KWPN Breeding News

Darwin Passed Away

December 1, 2002

The Dutch Dressage sire Darwin passed away recently in the Guelph University Clinic (Ontario, Canada) after a severe colic attack. The 17-year old licensed Dutch breeding stallion was treated in the clinic after being diagnosed with intestinal colic, but could not be saved. Darwin was owned by Legends Farm and last competed at Prix St Georges level by Louise Tomick.

The dark bay stallion Darwin was bred by Mr Jansen in The Netherlands and was by Roemer out of Zonnatettie (by Pion). In 1988, Darwin got licensed in Holland and finished third in his stallion performance test. Under Dutch Grand Prix rider Leida Strijk, Darwin won the 1989/1990 Stallion Competition Dressage. He remained in The Netherlands until 1998 when he got sold to Donna Day, of Franklin, NJ. After his brief show career in the U.S., Legends Farms in Langley, Canada, took over the care of the breeding stallion.

Darwin's most famous offspring include the AES licensed stallion Pallas and of course the KWPN licensed Inspekteur, who won Young Riders' team gold under Marlies van Baalen.

The Licensed KWPN breeding stallion Darwin should not be confused with the Dutch competition horse Darwin, formerly trained and shown by Inge Fokker and now being competed by her daughter Wendy Fokker. At the 2002 Dutch Dressage Championships, Wendy Fokker became Junior Riders Champion aboard her mother's Darwin (by Tangelo xx).

Picture courtesy: Legends Farm

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