First Looks: 2025 Westphalian Main Licensing

In general, the Westphalian preselection videos always include the colts in walk, trot, and canter, as well as correctness towards and away from the camera. That last component really sets them apart from any of the other studbooks as far as being able to have a more transparent picture of the candidates as a whole. With that said, I do find this specific collection lacking in terms of "complete" horses, but more than enough with interesting qualities to keep an eye on for both breeding and sport.

Below, my list of highlights. Who are your favorites?

My Highlights

Nr. 3 Bonderas x San Amour x Depardieu - nice rectangular model with stallion expression. Good balance in the gaits, the front leg functions in a nice way, he has good jump in the canter with an active hind leg. Had to look up sire Bonderas (Bonds x Don Schufro x San Remo) - high scorer of the 2022 Austrian Warmblood Stallion Performance Test and showed at M level last year. The damline has produced some good sporthorses.

Nr. 4 Bonds x Follow Me x Windspiel As - Fürstenball beauty and elasticity. Typical Benicio-line canter with super jump, the hind leg could flex more. Lifts through the wither and has a nice way of using the front leg.

Nr. 28 Feliciano x Sezuan x Dimaggio - I have had Feliciano sons on all of my first-look lists so far. They have "it" factor and decent quality in the gaits, especially the trot. I think the best ones will come from mothers that are sport successful or have produced horses that are sport successful. The dam of 28 is confirmed to PSG level herself and is also the dam of Oldenburg licensing champion and stallion test winner Bon Esprit.

Nr. 31 Follow Him's Schönweide x De Kooning x Weltmeyer - I have a feeling this one will convince under the rider. Love the cadence and how when he transitions within the gaits the hind leg naturally comes under. I have a question mark on the correctness of the front leg. Half-brother to approved stallions Selectric (GP) and Elton (PSG).

Nr. 34 For Romance x Don Frederico x Rubin-Royal - per Horsetelex, For Romance already has 83 approved sons! The trot has lots of power off of the ground with a good mechanic, there is nice jump to the canter. The topline could be stronger and I have a question mark on the correctness of the front leg. The grandmother is a half-sister to the international Grand Prix horses Dresden Mann and Dynastie.

Nr. 36 Glamourdale x Franklin x Aquilino - a very interesting sporthorse type. I wonder how he puts himself together on the lunge.

Nr. 43 Secret x Belissimo M x Davignon - super power and activity off of the ground, he could lift and articulate more through the wither/shoulder in the canter. The walk rhythm is okay. The mother is a full-sister to two PSG/I1 horses, the grandmother is a full-sister to two international Grand Prix horses.

Nr. 49 So Perfect x Dream Boy x Sir Donnerhall I - unfortunately no canter in this preselection video, but really pleasing type. Nice uphill balance in the trot, the walk is limited. The dam is full-sister to Dynamic Dream, and yes, Sir Donnerhall shows up twice in the pedigree in the 3rd generation.

Nr. 63 Vitalis x Marc Cain x Poleggio - there are others with more stallion type within the collection, but this one shows a different level of elasticity and adjustability in the trot. The canter is decent. The mother has a full-sibling competing at PSG level.

Nr. 67 Von und Zu x For Romance x De Niro - the dam has already produced two licensed sons, including the Premium Celle stallion Barbarossa.

Nr. 68 Zoom x Escolar x Lauries Crusador xx - the sire was Reserve Champion in Münster-Handorf in 2016, is now successful to Grand Prix level, and continues to offer correct, functional sons at the licensings every year. I like the Escolar influence here, he looks like a stallion, has a nice natural elasticity, and I love how balanced the canter seems to be. The walk is good.

The 2025 Westphalian Main Licensing takes place from November 30 to December 2 in Münster-Handorf, Germany. The full catalog of licensing candidates can be found here.