The awards went to late Silke Druckenmüller, for the third year in a row, for breeding the phenomenal Trakehner mare TSF Dalera (Dressage category), to Susana Épaillard Garcia Cereceda for breeding the remarkable Selle Français gelding Donatello d’Auge (Jumping category) and to Andre Jurrius, for breeding his stunning 11-year-old Dutch-bred KWPN Galileo Nieuwmoed (Eventing category).
WBFSH President Jan Pedersen and Longines Brand Manager Netherlands, Judith Mennen, presented the winners with certificates, as well as elegant Longines timepieces.
An extra special participant of the awards ceremony was Donatello d'Auge himself, who came together with rider Julien Épaillard to receive their award right before competing in the 1.50m class World Cup warm-up class.
Longines-WBFSH Dressage Breeder of the Year 2023
For the third year in a row, is the late Silke Druckenmüller, for her phenomenal Trakehner mare TSF Dalera, by Easy Game out of the mare Dark Magic. After taking double gold for the German team and individual competition at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, the duo never stopped their winning streak. From Omaha to Aachen, Riesenbeck and lately the CDI5* in Stockholm as well as the CDI-W in Basel Grand Prix and Freestyle no later than mid-January. Together they keep on amassing an even greater number of victories. Sadly, Silke is no longer with us, but her husband Thorsten Druckenmüller was there to represent her on this special day, to celebrate her repeated success and her incredible legacy.
Longines-WBFSH Jumping Breeder of the Year 2023
Susana Épaillard Garcia Cereceda, for breeding the remarkable Selle Français gelding Donatello d’Auge, son of Jarnac out of a mare by Hello Pierville. Together with Susana’s husband, world’s second-best rider Julien Épaillard, the 10-year-old gelding stepped into the spotlight by winning his first 5* Grand Prix in January 2023 at the Longines World Cup stage in Amsterdam, followed by victories in the individual highlights of the 5* CSIs in Ramatuelle, Monaco, and Barcelona, among other triumphs, as well as outstanding results in the CSI5* World Cup Finals of Omaha and London. Together with rider Julien Épaillard, the duo offered us the chance to admire them "in action", since they competed in both the 1.50m class right after the Breeder Awards' Ceremony as well as in the World Cup class of Sunday.
The Longines-WBFSH Eventing Breeder of the Year 2023
Andre Jurrius, from Stal Nieuwmoed, for his stunning 11-year-old Dutch-bred KWPN Galileo Nieuwmoed (Carambole x Harcos) competing under the saddle of David Doel. Together since 2018, the pair truly made their way to the top over the past months, with no less than multiple podiums on CCI4 and CSI5* events. One of their greatest achievements in 2023 being their second place at the CSI5*-L Horse Trials in Burghley (GBR), and counting six other top 10 international finishes on their record as a combination.
Since 2019 Longines has been the WBFSH’s Official Partner for the “Longines WBFSH Breeder Awards”, which take place every year to honour the world’s best breeders in the disciplines of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing. In its collaboration with the WBFSH, Longines emphasises the importance of breeding and breeders and their roles in the development of equestrian sports.
© Pictures - Digishots
