Hitmaker

Hitmaker debuted internationally at Grand Prix in 2023, at the CDI Tolbert. Since then he’s shown at CDIs in Lier, Tolbert, Exloo, and Ermelo, and was selected for the Dutch team at the 2024 FEI Nations’ Cup in Falsterbo. Now competing at Grand Prix on the international circuit, he has campaigned successfully through Dressage Nations Cup CDIO5-star competition, partnered with accomplished international riders including Alexandra Duncan and Jennifer Sekreve.

He was already turning heads well before any of that. At his 2015 KWPN Stallion Licensing in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, he was named Third Ranked Premium Stallion. Wim Ernes, chair of the judging committee, called him “an elegant stallion who moves with power and a nice technique in his frontleg,” adding that “he also has gorgeous looks.” Only seven stallions completed the full Performance Test that year, and Hitmaker was one of them. He finished with 80 points overall: an 8 for trot, 8.5 for canter, 8 for suppleness, 8.5 for self-carriage, and an 8 for dressage talent. The judges flagged his stallion-like presence, his work ethic, clean leg technique, and a canter they described as powerful and carrying.

That quality shows up in his foals. His offspring across Europe have moved up through the levels on their own, carrying his expressive way of going along with a genuinely willing mind. Breeders have been told he adds size, model, and better front-leg technique to a dressage line, and his fertility has been rated at the top classification, so there’s no hesitation for anyone considering fresh or frozen semen.

The pedigree backs it up. His sire, Wynton, licensed at 87 points and had a strong young-horse career himself: stallion competition wins, the Pavo Cup, a good placing at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses. He became Dutch National Champion at the Lichte Tour and later went to Grand Prix under her as well.

On the dam side, Hitmaker’s KWPN inspection report came back excellent. His dam, Maduna, 1.70 m, Keur, Sport-predicate in dressage, by Cabochon, competed to ZZ-Licht herself, and her offspring are known for size, striking front-leg movement, and good character. Most have sold young to buyers abroad and gone on to compete internationally, among them Saffierduna (by Flemmingh), currently on the Italian Young Rider team. Further back is Catriena, a Preferente performance mare by the Thoroughbred Pantheon xx, who produced five dressage horses ranging from Z2 up to Grand Prix.

• Named the Third Ranked Premium Stallion at his 2015 KWPN Stallion Licensing in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
• Wim Ernes, chair of the judging committee, praised him as “an elegant stallion who moves with power and a nice technique in his frontleg,” adding that “he also has gorgeous looks.”
• One of only seven stallions to complete the full Performance Test that year, finishing with 80 points overall: an 8 for trot, 8.5 for canter, 8 for suppleness, 8.5 for self-carriage, and an 8 for dressage talent.
• Competed successfully at the elite international level up to the Dressage Nations Cup CDIO5-Grand Prix* tier alongside top international riders.

• Sire: Wynton, a prominent sire known for passing on exceptional rideability and elastic gaits.
• Dam Line: Out of the elite-awarded (keur) mare Maduna from the prolific Merrielijn 130 (fok 17) maternal family.
• Progeny Record: Proven sire of high-caliber sport offspring competing successfully up to Intermediate II levels.