With fall just around the corner, it’s once again time for the stallion competitions. The Anemone Horse Trucks Stallion Competition Dressage, the Blom Stallion Competition Jumping, and the Gelder Horse Stallion Competition offer breeders the unique opportunity to see young KWPN stallions in action. The dates and locations for the competition events have now been announced.

On Monday, November 18, the season opens with the dressage and Gelderlander stallions in Kronenberg, followed by the showjumping stallions a day later. The dressage and Gelderlander stallions will continue their season in Ermelo and Groningen, while the showjumping stallions will appear in IJsselmuiden and Groningen. After three rounds, the stallion competitions will culminate with the finals at the KWPN Stallion Show 2025. The public is warmly invited to attend and watch the young stallions live. The stallion competitions will also be streamed on KWPN.TV.

Overview dates stallion competition

Date	Location	Place	Discipline
Monday 19 November 2024	Equestrian Centre De Peelbergen	Kronenberg	Dressage/Gelder horse
Tuesday 19 November 2024	Equestrian Centre De Peelbergen	Kronenberg	Jumping
Friday 6 December 2024	NHC- Willem-Alexanderhal	Ermelo	Dressage/Gelder horse
Tuesday 10 December 2024	Deltaruiters	IJsselmuiden	Jumping
Monday 6 January 2025	IICHG	Groningen	Dressage/Gelder horse/jumping

Ban on trimming tactile hairs
In the equestrian world, horses’ tactile hairs around the mouth and eyes are often trimmed for aesthetic purposes. Prioritizing appearance over functionality, regardless of whether it is harmful, is not considered desirable from a welfare standpoint. Trimming a horse's tactile hairs can impair its sensory abilities, potentially hindering it. Therefore, to promote horse welfare, a ban on trimming tactile hairs and inner ear hair was implemented from the 2022 inspection season onward. Stallions with tactile hairs entirely removed around the mouth and eyes, or with the hair inside their ears shaved, may not participate in stallion selections or other KWPN events and competitions.

Source: KWPN
Photo Jameson RS2: Dirk Caremans