Nico Nyssen’s Grand Prix Horse Candy Sold to California

Dressage

Belgium

Belgian Grand Prix rider and horse dealer Nico Nyssen parted ways with his rising Grand Prix horse Candy. The gelding has been sold to California.

Candy is a 2012 born Holsteiner gelding by Cormint out of Saphir II (by Catano x Heraldik xx). He is bred by Horst-Henning Lienau.

Rising Grand Prix Star

Originally named Candyman, the bay gelding was first competed by Marjolein Verharen in The Netherlands in 2018. She produced him to Prix St Georges level before selling him to Dutch horse dealer Dirk Fiechter in 2021.

Candy was slowly produced to Grand Prix level at Fiechter's before he handed the ride to Belgian Nico Nyssen to confirm the horse at big tour level. The pair debuted at Intermediaire II level in September 2024 and had its national Grand Prix debut in October. They posted 70,272% to place second in a strong field of 13 competitors.

A New Future in California

No boots, no bridle. Candy piaffing
at his new home in California

Nyssen has sold Candy to an American investor and dressage enthusiast. The ride and management has been allocated to Joseph Newcomb of Exclusive Dressage Imports (EDI) in Rancho Santa Fe, CA.

"Joseph found Candy in my barn on his European shopping trip," stated Nyssen stated who is a business associate and friend of Newcomb. "I would love to have kept the ride on this horse because he's probably one of the most talented Grand Prix horses I have ever ridden but it was a clear match with Joseph and Candy will have a great future in California."

Over the past eight years Newcomb has primarily focused on the development of young horses, FEI prospects and high-quality stallions. This is the first confirmed Grand Prix horse that Joseph will compete this upcoming season.

Exclusive Dressage Imports

Exclusive Dressage Imports specializes in the import, development, and sale of top dressage European prospects.

"As a boutique operation we personally select rideable, top-quality horses with exceptional temperaments out of Europe’s best selection," Newcomb explained. "Candy EDI perfectly embodies our goals. With a small elite hub in Florida and several elite horses in Europe, our company is growing internationally at an unprecedented level."

Exclusive Dressage Imports has developed and/or sold several successful sport horses and top stallions, including Carlos EDI (2024 Mexican Champion) North American performance test high scoring stallions Bodo EDI and Influencer EDI, Grand Prix horse Jack Daniels N (by Apache), Soho EDI (now with Karen Lip), Furst Knight EDI (now with Ali Brock), amongst others.

To learn more about EDI, check out www.exclusivedressage.com