Illuster, Belgian Warmblood Horse of the Year 1998 

The Belgian Horse of the Year award is annually donated at the Flanders Christmas Horse Show. Erik Wauters, a notable Belgian Olympian Show Jumping Rider, is the organizer of this international competition. Even though dressage does not lay in his interests, he managed to squeeze a special dressage matinee and the Horse of the Year award ceremony into his program. 

This year's Horse of the Year will, like tradition, not be a show jumper or three day eventing horse. Recipient of the title is Illuster, a beautiful twelve year old Belgian Warmblood who has achieved an incredible amount of prizes in the last six years. 1998 was special for 20 year old rider Vicky Smits. With Illuster she was ranked fourth individually at the European Young Riders' Championships, and received the Bronze Team Medal. Further she became Belgian Champion in that category, and also won the Cup of Flanders, the Cup of Belgium and became Kur to Music Champion (Intermediaire I level) at the international show in Schoten. (and this next to the individual silver medal at the European Junior Riders' Championships in Helsinki and five times Belgian Champion in the junior and young riders' division) 

Six years ago, Illuster was still a green stallion who enjoyed the grass on the lush dikes of Kieldrecht. Vicky Smits got acquainted with his breeder Raymond van Goethem and soon she purchased this beauty. "I will never find a horse like Illuster; he's so focused in his test and works perfectly along with me. If he makes any mistakes, it's my fault. He has three superb basic gaits but his main quality is actually in his head, he stays sober all the way," Vicky said. 

You can put a hundred horses in one arena, and the first one which draws your attention, is Illuster. Only 16.1 hands high, this bay stallion impresses with his massive neck and muscled body. Sired by the thoroughbred Abiran xx out of Quicksilver by Humanist, Illuster is carrying a strong bloodline. His grand dam is still alive (age 36) and his dam is 32 years old and delivered 7 descendants by Abiran. Abner competed at the World Equestrian Games of The Hague 1994 under Mieke Lunskens. One descendant is
currently residing in Brazil and the other is already 27 years old. 

Vicky's only dream is to participate with Illuster at the Olympic Games in Sydney.

Image copyrighted: Ruud van Tienen

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