Following the event I wrote……..”The son of Lingh, Beau, came through three tough inspections with flying colors on Saturday afternoon. The Reserve Champion Title was finally Beau’s to take home by the lucky owners of this fine animal. Beau was chosen second to the 66 listed stallions whose owners took the time and considerable effort to bring their best horse to this stage towards KWPN approval. Beau was first presented at the KWPN Hengstenkeuring 2008/2009 in December for the first round towards becoming a KWPN approved breeding stallion worthy of this prestigious title.
“Beau is an absolutely beautiful horse, I would like to have him in my stable but I am very confident this is just the beginning of Lingh’s amazing career as a successful breeding stallion. What I love about being a stallion owner, and the owner of Lingh is that I am able to share the lives of all these colts and fillies with their very proud owners. I like meeting people that are passionate and I like sharing their dreams. Beau is particularly special to me because he was born on my birthday. One day I hope to ride him.”
Lingh’s Beau was successful in making the KWPN Auction very successful. He was the highest priced dressage colt sold Saturday afternoon, For a moment the crowd expected him to win, but the lovely Bordeaux by United bred by Nelly Lisman took home the top honor”

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Beau was presented to the KWPN panel of judges in Den Bosch in 2009. The following explanation describes the process by the KWPN in selecting their top Dressage prospects.

KWPN Performance testing

Stallions selected at the last viewing in Den Bosch qualify for the final phase on the path to KWPN approval: the performance test. This test yields a wealth of information about each stallion. In the performance test, stallions are evaluated on both natural sport talent and temperament. Ultimately, they are selected for their potential as breeding stallions for the future KWPN population.

Owners of three-year-old riding stallions may choose one of three testing periods: spring, fall, or the following spring. The 70-day spring performance test immediately follows the KWPN Stallion Selection. The 50-day fall test and the following 50-day spring test are each preceded by two evaluations of stallions under their own riders. These evaluations are separated by approximately three weeks, and the performance test begins approximately three weeks after the second evaluation. At both evaluations, the stallion selection committee has the right to excuse any stallion from further participation. In such case, a stallion may not take part in the 50-day test that follows.

The performance test is used to carefully assess and record the natural talent of KWPN stallions. During this period, stallions are cared for under standardized conditions and trained by KWPN representatives. These include competent equestrian ground staff and professional riders or drivers, supervised by a training manager who maintains close communication with the stallion selection committee. Upon arrival and departure, stallions are thoroughly examined by veterinarians. Veterinarians also attend stallions on other occasions, as needed.

Training

The performance test program includes daily under-saddle work, both indoors and outdoors. In addition, stallions regularly work in the horse exerciser and are turned out in safe paddocks. In all aspects of care and training, the horses are given special consideration for their young age. The primary goal of training is optimum preparation of all stallions so that the selection committee can obtain a good assessment of their natural talent by the end of the performance test.

Evaluation

The selection committee evaluates stallions in the performance test at regular intervals. They may be presented by their usual training rider or guest riders, who are professionals with ample experience training young horses to become world-class competitors. After working a stallion, the rider gives the committee oral and written reports on the horse’s potential. At any point in the performance test, the committee has the right to excuse a stallion from further participation or refer him to a subsequent following test. This right may be exercised if a horse is deemed too immature or if an injury is evident. The performance test also includes evaluations of stable and training behavior. An extensive training report is published upon conclusion of the test. Stallions that pass the performance test are granted KWPN approval.

Older Stallions

Many older stallions participate in the performance test. In principle, they are registered for spring testing for a minimum of 21 days. In exceptional cases, the stallion selection committee may reduce testing to five days if a stallion has demonstrated excellence in sport or if he is an outstanding sire of performance horses. The committee has the right to alter the testing period at any time in exceptional cases. (LINGH WAS APPROVED AS A KWPN STALLION AS A RESULT OF HIS CAREER AND CHARACTER)

Beau - Still young and growing

Following Den Bosch, Beau did not go further in the approval process with the judges all agreeing that he was still growing and needed time to mature. It was during this time that Johan Ifverson made a successful bid for Beau and took the colt home to Sweden where he could grow up and become a star.  I saw Beau in December of 2010 and he looked like he was well, strong and more talented than I remembered. It was a dark Swedish day when I arrived to see him.

PHOTO CREDIT : P. MELISSEN

Beau in a Swedish winter