Winningmood are doing well in the breeding and his daughter Sapphire was the ultimate example of a BWP jumper for over a decade. Heartbreaker, with his sons Toulon and Orlando and also
Clinton, has been the next most influential stallion; and more recently Nabab de Reve has done a good job with his sons Vigo and Kashmir van het Schuttershof. At this moment, Tunder van de Zuuthoeve is one of the most popular stallions in Bel- gium, with very good rideability and scope in his offspring. Ci- cero is also doing well, giving his offspring excellent scope.
Since coming to the states for the keurings, what do you observe the most in the quality of the BWP/NAD off- spring being produced in North America? We have to follow the goal of the breeding, which to me is
breeding sport horses and that means we have to look to the sport. Most of the top breeding stallions approved in the United States have done the top level. Te quality in the states has grown a lot because of BWP/NAD breeders accessing better mares, thus forming the vital foundation of a very good breeding program. You have access to the high level riders and good stal- lions. I hope these good stallions in the U.S. get enough mares to prove themselves in the breeding and demonstrate that they can compete with European stallions as I believe they can. I believe you can use the young stallions we approve; young stallions out of performance parents can be very good.
What are the key characteristics you look for in judging a mare? I like to have performance mares, not necessarily the highest
level but the competitive attitude is so important to me. Tey simply must have fight and a desire to please. Judging a mare is similar to a stallion: expression, good size and frame, correct legs. I don’t like small types.
What are the key characteristics you look for in judging a foal? It is all the same points, with the addition of wanting to see
the gender: a colt must allow me to see a bit of a stallion and a filly must look like she will become a BWP mare. All the same conformation points apply. I prefer foals with long parts, a good developed deep body, long croup and long muscled hindquarter. Not too beautiful or round muscled types. We score our foals on type (40 points), movement (40 points) and overall impression (20 points).
Te open book for BWP (allowing bloodlines from other regions/registries) is not a philosophy shared by all other registries. Do you think that this philosophy has contrib- uted to the tremendous success of BWP horses today? It is a philosophy that has grown out of our geographic situ-
ation. When BWP started we had no riding horses in Belgium. Belgium was well known for the Belgian draft horses, as they were
44 November/December 2014 Special BWP Section
very protected by government. We had to go to the other coun- tries to buy riding horses. In the north they went to the Nether- lands, in the west and south to France and in the east to Germany. Our breeders were very strict and bought good mares (the foun- dation of any breed) from everywhere. Te cross and diversity of all these good mares with the best stallions of all directions has been the root of the continuing success of BWP. Belgian breeders have maintained their desire to always improve and thrive via fol- lowing all the stallion shows abroad. Te curiosity to learn is a key and, with an open book, that leads to progressive breeding! v
BWP/NAD Growth and Success
better offspring every year,” she says. “Te quality, as our Belgian judge [Boudewijn Schepers] has pointed out, has continued to increase each year and I think that is for several reasons. First, our breeders recognize the great importance of having quality mares. Many of our breeders are using their high performance mares and flushing embryos from them to keep them in sport and having tre- mendous success. Second, our breeders are continually upgrading their breeding mares, culling the ones that are not producing and keeping the fillies they produce out of high performance mares for their breeding stock.” Chris continues, “Our breeders are becoming much more
B
savvy in their stallion selections by following the foal auctions in Europe and results from the top classes to see what breeding combinations are winning. Tey utilize Boudewijn when he’s at their farm for the keurings to pick his brain on which stallions would best suit each mare. Tat’s one of the big advantages of the BWP/NAD keurings. Boudewijn has a unique insight into the up and coming young stallions in Europe—and encourages our breeders to use them, especially if these stallions are from strong producing mare lines—that’s the key. ” She then adds, “He also has seen a plethora of offspring from a vast number of stallions and can offer the pros and cons he’s seen from each which is very useful.” Chris also remarks that she believes the Belgian foal and
young horse quality here in North America is just as good as in Europe, including in Belgium. “Many of the best mares are bought from overseas by our breeders for competition and then utilized in their breeding programs. Tis, I believe, will put BWP/NAD horses at the top of the game both in the U.S. and Europe. Te BWP/NAD registry has the best line up of mares and stallions of any registry in North America—proof of that is in performance. Tese horses are brought to our keuring one day and off to show in big classes the next. BWP/NAD breed- ers and their horses represent the U.S. at all the major competi- tions including the Olympics, WEG, Nations Cups and World
WP/NAD Executive Director Chris Sallee has been or- ganizing and touring with the annual keurings for the past ten years. “Our breeders have been producing better and
Belgian Warmblood Association
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