Proud James

World Champion of five-year-old dressage horses

World Champion of the four-year-olds

Record Stallion Performance Test Winner

KWPN Premium Stallion

With two thrilling rides, Proud James was crowned the undisputed World Champion of five-year-old dressage horses in Verden in 2025. This gorgeous dancer charmed both the judges and the audience in the qualifying round (89.600 percent) and managed to improve even further in the final. "The trot is very active, very elastic, very well balanced, with good back swing, good extensions, and equally good collection," enthused Maria Colliander on behalf of the jury, who awarded a score of 9.3 for the trot. The judges were also impressed by his ground-covering walk and active, well-balanced uphill canter, awarding him scores of 8.3 and 9.0 respectively. The even contact, the swinging back, and the focus on his rider Mette Sejbjerg Jensen/DEN led to a score of 9.2 for submission. And for his potential, the highly trained, extremely charming grey stallion also received 9.5. The final score of 90.60 percent meant World Championship gold for Proud James, who had already been unbeatable the year before in the World Championship competition for four-year-olds with his rider Maxi Kira von Platen. He thus confirmed his record stallion performance test victory in the Netherlands, in which he scored 91 points. The walk, trot, canter, rideability and potential were each awarded a 9.0, while the self-carriage and suppleness received a dream score of 10.

Proud James passes on his magnificent beauty and boundless elegance of movement to his foals, such as the championship finalists Noble James in Denmark, Vlamboyant H at the KWPN Kampionskeuring, and the finalist at the German Foal Championships.

His sire Jameson RS2 came eighth at the World Championships for young dressage horses as a five-year-old and was again successful in the seven-year-old class in 2021 with Marieke van der Putten/NED. The pair has now achieved international placings in the small tour. Jameson RS2 won his stallion performance test in the Netherlands, as well as the Pavo Cup and twice the stallion final in s’Hertogenbosch/NED (10 for canter). Several sons from his first crops were licensed, including Just in Time, who was immediately successful in competitions for young riding horses.

When bred to Everdale, his dam elite, prok Cyraniek, already produced the KWPN licensed stallion W-Horseland Inverness/Brecht D'Hoore/NED, who was victorious in international Small Tour in Aachen. Her half sister keur, pref, prest Niniek STV (by Jazz) was placed in Grand Prix and produced the licensed stallion Beukenvallei’s Iconic B (by Bon Bravour), who was placed in Inter I, as well as the two horses Up Seven and Chopard B (both by OO Seven), who were also successful in the Small Tour. Cyraniek’s half brother Omar STV (by Gregor) was successful in 1.30m show jumping competitions.

His dam's sire Johnson has led the WBFSH ranking of the best dressage sires in the world since 2022. He himself was one of the most successful Grand Prix horses of his time with Hans Peter Minderhoud/NED, winning team bronze at the WEG in Caen/FRA in 2014, team gold and individual bronze at the European Championships in Aachen in 2015 and taking ninth place in the individual ranking at the Olympic Games in Rio/BRA in 2016.

His grand-dam keur, pref, prest Faniek STV is the half sister of the licensed stallion Randell STV (by Clavecimbel) and of the Grand Prix horses Hermes (by Variant) and Arrivederci (by United). Hermes took part in the World Equestrian Games in 2002 in Jerez de la Frontera/ESP as well as the European Championships in 2001 and 2003.

His great-grand-dam keur, pref, prest Boniek STV is the half sister of the 1.60m show jumping horse Dominant (by Variant). Her half sister Identiek STV (by Duko) also produced Saiko STV (by Junior STV), who was placed up to St. Georges.

Dam line 201, breeding family 354, from which descend Alias Boukefallos (by Aachen), Junior STV (by Uniform)/ Anky van Grunsven/NED, N.Ravel’s Naughty STV (by Ravel STV) and numerous other sport horses.