René Franssen from Boven-Leeuwen, The Netherlands, was proclaimed 2015 KWPN Breeder of the Year at the 2015 KWPN Horse Days in Ermelo, The Netherlands, on Friday 14 August 2015.
His breeding products, KWPN stallion Estoril (by Zhivago) under Emmelie Scholtens and a colt by Amazing Star x San Remo was has been selected for the KWPN Stallion Performance Testing, were present at the special award ceremony in Ermelo.
Franssen's foundation mare is the star preferent mare Nannet (by Hurricane) from the 1970s. Nannet produced Byoux (by Le Mexico), who competed at Grand Prix level with Anne Franssen. Candy (by Cadmus xx) competed at Prix St Georges level in Germany and Gisnette (by Burggraaf) was UTV-champion as a 3-year old.
From these lines further successful breeding products were produced, such as Ifradin (by Balzflug) and Diva (by Zhivago). René Franssen bred stallions such as Mondriaan (by Balzflug) and Estoril (by Zhivago), who competed at the World Young Horse Championships and finished fifth last weekend in Verden. The 2012 KWPN licensing champion Etoine (by Vivaldi) is bred by S.P. De Lange and descends from Franssen's dam line.
Successful sport horses out of Franssen's mare lines are the Belgian Grand Prix team horse Vradin (by Gribaldi) and Leslie Morse's U.S team horse Kingston (by Voltaire). Grand Prix horse Rifradin competes at U25 level under Canadian Monica Houweling and Jonna Schelstrate competed Vanquish (by Ferro) at Grand Prix level.
Photo courtesy KWPN
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