Johnson Storms to the Top of 2020 WBFSH Dressage Sire Ranking

Tue, 11/17/2020 - 11:26
WBFSH
Johnson at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro :: Photo © Astrid Appels

As expected the KWPN stallion Johnson has stormed to the top of the WBFSH Dressage Sire Ranking for 2020.

Johnson took over the first spot from his sire Jazz with no less than 15,768 points. Jazz is second with 11,906 points. 

Grand Prix horses contributing to Johnson's top placing are Meggle's Boston, Hexagon's Double Dutch, Boston STH, Windermere J'Obei W, Calanta, Ben Johnson, Donegal V, Eddieni, and many more

Johnson

The 18-year old Johnson (by Jazz x Fflemmingh) is bred by Piet van de Vleuten and was originally named Verdi. 

Johnson sold as a foal to Team Nijhoff, who first presented him for licensing at the 2004 Oldenburg Stallion Licensing in Vechta. He was accepted there and was re-named "Johnson" as his name had to start with the first letter of the sire.  Nijhoff then took him to the 2005 KWPN Licensing, where Johnson became the licensing champion. 

Hans Peter Minderhoud took on the ride when Johnson was a 4-year old. They were second in the 2006 Pavo Cup Finals and won the 2008 KWPN Stallion competition.

In 2014 Austrian Gaston Glock bought a half ownership share from Nijhoff. Minderhoud and Johnson competed at the 2014 World Cup Finals in Lyon (8th), the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen, France (14th in kur), the 2015 European Dressage Championships in Aachen, where they won the team gold and individual kur bronze. After a long break from the show ring due to injury, Johnson returned in June 2016 and went on to represent The Netherlands at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where they finished 8th in the Kur. The horse was withdrawn from the Dutch team for the 2017 European Championships due to an injury and did not show in 2018. He was officially retired from sport in February 2019.

Florencio and San Amour Enter the Top 10

Because the frequency in international shows has been much lower in the second half of the FEI competition year 2019/20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Top 10 sire rankings in dressage did not change much. 

Two stallions are new comers in the Top 10: Florencio and San Amour.

Florencio I (by Florestan) has moved up from 11th place to 5th place this year and San Amour (by Sandro Hit x Plaisir d'Amour) has now positioned himself in 9th place coming from 16th spot last year.

Vivaldi (by Krack C) has moved up three spots while Don Schufro (by Donnerhall) has moved up from 10th to 8th.

The deceased De Niro (by Donnerhall) was the WBFSH Dressage Sire No. 1 no less than six times, but last year he dropped to 4th place and this year he plummeted to 10th place.

WBFSH Top 10 Dressage Sire Ranking

  • 1 (2) JOHNSON - 15768
  • 2 (1) JAZZ - 11906
  • 3 (3) SANDRO HIT - 9871
  • 4 (5) QUATERBACK - 9158
  • 5 (11) FLORENCIO - 8373
  • 6 (9) VIVALDI - 7990
  • 7 (7) FIDERTANZ - 7827
  • 8 (10) DON SCHUFRO - 7781
  • 9 (16) SAN AMOUR - 7646
  • 10 (4) DE NIRO - 6921

Photo © Astrid Appels

Related Links
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