The Roelofs Formula always remains the same!
In 35 years of performance breeding, Roelofs Stud has gone through several phases. Herman Roelofs, who laid the foundation of our breeding successes, started transforming the best dam lines from the north of Holland into modern sport horses, using one of the best Thoroughbred stallions of the 20-th century Abgar xx and the top Holstein stallion Joost. Afterwards, we broadened our genetic basis using only the best European performance stallions.
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Abgar xx
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Joost
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We set the highest demands for performance and genetic value. For the sires we used, but also for our beautiful northern dam lines. And we continued breeding only the best of them.
Valuable KWPN approved stallions were the result of our strict selection for performance, soundness and pedigree (especially looking for a high percentage of thoroughbred blood). This breeding strategy produced sires such as Mermus R, Odermus R (who now stands at the national stud of Sweden in Flyinge) and the influential ‘keur’ stallion Namelus R. Using these stallions to our brood mares, we doubled the genetic value of the Roelofs dam lines, producing the proven sires Sam R and Tolan R and the promising young stallions Zahros R and Zazou R. The last – and most excellent – fruit of the Roelofs selection is KWPN champion stallion Arthos R, who concluded his performance testing in the autumn of 2008 with high marks.
Earlier we added two of the best Holstein dam Lines, nr 242 and nr 104-A, to our genetic basis. From dam line 242 we bred the KWPN stallion and international performer Rash R and the young KWPN approved stallion Zahros R, out of 104-A we bred our ‘show jumping machine’ V Alba R. Today is the eve of a renewed broadening of our gene pool, only the very best of Europe will be able to further enhance the Roelofs breeding strategy.
Looking at the phases Roelofs Stud has gone through, we see that breeding is a continuous process of change. But what remains the same, even after 35 years, is:
The Roelofs Formula
Breeding blood type performance horses with maximum ability for international show jumping, who are sound and long-lasting.
The blood type shows in the conformation. We like to breed horses with a noble expression. But foremost our tendency towards blood shows in the temperament and agility of our horses. They jump with quick reflexes and a lot of quality, they are light and easy to ride and keep up doing the tough job also at the last day.
Some of the horses that last year underlined the success of the Roelofs breeding strategy are: Vegas (winner of the Syracuse Grand Prix), Rubert R (Mermus R), PSI-talents Nintender (Namelus R) and Within Temptation (Mermus R), VSN-finalists Aberdeen (Namelus R) and Athene (Sam R) and of course the KWPN Champion Stallion Arthos R (Namelus R).
We wish you all the best for the upcoming breeding season. Take a look for the best of breeding in this brochure.
Herman Roelofs
We work very systematically, according to the IQRS (International Quality Rating System), licensed by the Norwegian "Det Norkse Veritas" Quality Certification Agency, with our breeding, rearing, selecting and training up to International level.
