Isabel and Wil van Gisbergen were named the KWPN Dressage Breeders of the Year 2018. The couple was honoured at the KWPN Horse Days in Ermelo, The Netherlands, on Friday 17 August 2018.
Van Gisbergen's breeding programme started with the mare Barbria (by Doruto x Amor), which they bought as a 2.5 year old and who went on to become a Dutch team silver medal winning Olympic horse under Tineke Bartels (1996 Atlanta). The couple also purchased Barbria's full sister Gelbria as the former mare first went into sport.
Gelbria became a keur and prestation mare and produced KWPN licensed stallion Voice (by De Niro), who became a Dutch Olympic team horse under Edward Ga, and KWPN licensed stallion OO Seven. Ambria (by OO Seven out of Umbria (by Osmium out of Barbria)) has competed at international Grand Prix level under Marieke van der Putten and Boa Vista don Bria (by OO Seven) is now showing at S-level.
Isabel van Gisbergen-Sponselee was overwhelmed and surprised by the honour that was bestowed upon her. "Emmy de Jeu convinced me to come to Ermelo today, which I normally don't do. When her mares had gone, I was thinking, "right let's go home, back to work", but Emmy insisted that I stayed. Now I know why! I saw Ambria enter the arena and I thought, "hey she looks like Ambria" but after I recognized the rider, I finally got it. Oh my, I really have to catch my breath."
The Van Gisbergen couple lives in Hooge Mierde, The Netherlands.
Photo © Digishots
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