American U25 Rider Josh Albrecht Finds "Sunshine" at 2025 KWPN Stallion Licensing

Stallion at Stud

American Under 25 Grand Prix rider Josh Albrecht is putting a ray of "sunshine" on his future in dressage sport by securing the recently selected Dutch warmblood stallion Sunshine at the 2025 KWPN Stallion Licensing.

Albrecht purchased the stallion in the KWPN Select Sale auction in 's Hertogenbosch on Saturday 1 February 2025.

Selected Sunshine

The rising 3-year old Sunshine was one of 35 colts that passed the tough selection process and got invited to the KWPN Stallion Performance Test, a mandatory phase to become a KWPN licensed breeding stallion.

Sunshine immediately caught Josh's eye as he spotted the horse's quality gaits, good looks and a proven pedigree.

"I like that he is tall and modern without being overly refined or too slight in bone," Josh said. "He has good mechanics in his gaits and while it really doesn’t matter he has a beautiful head and stunning kind eye." He added with a wink, "when you have to night check in the rain it is always more enjoyable to see a beautiful head poking out of the stall."

The main factors for him were "his pedigree’s ability to mesh with my broodmares as well as the likelihood that he could become a top sport horse for myself."

Proven Pedigree

Sunshine - His dam is the full sister of Jovian

Sunshine is by Total McLaren (by Totilas x De Niro) and out of the elite preferent mare Idol (by Apache x Tango). He is a half brother to the licensed stallions Pride and Toto Gold.

Dam Idol is the full sister of World Young Horse Champion Jovian. Under Andreas Helgstrand and Patrik Kittel, Jovian achieved multiple international Grand Prix victories. Grand dam Zinith produced the U.S. competed Grand Prix horse Friend (under Cecilia Stewart). From this dam line come World young horse champion Astrix (by Obelisk).

"I expect his mixture of blood from Totilas, Apache and De Niro to create a lot of talent for the Grand Prix exercises and to mix well with my mare base which has a lot of Jazz and Krack C blood. I also feel that the dam line is the most important when breeding and he has a very proven dam line in regards to producing FEI horses and licensed stallions. He also had a very good vet report. "

Sunshine meets the D-OC/Genomics (99) for DOC predicate and is no WFFS carrier. He also meets the criteria for PROK predicate.

Sport Test in North America

Albrecht schooling Goldenboy Vinckenburg
(by Apache) in Wellington 2024

Sunshine's arrival in the U.S.A. will not take long.

"We will import him to the USA as soon as possible and he will be started by myself," he said. "The plan is to prep him for the North American Stallion Sport Test in the fall of 2026. This way I can also work towards him possibly competing in the young horses classes."

The North American Stallion Sport Test takes place at two venues: Pollyrich Farm in California and Hilltop Farm in Maryland. The test is organised by multiple registries and is recognised by the KWPN society.

A Bright Future

The 22-year old Albrecht is from Oroville, California and has been working hard at laying the foundation for his professional career in horse sport. At the family farm, Coalcyn Equestrian, he aims to build business as a rider, trainer and breeder.

"Sunshine will stand at stud at our farm and we are excited to add him to our other two provisionally licensed stallions," said Josh. They are the 6-year old Zangersheide stallion Happy Al Z (by Ekwador x Contender) and the 4-year old KWPN-NA bred Rockefeller HF (by Koning DG x Krack C).

Buying Sunshine was also a matter of the heart, Josh admitted. "I have a soft spot for Apache as my U25 horse is an Apache and they have the same head and eye," he said.

Albrecht began his international show career in 2022 as a young rider with Espresso (by Santano x Taxateur). In 2024 he made the transition to Under 25 Grand Prix level aboard Goldenboy Vinckenburg (by Apache x Olivi), gaining miles in Wellington, Florida, before heading to the 2024 North American Under 25 Championships where he won individual gold and kur silver. He also won silver at the 2024 U.S. Under 25 Championships.

Sunshine fits perfectly in Josh's plans for the future.

"I am hoping to develop him to the Grand Prix level for myself as well as hopefully finish his licensing and offer him to be used by other US breeders and use on my own mares," he said. "Hopefully if everything lines up we will be able to do the young horse classes and try out for the Festival in the next few years."

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