Stal Hendrix is a performance horse stud based in the Netherlands. Image by Eva van den Adel/Stal Hendrix.
Modern show jumping has never been more competitive. At the highest level, success is no longer determined simply by leaving every pole in the cups, but by fractions of a second, technical precision and the ability to perform consistently under pressure.
Today’s horses are expected to combine scope, carefulness and athleticism with intelligence, rideability and longevity, making them complete athletes capable of excelling throughout long international careers.
For breeders, keeping pace with this evolution means continually adapting their breeding programmes to meet the changing demands of the sport. The challenge of producing horses capable of succeeding at the top level now requires careful selection, long-term thinking and an understanding of where modern show jumping is heading.
Few breeding operations have embraced that challenge more successfully than Stal Hendrix. Founded in 1977 by brothers Emile and Paul Hendrix, the family business has grown from a Dutch stable into one of Europe’s most respected names in sport horse breeding, sales and competition. For almost five decades, the Hendrix family has played an influential role in the development of international show jumping, producing and sourcing horses that have gone on to compete at the highest levels of the sport. Today, the business continues to combine deep horsemanship, proven expertise and a strong family ethos, with the next generation – Janou, Tim and Michel Hendrix – helping to shape its future. From Europe to Australia, Stal Hendrix horses continue to demonstrate the lasting value of carefully developed bloodlines and generations of experience.
Stal Hendrix was founded in 1977 by brothers Emile and Paul Hendrix. Image by Eva van den Adel/Stal Hendrix.
Discussing how the demands of elite show jumping have evolved over the past 20 years, Janou Hendrix says: “Over the past 20 years, the ideal show jumping horse has become more athletic, quicker and more responsive. Scope and power remain essential, but today they must be combined with speed, lightness and agility. Modern courses demand horses that can react quickly, cover the ground efficiently and remain consistently careful. A horse that is powerful but naturally slow will find it much harder to achieve top results than in previous generations. As breeders, this means we must be more selective than ever.
“The most successful modern sport horse combines power and scope with light-footedness, speed, carefulness and a strong willingness to perform. It is that complete package that has become increasingly important.”
The modern showjumper needs to be the complete package, combining power and scope with light-footedness, speed, carefulness and a strong willingness to perform. Image by Eva van den Adel/Stal Hendrix.
BREEDING FOR THE MODERN SPORT
At Stal Hendrix, every breeding decision is guided by a clear understanding of where the sport is heading, and the evolution of show jumping has shaped the way Stal Hendrix approaches breeding. Rather than focusing on one standout characteristic, the operation aims to produce horses capable of meeting the ever-changing demands of international competition and performing in the world’s most demanding arenas.
“We have seen the demands of top-level show jumping evolve significantly over the years,” says international show jumper Michel Hendrix. “One of the biggest changes has been the speed now required in the arena. Today, if you have a naturally slow horse, your chances of achieving a top result are very limited. As breeders, we have had to adapt. We continue to be highly selective with our broodmares and make carefully considered stallion choices to produce horses suited to the modern sport.
“We also reflect these changes throughout our programme, not by changing how we train horses, but through the selection process itself. From an early stage, we identify which horses have the qualities to succeed at the highest level and which may simply be too slow or no longer meet the demands of modern show jumping.”
BUILDING GENERATIONS, NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS
While a single exceptional horse may emerge from a successful individual mating, the consistent production of generations of international performers demands a far more deliberate and strategic approach.
At Stal Hendrix, breeding is centred on the careful selection of complementary mares and stallions, supported by decades of experience and an in-depth understanding of proven bloodlines. Every pairing is made with the long-term goal of strengthening desirable traits across future generations, rather than chasing short-term success.
A key part of this philosophy is identifying stallions and mares with genuine prepotency – the ability to consistently stamp their offspring with the characteristics breeders value most. For any breeding programme, producing generation after generation of reliable performers is a far greater measure of success than creating a single standout horse.
Gaspahr is a horse that offers a clear example of how this philosophy translates into practice. The five-star stallion has enjoyed an excellent international career, claiming victory in the Grand Prix of Opglabbeek and securing a top 10 finish in the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix of Rome. His success in both sport and breeding makes him a clear example of the type of horse Stal Hendrix strives to produce, with his growing influence as a sire continuing to strengthen future generations,
Now standing at Stal Hendrix, Gaspahr is producing offspring that are making their own mark in international sport, reinforcing the operation’s long-term commitment to developing bloodlines capable of influencing future generations.
Australian Olympian Thaisa Erwin and Nirvana G, by Gaspahr. Image by Elysian Media.
On Gaspahr, Michel notes: “Gaspahr is one of our favourite stallions. He competed successfully at the highest level himself, and he consistently passes those qualities on to his offspring. At first glance, he may appear to be a big, somewhat slow-moving horse. What truly sets him apart is his exceptional scope, combined with incredible lightness and agility, as well as natural speed. That unique combination of power, scope, and light-footedness is something you don’t see very often.”
COMBINING INNOVATION WITH EXPERIENCE
Advances in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) have transformed what is possible for today’s breeders, and Stal Hendrix has embraced these innovations as part of its long-term breeding programme.
Techniques including embryo transfer, frozen semen and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have expanded access to elite bloodlines while allowing successful competition mares to continue their sporting careers. They have also accelerated the international exchange of genetics, giving breeders greater flexibility than ever before when planning future generations. While these advances have expanded the possibilities available to breeders, Stal Hendrix believes technology works best when combined with experience and careful-decision making.
On the role of technology in modern breeding, Michel says: “Technologies such as embryo transfer and ICSI have undoubtedly changed modern breeding, and I see that as a positive development. They have helped move the industry forward and we use them ourselves where they add value. However, we still believe in a traditional approach to breeding, using modern reproductive technologies selectively rather than at scale. Ultimately, horsemanship and experience remain the deciding factors, because you can never predict the outcome with complete certainty.
“There has also been a clear shift in breeding philosophy. Today, there is a distinction between breeding horses with the potential to succeed in sport and breeding foals from fashionable bloodlines for the commercial market. As a result, two different approaches have emerged. Some breeders focus on producing foals for a quick sale, while others take a long-term view, breeding horses they intend to develop for sport themselves. Those different objectives naturally lead to very different breeding decisions.”
A GLOBAL BREEDING PROGRAMME
The influence of Stal Hendrix now extends far beyond Europe, with horses competing successfully for riders around the world. Australia provides a clear illustration of this international reach, with a growing number of riders turning to European bloodlines developed through the Dutch operation.
Thaisa Erwin competing with Nadia HX. Image by Elysian Media.
Australian Olympian and CSI5* rider Thaisa Erwin competes with Nirvana G, by Stal Hendrix’s Gaspahr. She also rides Nadia HX, a Stal Hendrix homebred mare sold through the Stal Hendrix Dutch Sport Horse Sales, as well as Hialita B, another horse with strong Stal Hendrix connections, who has been named the reserve for the Australian team at this year’s FEI World Championships in Aachen. Fellow Australian Olympian Hilary Scott has also previously sourced horses from Stal Hendrix, further demonstrating the confidence international riders continue to place in the family’s breeding programme.
These partnerships represent more than the international movement of horses. They demonstrate how breeders, riders and owners increasingly work together across continents, with shared confidence in carefully established bloodlines and long-term breeding philosophies.
“Having had the opportunity to compete on horses with Stal Hendrix bloodlines and Stal Hendrix sourced horses, the qualities that most stand out are their character and ability,” says Thaisa Erwin. “They combine athleticism with intelligence and a genuine willingness to work, which makes my job that much easier both in training and in the competition ring. I’ve always appreciated the honesty and continual growth in the Hendrix breeding and training programme to continue to produce and source horses that remain competitive as the sport of showjumping modernises. European breeding programmes have spent generations carefully selecting for performance, soundness, and temperament, and that depth of experience continues to produce exceptional sport horses.
Thaisa Erwin with her Paris Olympic mare Hialita; the duo has also recently been named as the reserve combination for the Australian team at the FEI World Championships in Aachen. Image by Elysian Media.
“For Australian riders competing internationally, access to these bloodlines is incredibly valuable. It provides horses that are already bred with the demands of top-level sport in mind, helping bridge the gap when competing against the world’s best. Combining that quality breeding with Australia’s strong horsemanship gives riders a real opportunity to be competitive on the global stage.”
LOOKING AHEAD
As international show jumping continues to evolve, breeders will need to keep adapting alongside the sport. Advances in technology, changing competition demands and growing global interest will continue to shape the decisions made today for future generations.
For Stal Hendrix, the focus remains on combining generations of experience with a willingness to evolve as the sport continues to develop. Advances in genetics and reproductive technology will undoubtedly create new opportunities, but they will never replace the experience, horsemanship and careful decision-making that have underpinned the family’s success for generations. The operation’s focus remains the same as it has always been – making considered breeding decisions that support both sporting success and the long-term development of future bloodlines.
Looking ahead, Michel says: “One of the greatest opportunities I see is that our sport is growing rapidly and attracting increasing interest from around the world. I believe demand for top-quality sport horses will remain strong for the foreseeable future. At the same time, the challenge for breeders is to keep raising the bar. That is what we strive to do every day, always aiming to breed an even better horse than the last. I believe the breeders who stay closely connected to the sport will be the most successful in the future, because they have the clearest understanding of what it takes to produce horses capable of performing at the highest level.”
As show jumping enters a new era, breeders have an increasingly important role in shaping what comes next. Stal Hendrix has established itself as one of Europe’s leading breeding operations by continually evolving alongside the sport, combining generations of expertise with a clear vision for the future.
Nearly 50 years after Emile and Paul Hendrix established the business, the next generation continues to build on those foundations, ensuring the family’s influence extends well beyond the horses competing today. From the Netherlands to Australia, Stal Hendrix’s approach demonstrates that sustained success is built through experience, innovation and a long-term commitment to developing the bloodlines that will shape the future of international show jumping. EQ
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