BWP is a studbook of, for and by breeders. That is why we regularly write interviews with our breeders. At the beginning of this year Frans Voeten had his turn, 87 years old this year, but when he talks about his horses and his breeding, he sounds like a young enthusiastic guy with a lot of passion for his horses.
Obviously, his story begins with Imerald van't Voorhof, a son of Emerald van 't Ruytershof out of the mare Falle-rina van't Voorhof (by Bacardi Orange de Muze). He won the CSI4* Grand Prix of Wellington this year under the saddle of Paul O'Shea.
Last year they won the New York CSI3* GP and earned silver in the CSI4* GP of Mill Spring.
Previously, they also achieved GP gold several times in Calgary and Lexington.
So a handsome course that Frans is following closely:
"Going to watch on the spot is of course somewhat difficult in America, but I always follow it online. We don't have any children of our own, but the children from across the street, who have grown up in the meantime, help us a lot and always come to show me all the videos. I enjoy to follow everything.
I knew immediately that Imerald was a good horse. I sold him as a 3.5 year old and it was really a very beautiful and a very good horse. Later he was sold to America.
In total we bred about 100 foals I think.
Since our marriage we have bred at least 1 foal every year, we never skipped a year.
Sometimes we already bred 4 or 5 foals, but never more.
How it is that we have a total of 100 foals? We have been doing this for 65 years!
Meanwhile, I will turn 87 this year, but last year I had 2 foals and this year one. I am expecting a foal from the mare Petronelle Van 't Voorhof (Kiekeboe x Fantomas de Muze). She is also related to Imerald through the mare Odelle.
Last year she had a foal by Talifax van 't Roth. A very beautiful foal, big and well muscled too. I immediately had her covered again.
I still do everything myself, including the births. I'm still very good at that!
We used to have about a dozen foals and young horses running in the pasture. Usually we sold them when they were 2 or 3 years old, but sometimes we sold them as a foal.
We used to go often to the BWP breeding days, but nowadays we have to take health into account a bit and we don't do it anymore.
Fortunately, the customers find their way to me. They know that good horses are born here. For that I don't need the internet or an auction.”
