The Founding Mother: Danielle of Kortehoeve

In 2017, Kortehoeve’s Danielle, the Verbaas family’s Welsh Section B foundation mare, passed away at the age of 27. Not only did she leave behind 20 offspring at the Stougjeshoeve—including many top-ranked show horses—but generations after her have also gone on to win one championship title after another at Welsh horse inspections and shows. Geert Verbaas was invited to participate in the ‘The Founding Mare’ section by Gebroeders Sloof to answer five questions about Kortehoeve’s Danielle. “Her offspring could always be distinguished by the breed that really shone through,” said Geert Verbaas.

CV

Name: Danielle Kortehoeve
Welsh section: B
Color: Falcon
Date of birth: May 3, 1987
Died at the age of 27time
Father: Twickel's Julius
Mother: Smaroel Holly
Maternal father: Coed Coch Nye
Breeder: The Kortekaas Family
Predicates: Keur, Preferent, Elite

Five Questions About Danielle from Kortehoeve

1 What are her main achievements?

• Reserve Champion, Section B, in Heteren at the age of 20 (2007)
• Runner-up in Section B in Houten in 2008

2 How and when did she come to you?

Verbaas: “Back in 1993, we were looking for a larger dressage pony and that’s when we came across Danielle. She never made it under the saddle, but we kept breeding with her!”

3 Could you briefly tell us about a few ponies that come from this mare line?

Verbaas: “Danielle’s daughters, Stougjeshoeve Esmeralda and Stougjeshoeve Daniëlle, were both National Day Champions once. Esmeralda stayed with us and is the dam of the full siblings: studbook stallion Stougjeshoeve Eagle Eye, National and International Champion Stougjeshoeve Emilia, National Champion Stougjeshoeve Especiale, and Royal Welsh Champion Stougjeshoeve Escudo. Another daughter of Esmeralda is Stougjeshoeve Estelle, who was National Day Champion last year. Stougjeshoeve Emilia is, in turn, the dam of studbook stallions Stougjeshoeve Everton, Stougjeshoeve Exclusive, and Stougjeshoeve Ambassador, as well as National Day Champion mare Stougjeshoeve Enjoy and International Day Champion Stougjeshoeve Elaine.

4 With which stallions did she combine well? And why?

Verbaas: “She paired well with Wildzang’s Rocco and Breeton Dai. Danielle herself wasn’t the tallest, and these stallions added more size and front depth, while the offspring retained the breed characteristics of their dam, Danielle.”

5 What made Kortehoeve’s Danielle so special?

Verbaas: “Her offspring could always be distinguished by the breed that shone through—she always passed that on very strongly!”

Name: Geert Verbaas
Stable name: Stougjeshoeve
Number of years breeding Welsh ponies: 27 years
Do you do the breeding under this stable name together? With whom: “With my parents and my girlfriend Kimberley.”

Relay

Which breeder would you like to hear from about one of his Welsh foundation mares?

Geert Verbaas: “Harold Zoet of Ysselvliedt Stud.”