Show jumping rider Suus Kuyten purchased the now KWPN-approved stallion Story of the Year PP last year at the KWPN Select Sale. She immediately had a good feeling about the son of Cavalier Russe Z: “He is a stunning black horse with an excellent jump.” Story of the Year PP (out of Madermie PP by Iron Man van de Padenborre, breeder Stal Poppelaars) was approved by the KWPN this autumn, receiving high praise from the KWPN stallion selection committee. Chairman Wout-Jan van der Schans highlighted the stallion’s positive attitude and willingness to work. He jumps with great power, very good reflexes, correct frontleg technique, and excellent use of his body. A true sport horse This was also clear to Suus Kuyten, who purchased the stallion in early 2025 through the KWPN Select Sale. Kuyten notes that assessing a stallion during the KWPN Stallion Show in ’s-Hertogenbosch can sometimes be challenging. “I had already seen very good videos of Story of the Year PP at the first round viewing. I find Den Bosch a difficult venue because it can be quite overwhelming for the horses. Some completely lose their form there. Story of the Year didn’t, though, he actually became a bit rushed. That’s a quality I like to see in a horse: it often means you need to hold them back a little under saddle. When he was later saddle broken, he proved sensitive enough, with plenty of blood. But once everything clicked, he performed extremely well.” Kuyten also points to the strong offspring of Cavalier Russe Z: “I think he produces very well. Story of the Year PP is a very sporty horse, and that always catches my eye. Naturally, there is already a lot of interest in him, including from some very well-known names, so I can’t promise he won’t be sold.” Previous KSS success: Power Man Previously, Kuyten also purchased the now-gelded stallion Power Man (by Jukebox) at the KWPN Select Sale. This year, Power Man competed in the five-year-old final at the world championships in Lanaken. Kuyten sold him last December through her own auction. “Power Man is a very beautiful horse, which is something KWPN is well known for. I bought him online at the time because I was away at a competition. My first impression of a stallion is often correct, so far, the horses I’ve bought based solely on video have actually turned out to be my biggest successes. All stallions in the KWPN Select Sale are carefully selected, and the jury consists of top experts, so you know there won’t be any unpleasant surprises.” Kuyten plans to attend the upcoming KWPN Select Sale during the KWPN stallion show as well. “I’m already looking forward to a fun day in Den Bosch, watching from your seat and seeing which stallion catches your eye. Auctions are really my thing. At the KWPN Select Sale, I often try to follow a stallion that advances to the third round viewing, but my main focus will always remain on sport.” Don’t miss the KWPN Select Sale Are you looking for a top sport horse or a future approved stallion? Visit the KWPN Select Sale. On Thursday, 29 January, the show jumping horses will go under the hammer, followed by the dressage stallions on Saturday, 31 January. In addition to live bidding, it is also possible to place bids online or by telephone. If you have any questions about the auction, please contact +31 341 255 511 or email selectsale@kwpn.nl. The collection will be available online around 9 January at  www.kwpn.auction . JM for KWPN

Under the saddle of Dinja van Liere, one of the top horses from the 2020 KWPN Select Sale is currently developing toward top-level sport. After three successful World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, Mauro Turfhorst (by Zonik) also showed his best side last summer in the Small Tour. This year, the stallion was acquired by the N.O.P.-foundation and now carries the suffix N.O.P.T. Bred by Jan Greve, Mauro Turfhorst (out of Hidaylia ster by Negro) was sold through the KWPN Select Sale to Reesink Horses B.V. and Stoeterij Turfhorst B.V. As an almost four-year-old, he came under the saddle of Reesink’s stable rider Dinja van Liere, who has previously ridden KSS horses Hartsuijker and Capri Sonne Jr. Despite his still short career, the stallion has already enjoyed considerable success. He performed well in the KWPN Stallion Competition, reached the final of the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses three times, won silver at the Dutch Dressage Championships at ZZ-Zwaar level, and even claimed gold in the Small Tour this year. On the Way to the Grand Prix Van Liere explains that the stallion is already well advanced toward taking his first steps at Grand Prix level. “He finds everything very easy, but I still want to dot the i’s before we enter the ring. He is quite bold, but can sometimes also be a bit unsure, and I don’t want him to feel insecure during a test. That’s why I want him to be 100% certain about what is expected of him first. At home, for example, he already goes very easily in and out of piaffe, but in a test everything has to happen at exactly the right spot. I want to confirm that just a little bit better.” The rider is full of praise for the stallion, who according to her performs his work with great ease. “He has an easy body. He can collect well, but can just as easily stretch forward. He is very flexible yet strong enough. He also has an easy neck and is light in the contact, which makes him very pleasant to ride.” Focus on LA 2028 Van Liere has many plans with Mauro Turfhorst, but whether she wants to aim for the World Championships in Aachen next summer with him is still uncertain. “That remains to be seen; first we want to see how he actually handles the Grand Prix ring. If that goes the same way as at home, I think it will be very good. Mauro needs very little competition experience to perform well in the arena too.” For the World Championships in Aachen, the initial focus is on Imposantos, and Van Liere prefers to give Mauro Turfhorst and McLaren a bit more time. “Ultimately, I want them to be good enough for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, and that takes priority over the World Championships next year. If Mauro runs his first Grand Prix tests very easily, we may ride the observation competitions. But if that’s not the case yet, we certainly won’t rush things.” Don’t Miss the KWPN Select Sale Are you looking for a top sport horse or a future approved stallion? Then visit the KWPN Select Sale. On Thursday, January 29, the showjumping horses will go under the hammer, followed by the dressage stallions on Saturday, January 31. In addition to live bidding, it is also possible to place bids online and by telephone. Do you have questions about the auction? Please contact us via +31 341-255511 or email selectsale@kwpn.nl. The collection will be available online around January 9 at  www.kwpn.auction . JM for KWPN Photo Mauro Turfhorst: Hippo Foto Media

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

This afternoon in Ermelo, not only the dressage stallions were evaluated during the re-inspection, but also one Gelder stallion. This son of O’Toto van de Wimphof brings the total number of Gelder stallions selected for the second round viewing to five. The Gelder Horse Stallion Selection Committee did not come to Ermelo without reason today. During the first round viewing powered by AJ Bedrijfsdiensten, they assessed one stallion in the re-inspection, who fits well within the group of four Gelder stallions already selected for the KWPN Stallion Show. Toto O’Bala KH (O’Toto van de Wimphof out of Ambala R elite sport-dres PROK by Tango, bred by P. and S.S. Kempenaar from Wetsens) received the green light from the selection committee. Previously, Gelder stallions by Barton VDL, Glock’s Energy, Jupiler S, and Ojee–B had already been invited to the second round viewing. Overview page of the first round viewing with all selected stallions JS for KWPN

A total of 97 dressage stallions have been invited to the KWPN Stallion Show, including 13 stallions that were selected today during the re-inspection of the first round viewing powered by AJ Bedrijfsdiensten. Several offspring of young stallions received the green light today. The Stallion Selection Committee is pleased with the overall collection for the second round viewing. “We had already hoped that the re-inspection would yield some interesting stallions, and that has certainly proven to be the case. Today, we were able to select sons of several young stallions, including Red Viper, and the stallions we are taking to ’s-Hertogenbosch fit very well within the collection we assembled during the regular inspection days,” said committee chairman Bart Bax. “Five of the stallions selected today were previously presented at German stallion inspections, and I believe we now have a strong and well-balanced group to continue the selection process in Den Bosch. The overall impression already started positively during the walk, and the 13 stallions also made a good impression in free movement.” Selected Stallions JS for KWPN Photo: Horses.nl–Paardenkrant

On Saturday, January 3, 2026, the first round viewing Harness horse stallions will take place in IJsselmuiden. The timetable and group allocation have now been finalized and are available online. The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the presentation of the harness horse stallions on the hard surface. In the morning, the stallions will enter the arena in groups. After the lunch break, the program will continue with, among other elements, the presentation of the approved stallions of the 2025 crop and the further in-hand evaluation per group. Each group of stallions will be presented, followed by an explanation from the committee. Afternoon program The afternoon program includes several shows, among them the presentation of the approved stallions of the 2025 crop, including Palladium (s.Hubert VDM), Sjimmie HBC (s.Macho), Pavarotti (s.Bocellie), and Realist van Altrido (s.Innovatief). The afternoon will conclude with the Tribute Cup and the Audience Award. The harness horse stallions that are referred on will also be presented again on Saturday, January 31, during the afternoon program of the KWPN Stallion Show in ’s-Hertogenbosch. First round viewing Harness horse stallions in IJsselmuiden On Saturday, January 3, 2026, the riding school of De Deltaruiters in IJsselmuiden will be entirely dedicated to the first round viewing of the Harness horse stallions. During this inspection, the new crop of three-year-old stallions will be presented to the stallion selection committee for the first time. In addition, several approved harness horse stallions will be shown, both in hand and in harness. The public is warmly welcome in IJsselmuiden. Admission is €20, including a program booklet and parking. Tickets are only available on site and cannot be purchased in advance. For those unable to attend in person, the first inspection can be followed live via KWPN.tv . Overview page first round viewing Harness horse Timetable Groups Source: KWPN Photo: KWPN

During the 2026 KWPN Stallion Show, the KWPN will once again organize the KWPN Reproduction Symposium powered by Zoetis , exclusively for veterinarians. The symposium will take place on Thursday, January 29, at the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch. Tickets are now available via the KWPN Ticketshop. The reproduction symposium is organized in collaboration with Dier-N-artsen and Lingehoeve Oost-Nederland and focuses entirely on current knowledge, practical experience, and new developments in equine reproduction. Participation in the symposium includes access to the KWPN Stallion Show on Thursday. Program The program for the KWPN Reproduction Symposium has now been finalized and offers a full day of up-to-date and in-depth lectures on equine reproduction. Topics include ultrasonography in high-risk pregnancies, fetal development, genetic abnormalities, respiratory problems in foals, endometritis in the mare, and recent developments in semen production. International speakers from, among others, the United States, Belgium, Germany, and Spain will share their knowledge and practical experience. The day will conclude with an explanation of the Guideline and Addendum on Equine Reproduction. Wet Lab: Ultrasound of the pregnant mare New this year is the wet lab on ultrasound of the pregnant mare, which will take place on Wednesday, January 28, at an external location. This hands-on session will be led by Catherine Renaudin, an international specialist and pioneer in transrectal and transabdominal equine ultrasonography. During the wet lab, participants will have the opportunity to further deepen their knowledge and practical skills. Tickets The KWPN Reproduction Symposium will take place on Thursday, January 29, at the Brabanthallen in ’s-Hertogenbosch. Participation includes daytime and evening access to the KWPN Stallion Show, a parking pass, and catered lunch and dinner. Continuing education credits have been requested for the symposium. The wet lab on ultrasound of the pregnant mare will be held on Wednesday, January 28, at the external location d’Or Stables in Made and has limited availability. Tickets for both events are now available via the KWPN Ticketshop . More information Source: KWPN Photo: KWPN*