NILS D’HURL’VENT, French sport pony of the year!

De pagina wordt geladen. Aan de vertaling wordt gewerkt.

NILS D’HURL’VENT, French sport pony of the year!

Origins, qualities, exemplary bloodlines… Nils d’Hurl’Vent is the epitome of the perfect modern sport pony, intelligently bred and brilliantly produced. Sold to Great Britain in 2010, his immense potential was confirmed at the European Championships where he finished 4th in the individual finals… and was awarded the title of French sport pony of the year.

Nils d’Hurl’Vent was bred in 2001 by Jean and Marie-Claude Drexler (26). His dam, Héra, one of the leading broodmares from the Hurl’Vent stud, undeniably passed on her jumping qualities to her offspring, blood and balance, together with an excellent mentality. Héra was regularly crossed back to horses, and the successful candidate in 2000 was the phenomenal Quick Star, who at only 1.59m had won more than 500,000€ during his career. Nils was bred from this ingenious crossing, and was extremely promising as a youngster, as were his brothers and full sisters (Minos, exported to Italy; Pampa IPO 121 as a 4-year-old; Raham, 4-year-old champion…). He started work with the daughter of one of her breeders, then a pupil at the stud, and from the earliest age Nils showed enormous potential and an excellent mentality, always willing and playful. He lived with Marie-Reine Périé from the age of 5-years-old until he started going out at the top level where he got into the habit of playing ‘Jump the Shetland’ with his field companion – who, you might have guessed, was a Shetland!

Nils d’Hurl’Vent’s career has been managed in a way which can only be called ideal. He is living proof that whilst the intrinsic quality of the horse is of course important, serious and consistent management is essential if you want to get close to (or stick to, in Nils’ case) the top level.

After several outings in 4-year-old Cycle Classique, Nils started competing properly, ridden by Jessica Dulherm, who was his partner from 5-7 years old. He was Vice Champion of France in D2P in 2007, then Vice Champion of France, Tournée des As (the Ace Tour) in 2008. In between he ran up numerous placings and wins, and notably two wins in Grand Prix des As Excellence at Tarbes and Pompadour. Having once again performed well in the Tournée des As at Biarritz and St Gely du Fesc, Nils started to be ridden by Camille Delaveau at the beginning of 2009: the effectiveness of his rider, coupled with the excellent preparation the pony had the benefit of Eugénie Angot at his side permitted him to tackle the biggest international classes calmly at only 8-years-old. The first Grand Prix des As for the couple at Bourg-en-Bresse, and their first victory, a win which was to be followed by numerous others, such as the CSIP at Le Mans or the CSIOP Nations Cup at Fontainebleau. Another win in the Grand Prix Excellence at Le Mans and a fifth place in at the French Championships qualified the dark bay for the European Championships. The rest is history: team fourth and a fifth place in the Consolante, a very worthy tally for a pony of his age. After several offers, Nils finally left for England via Eugénie Angot. There, ridden by a 12-year-old rider, he notched up the wins, up to his famous 4th place in the individuals, the best show jumping performance by a French pony (Hibis du Bec for France in 1983 ridden by Philippe Barbot and in 1984 with Eugénie…Legrand! And Epi for Germany in 2006 who was also placed 4th in the individuals). Holding the title of Champion of England, Nils should represent his adoptive country with style this season, whilst his brothers and sisters are continuing in his footsteps in France.

Camille Kirmann