Due to the World Dressage Championships in Aachen (starting on Tuesday 11 August), Sunday 12 July will be the last day of this breeding season 2026 on which Glamourdale will be available via fresh semen. Naturally, Glamourdale will remain available via frozen semen.
Source: Horses
The Glamourdale daughter F-Grace St. has been crowned champion among the six-year-old dressage horses at the DSP Landeschampionat Bayern. The mare thereby retained her title from last year. Two years ago, in 2024, she was already crowned overall champion at the DSP Staatsprämienschau.
F-Grace St. was bred by Alois Steidl out of Fabienne (Fürstenball x Diamond Hit). In combination with Dream Boy, this mare previously produced the DSP-premiumed Datejust.
Under Ralf Kornprobst, F-Grace St. dominated the class for six-year-olds with an impressive average score of 8.86. Thanks to her title, the mare is now allowed to use the prefix DSP.
Influential mare lines once again proved their worth at the Oldenburg State Championship in Höven. Several dressage champions and podium horses come from families that have been producing top horses for generations. Dutch breeding was also represented on the podium, including through Kjento.
KWPN stallion Kjento took third place among the three-year-old mares and geldings with Nexolia Kyniska (dam: Vivaldi). Under Jessica Lynn-Thomas, the mare achieved an average of 8.3, with Rideability making a particularly strong impression. She received a 9.0 for that component.
Nexolia Kyniska is a full sister to Keaton, who was the absolute top seller as a two-year-old at the Blue Hors Youngster Auction in 2024. The stallion fetched 62,000 euros there. From the same dam, in combination with Bonds, also emerges a stallion selected for the KWPN Performance Test.
Henk Rootveld’s four-year-old Kjento daughter Sweet Seven was the standout performer today at the IBOP in Sonnega. This extremely talented mare passed with the top score of 91.5 points.
Inspector Wim Versteeg and Henk Dirksen assessed 16 dressage horses at the IBOP in Sonnega today, 14 of which passed. In addition, all five participating show jumping mares passed this one-day aptitude test.
Top Talent
The four-year-old NMK mare Sweet Seven (Kjento out of the Light Tour mare Up Seven STV keur sport-dres by OO Seven), bred by H. Rootveld from Winterswijk Meddo, showed a fantastic performance under Bart Veeze. She received a 9.5 for trot, canter, suppleness, and posture & balance, in addition to a 9 for aptitude as a dressage horse, and as a result, she was immediately promoted to elite status. “This is truly a very striking horse and she was presented very well. She walks cleanly, spaciously, with composure and a good overstep. Her trot is exceptional, with appealing foreleg technique and very good hind leg use. She can already shift gears very well in this gait and achieve carrying capacity. Her canter is uphill and impressive, with great power and good carriage. Truly a mare from whom much can be expected for the upcoming Pavo Cup,” says Wim Versteeg.
Due to the World Championships in Aachen (Charlotte Fry – Glamourdale) and the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Lottie has handed over the reins of the stallions Real Dream, Renzo, and Pjethro to Sadie Smith.
Sadie rode the three stallions during the 3rd and final selection round, qualifying in the five-year-old class with Real Dream (Dynamic Dream x Negro, breeders: MAATSCHAP Pleyter – H.A. VAN Triest) and having Renzo (Kjento x Rousseau, breeder: C.M.E. REIJRINK) designated as her own reserve horse. In the six-year-old class, Sadie qualified with Pjethro (Kjento x Desperado, breeder: A.J. Beerens).
Van Olst Horses is proud of the excellent collaboration between the two riders. We wish Lottie the best of luck at the World Championships in Aachen and Sadie the best of luck at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden.
On Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, the second selection for the 2026 World Championship for Young Dressage Horses was held at Manege de Prinsenstad in Delft. In the three age categories, the selection was narrowed down to twelve combinations. The selection committee speaks of a ‘very striking crop’ among the five- and six-year-olds. In fact: “We have to leave horses at home that we would have loved to bring along in other years.” The selection committee for the World Championship for Young Dressage Horses consists of Johan Hamminga, Alex van Silfhout, and Janine van Twist.
“Delft is a beautiful location; the arena has an international feel. That is good practice for the horses for Verden. That arena is comparable to having many flags, a lot of advertising, and other horses nearby.” “We are left with a strong leading group in all age categories, but we find the five- and six-year-olds particularly striking this year. We really have to be strict with our selection there; the top ten is very good. So this time we have to leave horses at home that we would have loved to take to the World Championships in other years.
Van Olst Horses
Lottie Fry started with 3 Van Olst Horses stallions: the 6-year-old Pjethro (Kjento out of Jaomie elite IBOP-dress D-OC by Desperado, breeder A.J. Beerens from De Moer) and 2 5-year-old stallions Renzo (Kjento out of Aronia elite pref prest IBOP-dress PROK by Rousseau, breeders Willem and Karin Reijrink of Reijrink Steel Stable from Diessen) and Real Dream (Dynamic Dream out of Fivanny ster PROK by Negro, breeder Maatschap Pleyter from Zalk and H.A. van Triest from Elburg). With all 3 horses she has advanced to the 3rd and final selection round.
Kjento delivers
Striking in the results list is the large number of Kjento offspring: no fewer than 5 have been selected among the 4- and 5-year-olds to compete in the final selection round. Kjento himself performed very well as a young stallion and became World Champion no less than twice. In 2021 among the 6-year-olds and in 2022 among the 7-year-olds.
Glamourdale at number 2 on the FEI World Ranking!
Great news from the FEI Dressage World Ranking in early May 2026: The phenomenal Glamourdale climbs to second place on the FEI World Ranking thanks to his recent successes! Together with Lottie Fry (who has also risen to No. 2 in the Rankings again), he proves time and again that they belong in a league of their own.
With this ranking, the combination strengthens its position at the top of international dressage sport. With an eye on the upcoming championships, this ranking is a clear signal of their sporting dominance.
Glamourdale: A True Force in Modern Dressage
Some horses impress. Others inspire. Glamourdale does both—effortlessly. With his commanding presence, expressive movement, and natural talent, he has become one of the most exciting names in international dressage today.
Built for Brilliance
From the very beginning, Glamourdale had all the ingredients of a top athlete. Bred from Lord Leatherdale out of Thuja (by Negro), his pedigree is packed with proven performance lines known for producing elite dressage horses. But pedigree alone doesn’t create a star—it’s what the horse does with it. And Glamourdale made that clear early on, standing out as a young stallion with power, elasticity, and a natural ability to perform.
A Journey to the Top
As a young horse, Glamourdale quickly made his mark on the world stage. Winning the World Championship for 7-year-olds confirmed what many already suspected—this was a horse destined for greatness. As he matured, his partnership with Charlotte Fry elevated him even further. Together, they developed into a combination that blends precision with expression, delivering performances that captivate both judges and audiences alike. Their highlights include multiple championship titles and podium finishes, proving Glamourdale’s ability to perform at the very highest level—again and again.
Power with Harmony
What truly defines Glamourdale is his unique balance of strength and rideability. He brings energy into every movement while remaining soft, focused, and willing.
A powerful, uphill canter that covers ground with ease;
A supple, expressive trot full of elasticity;
A clear and relaxed walk that shows confidence;
A temperament that is reliable and trainable;
It’s this combination that allows him to deliver performances that feel both dynamic and effortless.
A Lasting Influence
Beyond the arena, Glamourdale is already making his mark as a breeding stallion. His offspring are gaining attention for their modern type, strong movement, and willingness to work—qualities that are essential for success in today’s sport. Breeders value not only his talent but also his ability to pass on rideability and character, making him a key influence in shaping future dressage stars.
The New Standard
Glamourdale represents what modern dressage is all about—a perfect blend of power, elegance, and connection between horse and rider.
He is:
Athletic yet rideable;
Expressive yet controlled;
Powerful yet elegant.
Conclusion
Glamourdale isn’t just another top horse—he’s a standout in a new generation of dressage athletes. His performances leave a lasting impression, and his influence is only just beginning.
As he continues to compete and produce the next generation, Glamourdale is not just part of the sport—he’s helping shape its future.
The IBOP in Berlicum featured several top performers. For instance, NMK Reserve Champion Sarai Verdoni (by Kjento) scored 88 points. Of the 16 dressage horses, 14 passed.
The assessment of the dressage horses was in the hands of inspectors Luuk Smetsers and Floor Dröge.
The Kjento daughter Sarai Verdoni (out of Maia B star IBOP-dress PROK by Glock’s Toto Jr, breeder N.M.H. van Dommelen from Borculo), owned by Verdoni Stables and J&J Invest, excelled in the IBOP with 9s for walk, canter, posture & balance, rideability & trainability, and aptitude as a dressage horse. She achieved a total of 88 points and was immediately promoted to elite status. “A real powerhouse, standing out with a very strong engine in motion. She has decisive hind leg usage and good body use in the walk, is as pure and rhythmic as clockwork in the trot, and displays remarkably good carriage. In the trot, she can already extend well and has very good posture and balance. In the canter, she is very light-footed, has exceptional balance, and brings her hind leg very well underneath. Truly a very striking horse, with a lot of power and impulsion, very good transition ability, and she was also presented very correctly,” says Luuk Smetsers enthusiastically.
Charlotte Fry has achieved a convincing victory with the KWPN-approved stallion Ilegro (Inclusive x Negro) in the Prix St. Georges in Fontainebleau, where the first FEI Nations Cup of the season will be held later this week. In his second international appearance at this level, Ilegro recorded a new personal best of 71.912%.
The impressive Ilegro certainly does not lack quality. The stallion, a nephew of Valegro, already made his mark last year with a bronze medal at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses for seven-year-olds. He possesses great power and suppleness, particularly in the trot and canter, and shows a great deal of aptitude for collection. In the Fontainebleau arena today, there was still some tension on the short side at C. During the canter tour, the whole performance still looks a bit green here and there: the changes are wide and upward. With more competition experience, however, further building up his score seems only a matter of time.
Big star for the future
“This is only the second international competition for Ilegro, so everything is quite new to him. I think it is important to let him get used to big, beautiful arenas like this one, and he was absolutely fantastic today. At the beginning, he was a bit overwhelmed by the surroundings, but gradually regained his usual self-confidence. I really think that Ilegro will become my big star in the future,” said Charlotte Fry.
