Early Opinions Totilas wasn’t placed very high at his first Pavo Cup (a Dutch young horse series) selection show at Midden-Beemster in 2005. Anna says, “The judges refused to believe Totilas was ‘prepared’ and that he indeed lifts his legs as high as he does by nature. They kept saying to his rider to let go of the reins, and they penalized him for his special gaits, saying it wasn’t natural. But Totilas does move like that by nature. He did that right from birth. He didn’t walk in the straw; he walked over it, starting on day one. Oddly, he found the touch of human beings frightening at first, but soon learned to trust. He has a very
special and unique personality. He is sweet and gentle, energetic, bears no ill feelings and is very focused on people.” Jan adds, “They just don’t come any better.” Of course Totilas is now sought after as
a breeding stallion. The KWPN approved him during the European Championships at Windsor, but for now his sports career comes first. Since breeding and sport aren’t always easy to combine, it will take awhile before little Totilas babies will run around in various fields. But Jan and Anna Schuil definitely will have a mare for Totilas when he starts to breed.
Embracing Trakehners These two horse lovers met through Jan’s work as a veterinarian. Anna tells it as, “I had a sick foal for which I asked Jan’s advice. We immediately clicked, because we share the same passion about horses, and soon went out on calls together. We married in 1992.” How did they become horse people? Anna replied, “At
my childhood home there was no involvement whatsoever with horses, but you know how it is. You ride a pony at some
nearby farmer’s yard, and before you know it you are hooked.” Jan spent a lot of time on a farm when he was a lad.
Fascinated by everything in the yard, he reported, “I wanted to become either a farmer or a veterinarian when I grew up. Since my father didn’t have a farm for me to take over, I became a vet.” But even before that, there was a man living near him who stood the Trakehner stallion Idol, and Jan spent time there with him. There has always been a strong use of Trakehner stallions in the Dutch breeding programs, so Jan came in contact with the Trakehner and a lifelong love was born. Although the Schuils breed within the KWPN stud book, their hearts clearly belong to the Trakehner. Above the entrance to their riding hall
hangs a life-sized double moose antler symbol, attesting to their true allegiance. And there is a smaller version on the barn next to the outdoor stables. For the last twenty years without interruption, Jan and Anna have gone to Neumünster (in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) every year to attend the stallion approvals, as their special holiday. Also the stallion show at Münster-Handorf and the Trakehner Bundesturnier in Hanover are “musts.” Jan comments,
“When you stroll around on the grounds in Hanover you see so much quality, and all that within such a small stud book. There are both light and heavier types within the [Trakehner] breed. There is a horse for everyone. It also is easy to follow the pedigrees.” Their
relationship with the KWPN cannot be called overly enthusiastic. They
consider the studbook too large and aren’t happy about the way it is managed. “In our opinion the KWPN has outgrown itself. How can one inspector keep track of all those horses
Above: Moorlands Totilas and Edward Gal at the 2010 World Equestrian Games. Top photo by Kim MacMillan/MacMillan Photography • Bottom photo by Shannon Brearton/MacMillan Photography
SPECIAL TRAKEHNER SECTION Warmbloods Today 63
American Trakehner Association
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