Wednesday February 8, 2006

Euro Update: Uptown Wins 2006 KWPN /KNHS Stallion Competition

The American owned KWPN licensed stallion Uptown reigned supreme in the 2006 KWPN/KNHS Stallion Competition Finals at the KWPN Stallion Licensing in 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, February 3, 2006. In fact, the entire stallion licensing was a star spangled event with the price highlight auction horse selling to the States, the KWPN stallion of the Year being owned by Americans and the 2006 Licensing Champion being sired by the American owned Hilltop Rousseau.

Under his steady rider Hans Peter Minderhoud, Uptown won three out of four KWPN Stallion Competition qualifiers at L-level and was unbeatable in the finals in the Brabanthallen of 's Hertogenbosch. Impressing the judges and crowds with his beautiful appearance and supple movements, Uptown danced to glory once again. The soon to be 5-year old stallion was already the 2004 KWPN stallion licensing champion.

Uptown's owners Toine Hoefs, Kathy Connelly, and Al and Judy Guden of Hyperion Farms are ecstatic about their stallion's marvellous career so far. "Judy and I are so blessed to have such a wonderful horse and to have such great friends to share the experience with," Al Guden told Dressagedaily. "We all want the best for this talented horse who seems to be the epitome of the modern dressage horse. We have our two Dutch mares in foal to him as does Toine (along with about 80 other Holland). The stallion will remain in Holland for breeding and competitions."

Kathy Connelly also raved about her lovely stallion. "I am so delighted with Uptown's performance and win at the Stallion Show. He is really an extraordinary horse," Connelly said. "Hans Peter is doing a great job. I am honored to be an owner of Uptown with Toine and the Gudens. I so admire Toine. He has an amazing eye for young horses, picking out Uptown at 4 days old. It is our goal as a partnership to do all the right things in the future for this talented, beautiful horse. In addition to amazing talent, he has a beautiful heart."