Johan Hamminga Honoured with KWPN Golden Pin

Breeding

KWPN

After 50 years of commitment to the KWPN breeding society, Johan Hamminga is retiring as member of the KWPN licensing committee. He was honoured for his dedicate and service with the KWPN golden pin at the 2026 KWPN Stallion Licensing on 31 January 2026.

Various Roles

Hamminga has closely worked with KWPN for decades.

In the 1970s he was a rider assessing the stallions in the performance test. In the 198às he was trainings director for the performance test. In 2013 he became member of the harness horse licensing committee and in 2019 of the dressage horse licensing committee.

KWPN chairman Andries van Daalen took to the ring, calling Hamminga the "Johan Cruyff of equestrian sports."

Knowledge and Dedication

Hamminga is known for his in-depth knowledge of breeding.

"Everyone knows you as someone deeply interested in both sport and breeding," Van Daalen stated at the award ceremony. "You attend almost all the stallion inspections abroad, always taking notes and incorporating these findings into the selection process. You're always the first to arrive at the stallion inspections. Colleagues describe you as enthusiastic, driven, committed, and someone who always believes in the positive development a horse can undergo."

Expertise

With his expertise as a trainer, Hamminga made a substantial contribution to the KWPN Performance Test.

Van Daalen noted, "that era is now coming to an end. For that reason, and because you have done so much good for the KWPN and our KWPN breeders, we would like to reward you with the Golden KWPN Pin."

Hamminga was visibly moved. "I consider it nothing more than my duty, and I am happy to have been able to fulfil this task. It was wonderful to work with my colleagues on both the dressage and harness horse divisions and to reach decisions together. We have always enjoyed working together. I hope we will see each other again. I hope that you, as a breeder, can make the right choices and continue to enjoy both sport and breeding."