Jan Willem Sloof, main sponsor, stallion scout, and show jumper

The Welsh Stud Book (NWPCS) relies on various sponsors and volunteers. It’s wonderful, of course, that these people continued to support the NWPCS even in 2020, the year in which the stud book was unable to hold its events. Main sponsor Jan Willem Sloof of Renolution is one such person. We spoke with him just before Christmas about his company, the NWPCS, and his passions, among other things.

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Jan Willem Sloof grew up with equestrian sports and Welsh ponies. As a show jumper, he competed at the international level. As an owner, he has had many NWR stallions approved at the Welsh Stud Book’s stallion inspection. “Every year I have at least one approved stallion, and last year I even had three,” says Jan Willem Sloof.

NWR Stud Book Stallions

Names of NWR stallions owned by Sloof that earned their approval include Orchard Wildeman, Nia Domo’s Bolero—whom he purchased as a foal—Bijsterhof’s Valencio, Spoorzicht’s Red Flyer, and Leandro. The latter became the 2019 performance champion, but the 2020 performance champion, Henk Ebbers’ Westerhuis Mercury, was still owned by Jan Willem Sloof at the time of his selection at the Central Stallion Inspection earlier this year.

“Buying promising young stallions and preparing them for the stallion inspection is my favorite thing in the world. When the stallions are two years old, I personally select which ones will go to the stallion inspection. And I’m extremely critical in that process. For example, I sold a two-year-old that I didn’t think was good enough, and that horse is now an approved stallion. I select primarily based on breed, movement, and presence.”

The NWR enthusiast often sells the stallions he does not select himself at the age of two, and if they do go to the stallion inspection—and in many cases are approved—he then sells them as sport ponies. “Usually when they’re four or five years old.”

Central stallion approval

His company, Renolution, is one of the main sponsors of the NWPCS. “I really enjoy the events, which is why I’m a main sponsor of both the Central Stallion Inspection and the National Mare Inspection. I work a lot, and those are the only days of the year I take off. And for me, the stallion inspection is definitely the ultimate highlight. It’s a real shame that the upcoming edition won’t take place in the form we’re used to. But that goes for everything, in a general sense. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

For the 2021 Central Stallion Inspection, which can be watched via a professional livestream, Sloof does have a trump card. “Together with Henk Ebbers, I have a very beautiful black Hondsrug named Raspoetin for the inspection. I think he’s a really good one. He falls within the D-pony size category and moves very well.”

Council of Members

Even though many NWPCS events were canceled last year, Jan Willem Sloof has been keeping busy with the studbook as well. I’m on the members’ council, and the past seven or eight weeks have truly been a whirlwind. A lot has happened, and Martijn Duijts and I have really taken the lead on this together.

Show Jumper

In between his business commitments, this busy businessman has also managed to make time for show jumping again over the past two years. First, I took Renolution’s Irena from level 0 to M in a year and a half. I sold that horse last summer. Thanks to Jos and Trudy Houwen, I’ve bought another excellent show jumper. My new horse is named Renolution’s Dream On, and he’s stabled at the Houwen farm. The atmosphere there is fantastic, and I feel very welcome. I’m taking lessons from Trudy and am being coached by her son Kristian and daughter-in-law Liza.”

Sloof continues: “It’s really ideal. I work a lot in the evenings, and if I have an hour to ride during the day, I do. Until two weeks ago, I was also still competing—usually in De Peelbergen. Then Kristian and Liza would take my horse there, and I’d go over to ride my round. And after that, I could just get right back to work. We’re now working to bring Dream On up to a higher level. He’s an eight-year-old with tremendous ability. I hope to be able to compete internationally with him in the future,’ concludes Jan Willem Sloof.

In the coming period, we will also be interviewing the other main sponsors of the NWPCS