The Original Dutch-Love Crossbred...
Des is owned, trained, and shown by Brooke VanderHoning. A 1991 gelding, Des is athletic to a fault and smarter than the average human. He has excelled in everything he has done, from Hunter under Saddle to Barrel Racing.
He is the son of our last Appaloosa, Emiline, who is the daughter of Woodline (Alma Deck by Top Deck x Flying Star) and Wa-Jo-Re's Fancy (Wapiti x Jolly Hank), the Appaloosa's Nihil and Char showed all over the country in the 70's. He is sired by one of our previous Percheron stallions, Cheif's Bob, a Prince Cheif son and grandson of Fury's Commander. This horse is a testament to the superiority of carefully bred Percheron Crossbreds and the benefits of breeding for Long Term soundness and intelligence.

To the right is Des at age 2 assisting Brooke in bringing home the gold medal in Stockseat Equitation at the 1993 Michigan State 4-H Horse Show at Michigan State University. He qualified for, competed and consistently placed at this show for the rest of Brooke's 4-H career in the unregistered horse division, the Hunter division, as well as the gymkhana division, never failing to compete successfully. Easily the one biggest gaming horses at the show, he handily held his own against the speedy little stock horses.
After graduation from 4-H, the eventing world beckoned, and Des went on to place in numerous trials, and win a few USCTA recognized events.

2001 was the last eventing season for Brooke and Des, as since then Brooke has been devoting more and more time to the showing of the purebreds. However, time is always made to go to a few light horse shows a year and bring home a pile of ribbons just for fun!

Baby Des- just 2 weeks old!
It seems only yesterday that he was a tiny little red fuzzball who followed me everywhere
and chewed on me everytime I stood still long enough...
wait a minute... nothing has really changed... except the little part...

Des earns his nickname in this picture, "Das Wundar Hossen."
Age 26 mo, just barely 2 months under saddle, 1st show, 1st class, 1st win!!

Western Riding at the Newaygo County Fair, 1997.
Of course we won! ;)

1998 Burlwood HT, our first trial. As I recall we placed 6th.
Quite an accoomplishment for a horse who had never gone on a real XC course before!
(he was terrified of half the fences but we got around with only 1 refusal)

1999 Encore USEA Novice Horse Trial, Second Place.
We won this event in 2000 with a total penalty score of 25.5.
Rebecca Baucus Photo.

On holiday at home.