One of Carl Hester’s New Year’s resolutions was to make his Grand Prix debut with the KWPN Ekitof (Zucchero x Negro x Joost). He did that last weekend in Hartpury and won with over 71%. Nothing special you may say, but it was only the seventh competition in his life for the Zucchero-son, who is known for being quirky. The last time the black roan, whose stable name is Blackie, was in the ring was just over a year ago. Ekitof, bred by Gertjan van Olst and D. Faro from ‘s-Gravenmoer, moved as a young horse to Carl Hester’s yard. Ridden by Amy Woodhead, the Zucchero-son won the British Championship for five-year-old dressage horses. He was then ridden by Charlotte Dujardin. Two years later Dujardin was national champion with the gelding at Advanced Medium-level.

 ‘Not a horse for the fainthearted’

Between the championship and the Grand Prix debut the quirky Blackie was only competed once, in the Prix St Georges. “He really went straight from the Small Tour to the Grand Prix and was fairly wound up.”said Carl Hester after the horse’s first competition for a year. Hester explained to Horse&Hound: “He is not a horse for the fainthearted – you have to really have a sense of humour to ride him. When he was at the Championships with Charlotte it took three of us to take him into the ring. But then he immediately won!”

 “I’m never doing that again’

Hester continued: “We always thought that once Blackie was fully trained he would become more obedient. It just took a long time to teach him everything. At first he didn’t seem to have any talent, but now that he has learnt everything he is actually very talented. He was just exceptionally lazy – after the championship Charlotte said ‘I’m never doing that again’. But I’m now really pleased.” Carl Hester became attached to the horse and the plans for the tuna-sandwich-eating Blackie are now a couple more national competitions in the Big Tour and then international.

Source: Horses.nl

Twenty-two EPTM-mares took their exams on 25^th January. Seven dressage-mares, fourteen jumping-mares and the very first Gelderland mare who took the test for Gelderland horses. All the mares passed. Judge Henk Dirksen: “It was a positive EPTM-test, the majority of the horses were good to ride right from the start. The mares have made good progress over the past few weeks, resulting in us awarding six mares 80 points or more.”

 Of the seven dressage-mares, five mares were presented for studbook inspection and three mares were promoted to keur or elite. One mare was already in possession of the studbook predicate and after passing the EPTM-test this mare immediately became ster. The mare that was placed at the top during the Central Inspection was George Clooney-daughter Kurona (out of Vurona elite IBOP-dres sport-dres pref prest PROK by Negro, breeder Chr. De Feyter Seydlitz from Axel) owned by M.P. Vanderstappen-Keyzer from Rockanje. “A mare with a good walk that is clear-cut and active. Her elasticity and light-footedness especially attracted attention.” The mare was awarded 70 points for conformation and 80 points for movement. She also had the highest score of the dressage-mares in the EPTM-test, with 79 points.

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Bron: KWPN.nl

On Wednesday 24^th January the Small Tour debut was on the programme for Charlotte Fry and For Your Eyes Only. The big son of Lord Leatherdale x Concorde rode to a splendid 2^nd place on a score of 67.28%. “Here and there it was a little hesitant and we missed the 4-time change” according to Lottie. “There is still a lot of progress to be made but for now I am very satisfied”.

For your eyes Only: Lord Leatherdale x Concorde x Goudsmid-Breeders; Familie van Alphen, Gameren

During the IBOP test in Oosteind last Tuesday 18^th December, the Everdale-daughter Kahlua scored the highest points.

This elegant mare showed herself to have great allure and carriage and allowed herself to be easily ridden by our stable rider Juan Rodriquez Carvajal. For the trot, canter, carriage and rideability she scored an 8.5. Her final score totalled 81 points. Juan also rode Kayleigh NA to a splendid score of 80 points. The Negro-daughter scored an 8.0 for each of the sections.

IBOP Oosteind

Kahlua: Everdale x Scandic-Breeders; J.& S. van Eekeren, Bergen op Zoom (81 points)

Kayleigh NA: Negro x Lord Leatherdale-Breeder; N. van Rooijen, Lage Zwaluwe (80 points)

Kalua: Negro x Montreal-Breeder; P. van de Brandt, Volkel (76 points)

Izzy-Lo: Chippendale x Polansky-Breeder; J. Rodenburg, Ouderkerk aan den IJssel (80 points)

IBOP Tolbert

K-Pax MG: Lord Leatherdale x Oscar-Breeder; M. Overberg, Heerde (77 points)

Jutah: Everdale x Gribaldi-Breeder; M. Holwerda, Drachtster Compagnie (76.5 points)

During the IBOP test in Lisse the top score of the day went to the five-year-old Inana B (Painted Black out of Emma B pref PROK by Jazz), bred by Combinatie Bleeker from Nijverdal. With a 9 for trot and an 8.5 for carriage & balance and rideability and trainability, she finished on 82 points.

 “This is a very nice, complete mare with a fantastic trot technique”, wrote Dirk Reijne enthusiastically who was judging together with Floor Dröge. “She has a good hind leg action and can switch movement well. In addition, she has good self-carriage, good trainability and is a beautiful, uphill-built mare.” Thanks to this good IBOP, Inana B now has Elite status.

Bron: KWPN