Dutch Grand Prix rider Patrick van der Meer is returning to De Driehoekshoeve in Stegeren, The Netherlands, as guest judge rider of the young stallions who are currently doing their mandatory KWPN spring Stallion Performance Testing.
Seven dressage colts started the 70-day performance test in Stegeren, but only four of them will be ridden by Van der Meer on the exam day on 10 May 2011. They are only four stallions which will be test ridden: Don Tango (by Contango x Jazz), Dorado (by Krack C x Rousseau), Diego (by Negro x Don Gregory) and Dance Royal (by Wynton x Flemmingh).
The highly discussed and popular chestnut reserve champion Dude (by Vivaldi x Havidoff) has been lame for more than a week and could not be trained. Dream Boy (by Vivaldi x Ferro) was slightly unlevel last week. He is back in training but will not be test ridden by Van der Meer.
Doi Doi Doi (by Vivaldi x Gribaldi) was sent home because during an extra veterinary check in which new X-rays were taken, the stallion appeared to have class III X-ray of one navicular bone, which is not accepted by the KWPN society. The stallion has also lost his PROK status because of this.
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Diebrecht, Champion of the 2011 KWPN Stallion Licensing
Connaisseur and Cover Story Approved by the KWPN Society