What do the harness horses Indiana, Kordaat, Erdball, and Oberon have in common? Where do the differences lie in training and education? The harness horse enjoys great appreciation as a driving horse. With its strength, posture, and expressive movement, it stands out in this equestrian discipline. These qualities make the harness horse suitable for performances in a carriage or marathon wagon in single, double, and four-in-hand driving.

Marcel Ritsma and Herman ter Harmsel explore the similarities and differences in the training of a harness horse in driving compared to a harness horse in harness horse sport. With this question, they take to the show ring on foot, equipped with a microphone. They are accompanied by three highly appealing harness horses that are now very experienced in driving, one approved KWPN breeding stallion, and a young selected stallion still in basic training.

Driving
The three harness horses in driving are the former stallion inspection champion and successful breeding stallion Indiana, ridden by Thor van de Berge. Also, the approved stallion Kordaat, with Antonie ter Harmsel, enters the arena, along with the former 2-year-old champion Erdball, ridden by Glenn Geerts. Oberon, owned by the combination of Van Manen and Thijs, is presented in this clinic by his regular rider Robbie van Dijk. The selected stallion Positief is presented by stallion raiser and trainer Klaas Buist. Positief was selected last year and even received premium status. Buist is currently training him, and the plan is to submit this young stallion for the performance test in the coming fall.

Successful trainers
Marcel Ritsma and Herman ter Harmsel are both successful trainers of harness horses and driving horses, respectively. Marcel Ritsma has excelled for years in newcomer competitions for harness horses and, in the past year, won all the championships he and his stable participated in, often with young horses. This includes the coveted victory in the newcomer competition in Bennekom. Herman ter Harmsel has extensive experience in training and educating driving horses and has also participated in international four-in-hand driving for many years. His son, Antonie ter Harmsel, who has succeeded him and is now guided by father Herman, has followed in his footsteps. In addition to training young driving horses, he has also proven to be an excellent trainer of drivers. Both gentlemen are very capable of conveying their vision, knowledge, and experience in understandable language to the audience.

The grand finale
Later in the program of the special harness horse evening, the grand finale of the international KWPN Stallion Show, international four-in-hand drivers Glenn Geerts from Belgium, Thor van de Berge from Australia, and Antonie ter Harmsel from the Netherlands will return with their four-in-hand teams. During this demonstration, under the guidance of Herman ter Harmsel, the requirements of dressage, marathon, and obstacle driving in four-in-hand driving will be highlighted. Special attention will also be given to the distinctive qualities of the harness horse, which make this breed so suitable and desirable for driving.

The KWPN Stallion Show is gearing up again. The world's largest stallion inspection will take place from January 31 to February 3 in Den Bosch. Ticket sales have already started, and KWPN members naturally receive a discount for the KWPN Stallion Show. It promises to be four fantastic days once again.

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Information KWPN Stallion Show

JM for KWPN
Photo Oberon: Dini Brouwer*