The champion six-year-old at the World Young Dressage Horse Championships in Verden, Kjento, certainly had that wow factor, or as the judges’ spokesperson, Peter Storr put it: “Wow! I mean really wow!” And that’s how they judged him, 10 for trot, canter and submission, but ‘only’ an 8 for walk.
Verden Turnier image
This must have given great comfort to the mare owners who flocked to the young stallion in 2019. He had the most mares and produced 303 foals in the 2020 crop.
He also had Dressage-News correspondent, Ilse Schwarz reaching for the superlatives:
“Their test was flawless, the trot was breathtaking. I KNEW before I turned to look at the score that it had to be a 10. It was.
Verden Turnier image
“Kjento is not a horse with a ‘10’ walk but is good, it is adjustable, it will be a good walk at Grand Prix, score 8. The canter is everything you could dream to have in a canter. I think I used up all my adjectives in my report on the preliminary final. His changes are big and confident. He doesn’t miss a beat until the crowd breaks into early applause on the centreline startling Kjento out of his focus. It doesn’t matter. There is no question that he has the Gold. Ten for trot, canter, submission and perspective and we have our new World Champion six-year-old. The judges had nothing more revealing to add. Their scores told us how they thought. Every single person watching agreed.”
Gertjan and Anne Van Olst and Negro at home
Kjento’s success must also be a huge tonic for Gertjan van Olst, who not only owns the young stallion but also stands his sire, Negro. Negro rose to prominence on the basis of his son, dressage superstar, Valegro. Rocketing into the 2015 WBFSH top ten in 9th, up from 18th the previous year – but without Charlotte Dujardin’s gelding, the fall from grace was swift – by 2020, Negro does not make the WBFSH top 100.
Negro’s superstar son, Valegro
It would appear that the Dutch mare owners continue to cheerfully ignore the breeding values when it comes to choosing a stallion – NOT ONE of the top twenty dressage stallions with a reliability of 90% or higher, made it to the popularity poll.
The stallions that were popular feature on the highly speculative values of ‘stallions with an expected breeding value based on lineage and their own performances’. This table is headed by Just Wimphof with a dressage value of 173 (excellent OCD rating, 107).
To find the most popular stallion we have to go to 14th since Kjento has a breeding value of 161 and an OCD rating of 98.
Kjento combines two of the most important Dutch dressage sires, since Negro is by the Ferro (pic above), and his dam, Zoviana is by Jazz (pic below), both Medal winners for The Netherlands.
This is what the KWPN Inspection report had to say about Kentjo:
Kjento is an honest, reliable, rider-focused stallion with an excellent temperament. The stallion is very willing to work and is very easy to work with. The walk is active, clear-cut and has good scope with good use of the body. The trot is very powerful, has good scope with an extremely active hind leg that comes under well and carries very well. The canter is uphill, very powerful with very good self-carriage and scope. Kjento moves with good ‘takt’ and has very good leg action, self-carriage and balance; his great ability to collect attracts positive attention. As a dressage horse Kjento is very talented and gives his rider a good feeling.
Kjento scored the following points: Walk (2x): 8.5; Trot (2x): 9.0; Canter (2x): 9.5; Elasticity: 9.0; Self-carriage/balance: 9.0; Rideability/temperament: 9.0: Talent: 9.0 – for a total of 90 points.
KWPN Breeding/suitability advice
Kjento can improve movement, scope, use of body, rideabilty and temperament and can contribute ability to close/collect to dressage horse breeding.
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