The influential KWPN dressage stallion Vivaldi, who passed away in October at age 23, was posthumously named KWPN dressage horse of the year in a public vote at the KWPN stallion show in ’s Hertogenbosch. Vivaldi, a Krack C stallion out of the Jazz mare Renate-Utopia, was notable both for his own competitive successes—including winning the Pavo Cup with Dutch Olympian Hans Peter Minderhoud—and for siring over 60 grand prix-level offspring, such as Desperado and Dream Boy. His breeding legacy is widely recognized for producing horses with excellent character and rideability, making him a dominant influence in global dressage.

Vivaldi spent his retirement at Hengstenstation van Uytert stud in the Netherlands, where he was revered as a “king” of dressage breeding. His impact on the sport was underscored by the record-breaking sale of one of his two-year-old sons for over €2 million at a Hanoverian licensing auction. KWPN inspectors and breeders alike continue to celebrate Vivaldi’s far-reaching influence, noting that horses with his lineage are ubiquitous in competitions worldwide, reflecting his enduring contribution to dressage horse breeding.