With 44 talented combinations, the Five-year-old qualification class at the Longines FEI/WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses was well filled. The highest placed KWPN gelding Nero (by Ferguson out of the ster mare Git Odette W by Totilas) received the ultimate score of 10 for his walk. The ride of Bart Veeze and Nero was very appealing and eventually good for a score of 87.80, the sixth place and a spot in the final on Saturday. Nero stayed well focused on his rider and moved through the performance in a light-footed way. In addition to the 10 for his walk, Nero also received a 9 for perspective. Nero was bred by Titan Wilaras and is registered by Bruver B.V. and Stal Rom Vermunt. In the mare line we find several approved stallions and the Grand Prix dressage horse Foundation (by United).

Finishing in twelfth place in this class, we find another KWPN horse: the approved stallion Nalegro, presented by Charlotte Fry. The combination scored 82.60 points. A real powerhouse with a lot of 'go' and power from the hind leg, a beautiful silhouette and the trot as a highlight. Nalegro's father is Painted Black and his dam is the preferent ster mare Jalegrofleur (by Negro), the full sister of the Olympic winner Valegro. Like Valegro, Nalegro was bred by Joop and Maartje Hanse from Burgh Haamstede. The black stallion is registered with Van Olst Horses.

Dutch bloodlines
Today’s finalists will also include a few 'half' KWPN horses, such as the number two of the class Skyline to B, who comes out of Amazone, a daughter of Ampère. The number five No Limit is a son of Geniaal and Grevens Sirius comes out of ster mare by Johnson. In these horses you can see how breeders consolidate the strong points in breeding and thereby draw from different studbooks. The qualification for the 5-year-old class was won by the Danish Warmblood Valerie B, who was the only one with her rider Anne-Mette Strandby Hansen to score higher than a 9 for all parts.

Photo Nalegro: Dirk Caremans
Source: KWPN