STALLION SUNDAY: VERDI TN

This week, we look at the Team Nijhof stallion, the twenty-two-year-old KWPN stallion, Verdi TN.

With his rider, Maikel van der Vleuten, Verdi has had an incredibly successful competitive career. Some of the Dutch combination’s achievements include jumping three clear rounds at the Olympic Games in Rio and competing in the 2012 London Olympics, the 2013 European Championships, and the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caan. During these years, the stallion was a member of an Olympic Team that won Silver, a Team that won Gold at the World Equestrian Games, and a European Team that also won Gold.

Pedigree

Verdi TN is the son of one of the most influential stallions, Quidam de Revel. In 2004, Quidam was the most expensive living sire of showjumpers. Quidam competed at the Olympic level and was fourth individually at the Barcelona Games. His dam, Dirka, was ridden by Nelson Pessoa at the CSIO level. The stallion has, of course, not only produced successful competitors but also successful sires, including Nabab de Reve, Kashmir van Schutterhof and, of course, Verdi.

Then on Verdi’s damline we see the Holstein 747a damline. This damline also produced Olympic competitor VDL Bubalu. Verdi’s mother Clarissa is the daughter of Landgraf I. Landgraf was not first choice at the beginning of his stud days, particularly as he was at stud with his own sire, the foundation Thoroughbred, Ladykiller xx. However, after Equitana in 1975, where the stallion cleared 6’6” multiple times a day, he began to grow in popularity. After this he sired many top horses: Lalique (Freestyle) was an Aachen Winner, and Libero was the Dutch National Title Winner five times.

Progeny

Verdi has produced numerous top-level showjumpers, including the stallion son Chaplin. Chaplin won three Global Champions Tours. Verdi is currently 18th on the 2024 WBFSH Sire ranking for showjumpers.

Stay tuned for more of our Stallion Sunday series, and as always, let us know who you want to see featured next.