Breeder: Jan Temmink

1. What was Boston like as a foal and what was his mother like?
“Boston was a beautiful foal straight away. He loved coming to you and he moved great. He was the first foal out of my mare Volmie, an easy mare with a good character and a very powerful hind leg. Johnson has this too, so that's why I chose this stallion. His mother, like Boston, could already go into piaffe by the halter. Sadly, she passed away from colic last year at the age of 14. She had surgery, but didn't make it. After Boston she had five more children by Johnson, a mare by Concorde and a mare by Spielberg. B. Elmie, Volmie's full sister, will be mated to Johnson this year.”

2. When did you see Boston as a top performer?
At Johnson's offspring inspection, everyone was raving about Boston and he was by far the best. Five years later at the World Championships for Young Horses in Verden, he came out piaffering with Hans Peter Minderhoud. That's when I knew completely that he was going to be a winner. He was fourth, but he deserved even more.”

3. How did you experience the Foal Auction Prinsjesdag at the time?
“It was very exciting at the auction, the bidding went on for a long time. I had never experienced anything so special. I knew there was a lot of interest, because I had already been offered a lot of money at home. However, I would not have commented on that, because I think that once you choose the auction, you should also keep your word.”

4. Do you recommend other breeders to sell their foals through the Foal Auction Prinsjesdag?
“I entered Boston myself for the auction at the time. Everything was well arranged, including the financial settlement. I really liked the Foal Auction Prinsjesdag. Besides Boston I have had eight more foals up for auction. For example, Tosca Visser owns the full sister of Boston, G. Emelie Ster, who is now six years old, also auctioned at the Prinsjesdag Foal Auction, and also became the full brother of Volmie, Avant (by Quattro, 2^e busy KWPN), auctioned here.”

5. Do you follow Boston closely?
"Yes, of course! Both years we went to the World Championships for Young Horses in Verden. Last year we also went to the National Championships for Young Riders in Ermelo. This year we couldn't, but we followed it via the internet. We are in regular contact with the Nekeman family. For example, they invited us to the international competition in Drachten. We also went to a stable near Boston. Boston is an extraordinary horse. As active and impressive as he is in the ring, he is so sweet and calm in the stable. His mother was like that too: Very active, but very reliable and sweet to deal with. I am proud to have bred this special horse!”

Click HERE for the nice interview with rider Denise Nekeman.

Click HERE for the instructive interview with buyers/owners Lens and Berna Nekeman.

Amazon: Denise Nekeman

1. What makes Boston so special to you?
“Boston is always cheerful, always happy to work and is a super sweet horse in the stable. It's really my buddy! When I'm on vacation, I miss him and often call home to ask how Boston is doing. He will always go for you. At the European Championships in Vidauban it was 42 degrees and everyone was walking with their tongues on their knees, but Boston just kept going and went back to the stables in passage. He is also a real family horse. We go to competitions and championships with the whole family and have a lot of fun with him together.”

2. How is Boston to get along?
“Bostie (his pet name) is always cheerful and like a clown. He likes to get attention. He likes to play with his tongue in the stable, sticking it out, doing it twice and turning it into a circus. Everyone likes to work with him. When I'm on holiday, he sometimes stays for a week with Hans Peter Minderhoud and the people there are always happy with him, because he is so easygoing and funny. At games, Boston knows that he is in the center and then he is often so excited that he can sometimes be busy. But Bostie is very good at home. When the weather is nice, he goes out into the meadow or paddock every day, which always makes him very happy.”

3. Do you have any rituals?
“I always brush him with a curry comb before riding and he almost gets mad when I stop because he likes it so much. Also, Boston always gets a candy for driving. If he doesn't get that, he starts stomping. He also knows exactly where the candies are and how to ask for them from everyone.”

4. What's the best thing you've had with Boston so far?
“It's a party every day to ride him! Thanks to him I have been Dutch Champion several times, I ride European Championships and I can participate in all major competitions such as Indoor Brabant, Jumping Amsterdam and Outdoor Gelderland. I also think the weekly lessons with Hans Peter Minderhoud are fantastic. I enjoy racing because Boston enjoys it so much. He always does his best for me. Boston has a lot of charisma, when I drive into the ring, something really comes in. I don't want to trade with any other horse. Boston really is my dream horse!”

5. What do you hope to achieve with Boston?
“I hope to drive this year's European Grand Prix U25 Championships and the CHIO Aachen. After that, I hope that we will also do well in the Grand Prix with the seniors. The most important thing I think is that he stays healthy and that I can continue to ride him for a long time.”

6. Why do you advise people to buy a foal at the Prinsjesdag Auction?
“I go to the auction every year. It is a great place to buy good foals. The selection has already been done for you and there is a lot of comparison material. It is fantastic to develop a foal into a good riding horse.”

Click HERE for the instructive interview with buyers/owners Lens and Berna Nekeman.

Click HERE for the nice interview with breeder Jan Temmink.