Iberlina is DSHS Youngster of the Year!

17 December 2020

Although we didn’t organize an auction this year, we did pick a Horse of the Year and Youngster of the Year 2020. Today we reveal the last mentioned. In last year’s auction, the Vittorio mare Iberlina was part of the promising collection of the Dutch Sport Horse Sales. It’s remarkable to see what she has accomplished since then. Under the saddle of Carpe Diem stable rider Lisa Candin this seven-year-old mare has claimed already ten international victories and that is why she deserves the prestigious title ‘DSHS Youngster of the Year 2020’.

What a year it has been for Iberlina! She did her first international competitions in November 2019 and took the victory in Kronenberg right away. Also at her second show with Lisa Candin, Iberlina was able to take the lead. Followed by no less than four winnings in January 2020 and a total of ten international victories so far.

It’s all in the family
Last year the Youngster of the Year award was presented to Istinov (s.Ustinov) and this horse has the same breeder as his successor Iberlina. Both horses were bred by Jean Dresen from Valkenburg, from which Stal Hendrix buys foals on a regular base. Iberlina was bred out of one of Stal Hendrix’s first breeding mares Aberlina (N-Aldato x Rigoletto), who has emphatically proved herself as a producer of quality offspring. Among those are Marc Bettinger’s Grand Prix showjumper Barino (s.Larino) and the international 1.45m showjumper Blast Off (s.Lester). Several family members of Iberlina have been sold in previous editions of the Dutch Sport Horse Sales and have also developed well. Such as Aberlina’s grandsons Dino (s.Vingino), one of Brian Cournane’s Grand Prix showjumpers, and Marlon Zanotelli’s 1.45m performer Golia (s.Bustique).

Very competitive
Besides the good performance genes on the dam’s side, Iberlina has also inherited qualities from her sire Vittorio. He produces modern, light horses with a lot of blood. His offspring have a good jumping technique, carefulness and great rideability. “We have bought Iberlina as a foal and produced her at Stal Hendrix. She is a very competitive mare and we are happy to see her doing so well with Lisa Candin in the saddle”, tells Michel Hendrix. “The international victories and many placings definitely prove this Vittorio mare is a natural winner. That’s why she earned the Youngster of the Year award. As a seven-year-old Iberlina has a bright future ahead and we expect to see her next year stepping up to the two star shows.”