Henk Ebbers sees advantages in current design of performance test

Two NWR stallions (co-)owned by Henk Ebbers passed the examination of the performance test in IJsselmuiden. Westerhuis Mercury became the performance topper with 59.5 points followed closely by Sloot's Sir Thor with 59 points.

H. Westerhuis is the breeder of Westerhuis Mercury (Steerwolde's V.I.P. x Kielshoop Honeyhill). “At the stallion inspection, Mercury was not yet ours,” says Henk Ebbers. We trained him here for owner Jan Willem Sloof before the stallion inspection and were aware of his qualities. After the stallion inspection, we took him over.”

Ditch's Sir Thor (Westerhuis Zorro x Heitrak's Marvin) was bred by Frans Loverbos. As a foal he became national foal champion and at the last stallion selection Thor became Stallion with the Best Trot. “Together with Pieter and Lonneke van Laarhoven, we bought Thor as a foal from his breeder,” said Loverbos.”

Checking sperm quality

After the stallion selection in February, Ebbers gave the designated stallions a rest period, during which they were trained a little less. “We did take them to Utrecht to have the quality of the semen checked. That is not obligatory, but I always like to know how they are doing. I think that is also fair to the breeders. It does not say everything, because I have also experienced that a stallion with good quality sperm did not fertilize well and vice versa. But it does say a lot.”

After the rest period, the stallions were quietly saddled. In addition, the both Mercury and Thor have each mated and sixteen mares each of them are now carrying.

“NWR stallions, once they are designated, are admitted to stud. The offspring of mares covered that year by the designated stallion receive the same studbook paper the following year as a descendant of an older NWR stallion who has already passed the performance test. For example, last February I also had the stallion Floris van den Hout appointed and he also covered. So his foals will also get a full NWR paper. However, he was sold before the performance test, so he will not meet the requirements of the studbook next season. By then, however, they must have passed examination and, in addition, participate in the stallion selection in 2021.”

Westerhuis Mercury

When the stallions were saddled, Ebbers asked Nina Donker to continue training Mercury. “Nina is studying at the university, but because of Corona she was sitting at home this summer. She has been riding ponies and stallions here for some time. For example, she previously rode Castenrayseweg Charmeur, also in the performance test. She is a very handy rider.”

The stallions were ridden a maximum of three times a week in the summer, during the breeding season. “In mid-August the breeding season was over and then we also started to step up the training. September also saw the first performance day. Mercury showed well on all the performance days, but so did Thor,” Ebbers says. He adds, “Thor did incidentally cover a mare by Houdringe's Rasputin in the fall. That mare will fly to her new owners in Australia next year where she will then have her foal. Then it will be spring there.”

Ditch's Sir Thor

After Thor was broken in, several riders rode him, including Ilona de Bruyn. In the summer, when she had just turned 13, my daughter Marjolein started riding Thor. That went very well. On the first performance day Ilona presented Thor. I wanted to see how Thor would do in the entourage and among the other stallions. He did super. On the next two assessment days and at the exam, Marjolein presented the stallion.”

Proud father

“Yes of course you are then extra proud when your own daughter rides a stallion in the research. The first time Marjolein was nervous. She had a white face. I told her ‘keep breathing, keep breathing, ...’ But the pony didn't let her down and the tension quickly drained away. It's not a crazy pony, a real goody-goody. And the committee was also enthusiastic about both riders. During the judging days they received good feedback. Every time there was a short conversation with the committee after such an assessment, where they give tips to work with in the training. And then you can taste whether they like it. With the stallions, but also with the riders. At the final exam they asked me how old Marjolein actually is.”

“The line jumping also went well. Both ponies jump well and Thor's technique is really very good. He also really enjoys jumping; he really pulls at the obstacle. In the first assessment they don't have to jump yet. We didn't let the stallions jump for the first time at home until after that day. Because it went well we didn't practice that very often. I think they are still quite young to practice that a lot. Fortunately, they tackle it well in the performance test by starting very simply and slowly moving it up a bit.”

Advantage

This is now the fourth year that the studbook has allowed stallion owners to train the ponies themselves and come to the judging days and examinations. “I think it's an advantage from how it was before, but you hear varying opinions about it which I can also understand. Before, you brought a stallion away, had no work on them for thirty days and then you could pick them up as an approved stallion. Of course in between you would come and check on the progress. But I like the way things are now. Then the performance test was in March and I think that is very early. They are mature ponies and you have to keep training them after that. It is now a bit more often driving back and forth with such a stallion, but I like it this way.”

So the performance test now consists of three assessment days in September through November. The final examination is then in November. “Then on Friday you arrive with such a pony and ride a trial exam. They go into the stable there that night and then they are also judged on stable behavior. The next day is the exam. Normally that's a whole event where the breeders can come and watch. This year it was a bit of a sad affair because of the Corona rules and no audience. But you have to put up with it. It is, despite everything, nicely organized this way again.”

After the exam, Mercury and Thor had a short vacation and now they are being quietly trained again. “Eventually they have to become sport ponies,” Ebbers says. Normally we would also continue training them because they also have to show themselves under saddle at the stallion inspection in February. But that has been dropped for the 2021 edition and we only have to show them in hand.”

Interest

“Both stallions are fine ponies who, moreover, proved to fertilize very well last year. I was very happy with the results at the exam. There was only half a point difference between the two stallions and I wouldn't have thought it crazy if they had stood the other way around. The stallions both have very positive outliers. For example, Thor has a very good canter and he can jump well. Mercury again has a very good stride and he has nice free blood with Steerwoldes V.I.P. as sire and Kielshoop Honeyhill as dam's sire. Despite not being shown under saddle at the upcoming stallion show, I do expect that there will be interest in them again next breeding season. They have proven themselves in the performance test anyway,” concludes Henk Ebbers.

Photos: Vivian Hesen Photography