Wiepke started breeding as a hobby back in 1972 with just one brood mare, now his VDL stud is one of the largest horse breeding operations in the world with a staggering 50 plus stallions on the books.

In the last twenty years, the VDL stud has gone from strength to strength, and is now divided into three sections:

The Stallion Stud which currently stands such famous sires as Indoctro, Indorado, Emilion, Corland and Cardento.

The Breeding Farm with approximately 80 breeding mares. VDL has bred stallions like: Glennridge, Montreal, Pessoa, Emilion, Ahorn, Aldato, Great Pleasure and Good Times. They have also bred top jumpers like Eurocommerce Lanapoule, Southwind VDL, Promise Me, VDL Nante, VDL Edminton and Tempo la Escondida.

Sporthorses: VDL now has a modern facility to train young horses, all the way up to international classes, in both jumping and dressage, and pride themselves on always having a wide selection in training and ready for sale.

For all VDL is a huge and modern complex, run on almost industrial lines, it is still very much family. Wiepke is still heading the show, but with two sons and one daughter, also involved in day-to-day management.

On our first visit to the VDL stud in 1993, as we were leaving, Wiepke drew my attention to an old rather battered sign written in Fries on the wall of his brand new house. It had been on the wall of his first, more modest, residence, and had moved with him each time his operation became larger and more prosperous. Through a blur of language the message became clear – ‘Keep your hand on the plough – and your eye on the horizon.’ He looks at us earnestly, and delivers his final message – ‘It’s true with horses too yes? You must aim for the horizons.’