This afternoon, the selected stallions for the KWPN Select Sale of jumping horses will be auctioned during the KWPN Stallion Show. Jacques Marée, Rom Vermunt, and Daan Horn are involved in the KSS and share more about it in the studio program led by Charlotte Dekker.

The KWPN Select Sale has been around for over 20 years, auctioning several top horses and influential sires, such as the recent Hartsuijker by Dinja van Liere. According to Jacques Marée, chairman of the KSS, the key to success is that the stallion collection is curated by a group of experienced professionals who know what to look for. Marée emphasizes the advantages for buyers when purchasing through the KSS: "All information about the horses is collected and made available to the buyer. The entire process is transparent. The buyer can present the information, such as videos and comprehensive veterinary reports, to their own advisors."

Own performance
The KSS selection committee has chosen nineteen jumping stallions, of which eight have been referred to the performance test. Daan Horn explains: "A jumping stallion must be able to jump; that is the first criterion. We look at functional conformation, commitment, willingness to work, and the dam line. But most importantly, the stallion must convince with its own performance." Rom Vermunt is new to the selection committee this year. He is satisfied with the collection: "In recent years, great strides have been made, also on the part of the contributors. We select stallions that we expect to be approved. Moreover, they must be fine sport horses that people will enjoy in the future. After all, most stallions end up in the sport."

Sport and breeding
Jacques Marée joined the General Board in December. Many people know him as a veterinarian, stallion owner, and his involvement in the sport. Marée sees the challenge in the coming years as combining sport and breeding: "What does the sport demand from breeding? Dressage horses that move lightly and with a lot of suppleness score points with the judges. These are horses that are light and easy to ride but also move with power and impulsion. A horse won't reach the Grand Prix if it can't piaffe. We need to breed horses that can meet that goal."

Critical
Health is a crucial aspect in breeding and often sparks discussions. As a veterinarian, Jacques Marée has an opinion: "Currently, there is a very critical look at X-rays in trade, not always justified in my opinion. We, as a studbook, need to align with what the sport and the market demand in terms of health requirements. For this, we have established a veterinary committee. We will continue to select based on health aspects. The veterinary committee will determine what the bottom line is, what we accept and what we don't."

Welfare
In the discussion about horse welfare, the trio at the table believes it is good to increase the minimum age of young stallions in the performance test. Marée states: "Stallions of less than three years in the performance test are not desirable in terms of horse welfare. I am a strong advocate of shifting the selection to the autumn." Rom Vermunt thinks this is a good initiative: "People are slowly getting used to it. In practice, you can already see that stallions are being submitted later in the year." Daan adds that not only the physical resilience of stallions should be considered but also their mental resilience: "If you give horses more time and prepare them calmly, you achieve more." Jacques Marée notes that he would like to agree that untested stallions should not be used for breeding: "Using only tested stallions will advance breeding."

AvdL for KWPN / Photo: Dirk Caremans

In the photo from left to right: Charlotte Dekker, Jacques Marée, Rom Vermunt, and Daan Horn

Are you also looking for a good sport horse and/or a future approved stallion? Then check out the collection of the KWPN Select Sale. On Thursday, February 1, the jumping horses will go under the hammer, followed by the dressage stallions on Saturday, February 3. In addition to live bidding, it is also possible to place an online or telephone bid.

www.kwpn.auction