Schroeder (Sandro Hit x Escudo I)

Equine Journal Advertorial
On The Cover
VDL Navarone (Jus de Pomme x Armstrong)
Majestic Gaits
By Susan Winslow
The lovely town of Brookline, NH, is becoming
well-known both nationally and internationally as a source
of top quality Dutch Warmblood sport horses. Lifelong
horsewoman Kathy Hickerson and her husband, Rick,
began breeding Dutch Warmbloods at Majestic Gaits in 1984
because of the depth, quality, and versatility of these horses.
Kathy says, “I researched all the registries and attended their
inspections. The Dutch Warmblood (KWPN) had the strictest
selection criteria. That has proven to be a good choice, as
Dutch Warmbloods are ranked number one with the World
Breeding Federation Sport Horses (WBFSH) for many years
in a row now in both dressage and jumping. They are also
doing well in eventing.”
Through their partnership with VDL Stud in Holland,
Majestic Gaits has frozen semen available from over 50
approved stallions in stock, with new approved stallions
added every year. The farm stands three magnificent approved
stallions, VDL Navarone, Schroeder, and Dante MG, all proven
athletes with superior pedigrees and high motility. Schroeder
22
equine Journal
| January 2014
“I never produce anything I’m
not willing to keep for my own
program. My philosophy is the
breeder is making a foal for
their goals. Our goal is horses
with easy characters and
trainability. We assist mare
owners with the choice of a
stallion, and we have full confidence that our stallions will
improve upon the mares.”
— Kathy Hickerson
On The Cover
Equine Journal Advertorial
[ABOVE] Dante MG (Chin Chin x Glennridge)
[LEFT] Majestic Gaits’ retired stallion, Farrington
Keur (Wellington x Doruto). Frozen semen is still
available. [BELOW] Schroeder (Sandro Hit x Escudo I)
photo: (top left) Unbridled Photography; BOTTOM: Carole MacDonald
won the USDF Regional Championships and was third in
Nationals with rider Mary Bahniuk-Lauritsen; Navarone
competed through Grand Prix in dressage; and the young stallion Dante MG won his first jumping competition with rider
Carly Fisher. The famous Keur stallion Farrington retired in
2013 at the age of 26 with frozen semen available. Kathy says,
“I never produce anything I’m not willing to
keep for my own program. My philosophy is the
breeder is making a foal for their goals. Our goal
is horses with easy characters and trainability.
We assist mare owners with the choice of a
stallion, and we have full confidence that our
stallions will improve upon the mares.”
Majestic Gaits also offers Dutch Warmbloods
for sale, from in-utero to young horses, with
five foals expected in 2014. Kathy says, “We
want the buyer to be happy with the in-utero
purchase, we do guarantee a healthy foal. We
have strong mare lines that have produced at least three
generations of sport and breeding horses. This is most
important. All our mares are of top quality and famous lines
imported from Holland.” Majestic Gaits has been awarded
USEF Breeder and Owner of the Year, KWPN-NA Member of
the Year, and produced many champions.
Kathy is dedicated to improving and promoting the Dutch
Warmblood here in America. While she will assist buyers
with trips to Holland, she emphasizes the importance of
supporting domestic breeders. “We are producing top
quality horses in this country now and buyers should look
here first. It is also more economical for the breeders to
purchase horses bred in the United States, as they don’t
have to pay high import, travel, and euro costs.” Kathy
is also devoted to promoting the Dutch Warmblood and
breeding through her involvement with the New England
Dressage Association (NEDA), serving on the board of
directors and chairing the organization’s Sporthorse
Committee. She also serves as the KWPN-NA Stallion
Committee Chair, as a member of USDF Sporthorse
Committee, and is on the USEF Sporthorse Committee.
Majestic Gaits stallions and young horses will be out on
the show circuit in both jumping and dressage this coming
summer. Kathy says, “We have had some super sponsors who
have helped us through everything, and we welcome new
ones. We appreciate any sponsor, big or small.”
For more information on breeding and sales at Majestic
Gaits, visit them on Facebook or on their website at majesticgaits.com; phone: 603-673-4344; fax: 603-672-0139; or email:
kathy@majesticgaits.com. The farm is located at 68 Russell
Hill Road, Brookline, NH, 03033.
January 2014
| equineJournal.com 23