Four-and-a-half year after his last competition, the 2021 European Dressage Championships, the medal winning WCYH and former Dutch team horse Governor is about to return to the competition arena...in Belgium.
Dressprod first spotted that a horse named Governor has been entered to compete with Dutch rider Kirsten Teeuwen in a Grand Prix class at the CDN Turnhout on 14 March 2026. No pedigree is listed but all signs seem to indicate this is “the” Governor.
Reserve Licensing Champion
Governor STR is a 15-year old Dutch warmblood gelding by Totilas out of Orleans (by Jazz x Ulft), the full sister of Adelinde Cornelissen's Parzival. The black is bred by 2020 KWPN Breeder of the Year Jan Streppel.
He was licensed at the 2014 KWPN Stallion Licensing in Den Bosch and named reserve champion. He became the high scorer of the 2014 KWPN Autumn stallion performance test with 85.5 points.
As one of first licensed sons by Totilas, Governor attracted wide interest from the breeders as Totilas' stud fee was astronomically high at the time. Governor's popularity as a young breeding stallion showed in the fact that he was the best represented sire at the KWPN stallion licensing pre-selection days both for 2018 and 2019 with the most offspring entered.
As a breeding stallion he has sired 20 licensed sons including KWPN licensing champion Kremlin MD, Keano RS2 (Marieke van der Putten), Koning (Emmelie Scholtens), and Kayne (Adelinde Cornelissen). His most successful offspring in sport are Golden Romance de Malleret PS (Helen Langehanenberg), Gardenart (Csaba Szokola), and Kind Pleasure (Erin Nichols).
Sport Career
Initially owned by Gerard Korbeld, Governor was trained to Grand Prix level by Adelinde Cornelissen.
Governor made his international debut at Grand Prix level at the 2021 CDI Opglabbeek. He did not make the cut for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. At the first Dutch Olympic selection trial at the Dutch Championships in Ermelo, the combination did not appear as fit and fresh in the first round, placing 10th with 71.872% in round 1 (GP Special), and 8th in the Kur with 75,505%. Cornelissen withdrew him from the second Olympic trial in Rotterdam due to a colic attack.
The pair was picked up for the Dutch team for the 2021 European Dressage Championships in Hagen, where they placed 23rd in the Grand Prix (72.484%), 18th in the Special (72.143%), but were eliminated from the Kur because of blood in the mouth. That was the horse's last show.
The Return of Governor
However, Governor's long sabbatical from showing could come to an end if Dutch rider Kirsten Teeuwen will compete this horse in Belgium. For the 39-year old Dutch Teeuwen it is also her first show ever in Belgium. Teeuwen is not a newcomer to Grand Prix level thiugh. She competed Camorkus (by Contango x Jazz) at international Grand Prix level between 2022 and 2023.
In 2024 Governor's owner Gerard Korbeld passed away. It is unclear who currently owns the horse. Both Cornelissen and Teeuwen declined to comment on the upcoming competition start despite multiple messages.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Where Are They Now? Governor