On Sunday, with the concluding show jumping, the FEI World Breeding Eventing Championship for Young Horses, an international championship for six- and seven-year-old eventing horses, came to an exciting end in Lion d'Angers, France. Two KWPN horses earned their riders a medal.

The Dutch eventing rider, currently in top form, Merel Blom-Hulsman led the six-year-olds class with the Holstein-bred Killer Queen (I Am Special de Muze x Calido I). Close behind, Max Warburton secured silver with his KWPN gelding, Norway van de Haar (High Shutterfly out of Jessica by Sammartini, breeder H.J. Verheul from Haarzuilens). The Brit went clear and within time in the cross-country phase and repeated that performance in show jumping. Throughout all phases, the pair showed consistent form, and this modern eventing horse is showing great potential for the future.

Bronze
In the seven-year-olds class, the bronze medal went to Samantha Lissington. The rider from New Zealand competed with two horses in the event, achieving her best result with the KWPN horse Mr. Cookie Time (Casago out of Cumarna elite IBOP(spr) by Grafiet, breeders C. Schaafsma from Vries and N. Eggink from Onnen). The combination placed in the top ten in dressage, stayed fault-free in cross-country except for a few time penalties, and left all the rails up in the show jumping phase. A remarkable achievement in a field of no less than 64 competitors. The enthusiasm for this championship seems to be increasing year after year.

G. Jansen for KWPN