Sovereign Equestrian returns to Prinsjesdag for the 7th year!
Jim Barry’s family operates under the name Sovereign Equestrian. “Over the past twenty years, we have bred and purchased over 60 top show jumpers. The love of horses and show jumping runs deep in our family and has brought us closer together over the years. Watching my daughters and their husbands grow up and excel in this sport has been incredibly rewarding, and seeing our grandchildren now become interested in riding warms my heart,” says Jim.
The vision and strategy was to build trust by working together with Dutch and European breeders. “We have been present at the Prinsjesdag Foal Auction since 2018 and in six years we have purchased 14 foals. Some foals underwent a KWPN inspection, while others went for Zangersheide approvals. Our foals grew up in the pasture and enjoyed life as a horse before starting their competition career. Our approach has always been to start slowly with 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds and quickly confirm their quality in terms of athleticism, courage, trainability and strength.”
When bidding, they prioritize both the dam and sire of the foals, selecting foals from established dam lines and high-quality stallion lines. This rigorous selection process has produced top-notch animals that are primed for elite competition, Jim told us.
“In 2018 and 2019, our early horse purchases were successful, with all horses being competitive. We also had success with the sales. Cognac van't Gebergte Z was designated by the KWPN and was approved by Zangersheide. There was a lot of interest from all over the world, which is why the horse was sold to America at the Zangersheide auction for a six-figure sum. We bought him at the Prinsjesdag Foal Auction in 2021.”
Chris Smith, their son-in-law, is a top young horse trainer who works empathetically with each horse, providing individual care to ensure the best results and planning and goal setting accordingly. Chris also has a wealth of experience riding the older horses, many of which have been sold to high profile riders.
“Veulenveiling Prinsjesdag is our foal partner and we work closely with Willem van Hoof and Bob Janssens. Every year we study the new year before we are there in person or via livestream. Our selection process consists of choosing from a broad cross-section, with our priority being a damline with 1.60m showjumping horses. The stallions we have chosen include Verdi, Dominator, Emerald, El Barone, Nixon, Pegase, Diamant, Chacco Blue, United Touch, Arezzo, Grandorado and Ermitage Kalone.”
“I am incredibly proud of my family’s dedication and passion for show jumping and I look forward to sharing this love of horses with them for many years to come. It truly is a lifestyle we wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.”
