster pref sport-spr PROK by Glasgow-W van het Merelsnest, bred by A.P.G. de Lange of Swifterbant) won the 1.30m classes in both Kessel and Compiègne, ridden by Lars Kuster.

Breeding success
Beyond sport achievements, these stallions also stand out in breeding. Cero Blue TN (Chacoon Blue out of Die Cera by Balou du Rouet Z, bred by H. Thormaehlen of Kollmar Langenhals) was approved in 2023 with an impressive 91 points, making him the top scorer of his group. McAllister VDL (Inaico VDL out of Zoklahoma VDL ster pref prest by Emilion, bred by VDL Stud of Bears), ridden by Jur Vrieling, was premium stallion at the 2020 KWPN Stallion Show. Rianne Nalis will ride Mr Cornet de Regor (Cornet Obolensky out of Ohaj de Regor by Kannan, bred by W. van de Plasse of Kruiningen), the third-highest ranked stallion in the first round viewing of 2024.

Dam sire Quick Star
The 2018 stallion champion, Kannan Jr. (Cornet Obolensky out of Van Meta ster prest sport-spr PROK by Quick Star, bred by M.G. Kramer van der Meer of Oud-Beijerland and S. van der Lei of Sint-Michielsgestel), will compete under Jur Vrieling. Another stallion by the KWPN-recognized Quick Star (v. Galoubet A) is Horizontal (Casall out of Mel D’Argences, bred by Tops Horse Trading BV of Valkenswaard), who will be ridden by Maikel van der Vleuten.

Exciting showjumping
The lineup also features Maximus VDL (Zirocco Blue VDL out of Daloma elite pref IBOP-spr sport-spr PROK by Verdi, bred by H.W.J. Grol of Muntendam) with Marcel de Boer, A Moonlight Speciale Z (Aganix du Seigneur out of Double-Speciale ster PROK by Chacco Blue, bred by G.J.W. Verstappen of Swalmen) with Pieter Keunen, and Cote D’Or (Carambole out of Diamonds Billy by Diamant de Semilly) ridden by Dirk de Meersman. With such an impressive array of participants, this promises to be an exciting evening of showjumping.

KWPN Stallion Show
From January 29 to February 1 2025, the Brabanthallen in Den Bosch will transform into the highlight of Dutch sport and breeding during the KWPN Stallion Show. Alongside the stallion selection, enjoy a fantastic program featuring thrilling sport and show classes showcasing the best of the Dutch sport horse world. Don’t have a ticket yet? Order yours quickly. Can’t attend in person? The KWPN Stallion Show will also be streamed live on the renewed KWPN.tv.

Overview page for KWPN Stallion Show

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Source: KWPN
Photo of Stargos VDL: Dirk Caremans