Bred by J.W. Rodenburg, Ouderkerk aan den IJssel

Photo: Dirk Caremans

The KWPN stallion Glamourdale has already built an impressive career with outstanding achievements, including double bronze at the Paris Olympics. Named KWPN Horse of the Year in both 2020 and 2023, he is once again nominated for this prestigious title. The champion of the 2014 KWPN Stallion Show won the World Championship for Young Dressage Horses in 2018 and became a double world champion in 2022 with his regular rider, Charlotte Fry, in the Grand Prix Special and the Freestyle to Music. In 2023, Glamourdale earned team gold for Great Britain and individual silver with an incredible score of 92.38% at the European Championships in Riesenbeck. This year, the KWPN stallion continued to impress, claiming Olympic bronze with 88.97% and winning major events like CHIO Aachen with over 80%. Glamourdale also makes significant contributions to breeding, boasting 1,354 offspring and five approved sons. Sixteen of his offspring are competing at ZZ-Zwaar level or higher, with two sons even competing at Grand Prix level.

Bred by G. Gijsbers, Loosbroek

Photo: Dirk Caremans

Hermès and Dinja van Liere delivered strong performances at this year’s Olympics, where their Freestyle to Music earned an impressive 88.43%, just 0.5% shy of a bronze medal. The son of Easy Game has stood out since his youth, winning bronze at the 2016 World Championship for Young Dressage Horses and leading the Anemone Horse Trucks Stallion Competition in Den Bosch. In 2021, he won CHIO Aachen with 78.02% in the Grand Prix and took second place in the Grand Prix Freestyle with 86.74%. That same year, he was crowned Dressage Horse of the Year. In 2022, Hermès placed third with 84.36% in his first World Cup competition in Herning. In 2024, the KWPN stallion and his Dutch rider continued their success, winning the Freestyle to Music at CHIO Rotterdam with 87.83%. Hermès excels not only in sport but also in breeding, with 192 offspring, including one approved son, Pantheon (out of Watradin ster PROK by San Remo), who scored an impressive 84.5 points in his performance test.

Bred by J. de Bruijn, Schelluinen

Photo: Dirk Caremans

Indian Rock also competed at the Olympics, placing fourth with the Dutch team. His individual Freestyle to Music earned a score of 81.75%. The career of this Apache son began with great promise. The champion of the 2016 KWPN Stallion Inspection made his international Prix St. Georges debut in 2021 with a winning score of 73.92%. A year later, he won his first international Grand Prix with 74.26% and triumphed in the Small Tour final at the Dutch Championships with 75.21%. In 2024, Indian Rock continued to shine, starting the year by winning the World Cup in Neumünster with 81.56%. Beyond his impressive sport career, Indian Rock is making strides in breeding with 454 offspring. Though still young, his offspring show great promise in talent tests, such as his daughter Pretty Girl (out of Gipsy Girl keur EPTM-dres by Ampère) with 80 points in her IBOP test and Nalien (out of Zarlien stb pref by Krack C) with 85.5 points in her IBOP test.

Bred by M.G. Kramer-van der Meer, Oud-Beijerland

Photo: Dirk Caremans

Kannan, the leader of the WBFSH Sire Ranking, has been immensely influential in global showjumping breeding. The Voltaire son himself competed at the highest level and was recognized by the KWPN in 2005. With French rider Michel Hecart, Kannan won several Grand Prix events and Nations Cups. His exceptional qualities live on through his offspring. With 945 KWPN-registered offspring and ten KWPN-approved sons, his legacy is immense. It’s no surprise this stallion tops the WBFSH Sire Ranking and is fifth in the eventing ranking. Kannan passed away in 2020 at the age of 28 due to cardiac arrest.

Bred by C. Viscaal, Albergen

Photo: Dirk Caremans

Imagine and rider Kim Emmen delivered an outstanding performance at the Olympic Games of Paris, with three clear rounds after Emmen took over the reins from Irish rider Conor Drain in October 2023. Kim praises the Cassini Gold gelding: “He’s not easily impressed and feels incredibly safe, which makes him easy to ride.” In Valencia, the pair achieved two clear rounds in the Big Tour, and during this year’s Grand Prix in Maastricht, they finished fourth after two clear rounds.

Bred by Stoeterij Gaesbeek V.O.F., Ruinen

Photo: Dirk Caremans

Glamour Girl’s international career began at age six with Senne Thomas. Later, Charlotte Bettendorf took the reins, and in 2018, they placed fourth at the World Championships for seven-year-olds. Under Swedish rider Henrik von Eckermann, Glamour Girl has become nearly unstoppable, achieving win after win. This year alone, the Zirocco Blue VDL mare claimed victories in the 1.55m in Geneva, both the 1.50m and 1.55m in Doha, and the 1.45m in Madrid. She also secured two wins at the CSI5* competition in Mexico City and triumphed in the Grand Prix qualifier in Valkenswaard before finishing third in the 1.60m. This is just a snapshot of their many international victories.