World Breeding Championships for Young Horses: change for Dutch selection too
Like Germany, the Netherlands has made a change to its squad for the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses in the last few hours: the stallion Pjethro (video)—previously owned by Van Olst Stables and slated to compete in the 6-year-old division with Sadie Smith—will not participate in the event due to his sale.
Pjethro, the first KWPN-approved son of Kjento, had previously been campaigned by Charlotte Fry; the chestnut, bred by A. Beeren, finished second in the Dutch 5-year-old championship last year. However, it was British rider Sadie Smith who was slated to present him at Verden this year, as Charlotte Fry was focusing on preparing Glamourdale for the World Championships in Aachen. Pjethro has been sold to Fritz and Claudine Kundrun—sponsors well-known in the United States as major figures in the development of dressage across the Atlantic, and as the owners of horses such as Flim Flam (who took Sue Blinks to the Sydney Olympics), Rosevelt (Allison Brock’s Rio Olympics mount), and the stallion Ampere. He will ultimately be replaced at Verden by Mattie P fan Dulve, ridden by Danielle Heijkoop.
Bred by W.P.H. van Tilborg, Mattie P fan Dulve is a son of Pier 448; Danielle Heijkoop competed with him this year in the 6-year-old classes at the Tolbert CDI, posting scores of 68.700% and 72.200%. He will be the second Friesian to participate in the event, following Dalton van de Philarina Hoeveen, who was ridden by Patricia Mannerts for Belgium in 2024.
crédit photo : coll privée van olst
