Remembering Tony de Groot
Te author shares with Warmbloods Today an interview she had with Tony 30 years ago.
“O
ur aim is to be known as one of the best breeding farms in the world,” said Tony de Groot in 1986. Tirty years on, his DG Bar Ranch in Hanford, California, remains an institution in North America, known
for producing exceptional horses. A year ago, Tony tragically passed away in an airplane accident. Along with Tony’s
family, his longtime business partner Willy Arts continues the tradition of producing top-quality KWPN horses at the farm. Tony and his wife Betty moved to the U.S. from the Netherlands in the 1950s.
He established a large dairy farm before adding horses in 1983. Betty wanted horses, so they shopped in the Netherlands. “We started by buying three horses, because three fit into a shipping crate,” said
Tony. “But we came home with six, in two crates!” I had the opportunity to interview Tony in 1986, at the second-ever KWPN-NA keuring held at DG Bar. Tony was thrilled about the high IBOP (riding test) score awarded to the farm’s mare, Wandora, who earned a 97. “Tat made the day for us. We knew it was a good horse. Willy discovered her in Holland. Te jury kept saying they couldn’t believe it. Tere is only one other mare in the world with that score.” Another young mare earned her Ster predicate at that keuring, and went on to
perform and breed. Alona pref (Pantheon xx x Beiaard) is granddam to many of DG Bar’s winning dressage horses (see sidebar). With 3,500 cattle on his dairy farm in 1986, Tony said he’d wanted to wait to
start with horses. “We’ve been here for 22 years, but not in the horse business. I didn’t want to get into the horse business till I knew I had the time to spend on it. Now I can do it right.” “We built up a name because Willy has done a tremendous job at the shows,” he
added. “You get recognized quickly when you win prizes.” Keurings at DG Bar established the farm’s prestige. “I really enjoyed people com- ing up to me and saying, ‘We’ve been going to shows for years and years, and this is the most educational one we’ve ever been to.’ It’s very worthwhile,” he said. Since then, the de Groot children and grandchildren have contributed to the
farm’s continuing success. Although Tony’s gone, the family, including Ashlyn de Groot, Tamara Majors and Kaitlyn De Groot, continues his legacy. Willy Arts continues to excel in breeding and training. “Willy is just a genius,”
said Tony thirty years ago about the 27-year-old he brought over from the Nether- lands. “When I started this, I wanted to make sure I hired an expert. Feeding a horse is like a cow. We’ve always been involved in show cattle, and there are a lot of paral- lels. But we’re not just looking for a good-looking horse, but one that can perform. Te cow we take to the bucket—the horse we take to the public at a show.” “Our combination works good. We do it right,” Tony said about Willy. Tat’s
been proven through the 30 ensuing years, with DG Bar horses winning for both the farm and buyers. “We’re trying to please people,” he said. “So far, the people who have bought horses here—we haven’t had one dissatisfaction.” Many horsemen relished events at DG Bar because Tony was a gracious host. At the indoor arena’s restaurant, Tony supervised lavish spreads. In his youth he planned to work in the food industry. “I was trained in baker’s school in Holland, but I devel- oped allergies to flour. So I went into farming.” “What we are looking for here is the ultimate sport horse. Our objective is to get
as many Prix St. Georges horses in dressage as possible, and also Grand Prix jump- ers.” Dressage became the focus, and the rest is history. Today horses with the DG name continue to excel at all levels of the sport. Tony’s goals may have changed throughout his life but he certainly found success. He is sorely missed as his legacy lives on.
50 September/October 2016 SPECIAL KWPN-NA SECTION By Charlene Strickland
Tony’s grand- daughter Ashlyn de Groot is currently competing Gamebria DG (by Belissimo M out of Valeska DG by Krack C). Gamebria was winner of the 2015 Gert van der Veen award.
Alona preferent produced daughters and now grand- children showing at FEI levels. Foaled in 1982, Alona received a First Premium and the Ster predicate at the 1986 DG Bar keuring. She competed to Fourth Level, and produced foals into her twenties.
Alona’s offsprings’ achievements include:
Rockette DG by Ferro to Intermediare Satina preferent by Contango, dam of three top performers:
• Caliente DG (OO Seven x Contango) now Intermediare
• Dalina DG (Jazz x Contango) now PSG • Falona DG, Ster (Idocus x Contango) 2013 KWPN-NA was North American champion 3–7-yr-old dressage mares
Recent winners, also Alona’s grandchildren:
• Zalona DG (Ferro x Wanroij) now Intermediare
• Utango-DG (Contango x Wanroij) now Prix St. Georges
Photos below, by Charlene Strickland, were taken 30 years ago.
Alona, a foundation mare for DG Bar Ranch, shown by Willy Arts at the 1986 Keuring.
Tony’s son-in-law (at far left) and Willy Arts with the DG Bar mare, Wandora, when she was awarded a high score of 97 (out of 100 pos- sible points) at
the IBOP (riding test) in 1986. Wandora was sired by Vesins xx.
KWPN-NA
Tanya
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