Bred by D. Nanning from Dalfsen

Photo: Stefan Lafrentz

Alamo and rider Sergio Alvarez Moya have only formed a combination as of April this year, but they already performed well at the top levels. Right away in April the pair claimed the 3* Grand Prix of Gorla Minore and afterwards the 5* Grand Prix of the Global Champions Tour in Berlin. Alamo also jumped to a top-three placement in the second round of the Global Championships Tour of London and Rome. During the 5* Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix in Prague, Alamo performed two clear rounds, resulting in the second prize. Until one-and-a-half year ago, the Ukato-son was competed by Steve Guerdat, they won the World Cup final of 2019.

Bred by: W. Wijnen from Berlicum

Photo: Dirk Caremans

The most successful duo of 2021 must be Explosion W and Ben Maher. The combination won individual gold at the Olympic Games of Tokyo last summer. The golden duo also won the heavy 5* Rolex Grand Prix of Windsor and the Global Championships Tour Grand Prix of Valkenswaard. In addition, the stallion added the Global Championships Tour competitions in Samorin and Madrid to his impressive track record. Besides the Olympic Games and the Global Championships Tour, he delivered numerous other top performances at the highest level. He placed fourth in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen and let’s not forget his accomplishments at the European Championships of Rotterdam where he won team bronze. Individually, the combination held on to the leading position until the last day when an unfortunate rail led to the silver medal. Explosion W also claimed the third place at the 5* Global Championships Tour Super Grand Prix in Prague.

Bred by: H.J. de Jong and A. Valk from Gorinchem

Photo: Dirk Caremans

If there is one combination for whom the corona break has been advantageous, it is Gio and Charlotte Dujardin. The ten-year-old gelding won the bronze team medal at the Olympic Games of Tokyo last summer. In the freestyle to music, the combination set a new personal best of 88,54%. That score procured them an individual bronze medal. Gio has now performed twelve international Grand Prix test and he won five of them.

Bred by: G. Gijsbers from Loosbroek

Photo: Dirk Caremans

In October 2020, Dinja van Liere and the stallion Hermès made their debut in the national Grand Prix. During the CDI4* Hagen earlier this year, they made their debut in the international classes. The combination drew attention everywhere, including from the Dutch national coach. Hermès was added to the longlist of the Olympic Games in Tokyo and secured a spot in the Dutch team. Due to an administrative error, the combination was not allowed to participate in Tokyo. They recovered and helped the team win the Nations Cup in Rotterdam. In September they went to Aachen where they won the 5* Grand Prix with 78% and placed second in the freestyle to music with 86,74%. During their first world cup competition that was organised in Herning, they placed third with 84,36%.

Bred by: A.J. van Os from Sprang-Capelle

Photo: Dirk Caremans

At the Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses 2021 we witnessed how the black beauty Kjento claimed the gold with his rider Charlotte Fry. The six-year-old stallion received no less than four tens for his final test in Verden. Kjento also qualified for the world championships in 2020, but these were cancelled due to corona measures. So was the stallion competition, however the stallions showed their talents in an ability test in Ermelo. Kjento scored the highest points: 90 in total, while his trot was awarded the ultimate ten.

Bred by: G.M. van Mersbergen from Udenhout

Photo: Dirk Caremans

The merely nine years of age Leone Jei and rider Martin Fuchs have had a tremendously successful year. The two won silver at the European Championships of Riesenbeck, jumped two clear rounds in the 5* FEI Nations Cup of St. Gallen and thereby contributed to the third place of the team. Mid-July, Leone Jei was runner-up in the 5* Rolex Grand Prix of the Masters of Chantilly and in the Longines Grand Prix of La Baule he obtained the third position.