“Then he showed that he had a lot of potential. His trot was phenomenal, our mouths dropped open!”

Buyers and owners: RS2 Dressage Stables  (Saskia and Jacques Lemmens)
(RS2 Dressage Stables, represented by Saskia and Jacques Lemmens, Robin van Lierop and Seth Boschman)

1. Why did Jameson (an embryo at the time) appeal to you at the auction?
“At the time we were actually more like a day trip to the Foal Auction Prinsjesdag and came for another foal from Sir Donnerhall. Then before the break we saw Atilinda, Jameson's mother, walking in the lane, which we really liked. She had already noticed us at the National Mare Inspection as a three-year-old and I (Robin van Lierop) sometimes competed against her later in the Small Tour. In the end we didn't buy the Sir Donnerhall foal we came for and bought the embryo from Atilinda and the filly Iveniz Texel (by Negro).”

2. Was it exciting bidding at the time?
“It is always exciting at an auction. Nowadays, more embryos are being auctioned, but at the time that was still fairly new and we didn't even know how everything worked. After fifty days of gestation we received the surrogate mare with Jameson in her belly, this was included in the sale.”

3. What was Jameson like as a foal?
“Jameson was an energetic and cheerful foal. He walked with his surrogate mother and a number of other mares with foals at the foot. He was the only colt and already made it clear that he is the 'lord of the house'. As a foal we once put him in the indoor arena from the meadow. Then he showed that he had a lot of potential and walked nicely with the withers up. In the meadow he played and galloped alone”.

4. When did you see that he was a topper?
“Actually, he was not very noticeable in rearing. As a one and a half year old it was still an ugly duckling with a long neck. He was beautiful, long-legged and long-lined. When we were two and a half years old we took him out of the meadow and put him on the halter on the lunge for the first time. Then he trotted really phenomenal. Our mouths fell open!”

5. Did Jameson live up to your expectations?
“Yes, he more than lived up to that! Besides the fact that he became champion, every time we see him on the track we think, wow that beast can run! Moreover, he has a super character. In addition to the champion of the Stallion Inspection, we also had the champion of the National Mare Inspection Iveniz Texel (Negro x Krack C), who we also bought at the Foal Auction Prinsjesdag, so it was a fantastic year.”

6. How is the training going and what are Jameson's future plans?
“We hope that Jameson can participate in the performance test in the autumn and close it with a good result. He is now ridden three times a week by Marieke van der Putten, under saddle, and walks outside in the paddock every day.”

7. Do you advise people to buy a foal at the Foal Auction Prinsjesdag?
“Of course you can also buy a three-year-old and then you don't have to worry about rearing. At that age, however, these kinds of horses are no longer for sale or no longer for sale at affordable prices. So yes, we can certainly advise people to buy a foal at the auction. We have been very lucky with foals that we bought at the Prinsjesdag Auction. Besides Jameson, we have had success with Iveniz Texel (Negro x Krack C), who became champion at the National Mare Inspection last year, and the mare Junette (De Niro x Gribaldi), which we bought in 2014, is now being prepared for the Mare Inspection.”

Click HERE for the interview with breeder Willeke Bos

Click HERE for the interview with rider Marieke van der Putten