Glamourdale the stallion is the black KWPN sensation who has redefined what is possible in modern dressage. Bred by J.W. Rodenburg and standing at Van Olst Horses in the Netherlands, the 16.3hh stallion has won double world titles, Olympic and European medals, the FEI Dressage World Cup Final and three KWPN Horse of the Year awards under British rider Lottie Fry. With UK frozen semen distributed by Stallion AI Services in Whitchurch, Glamourdale is now also one of the most influential dressage sires available to British and South African breeders.
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Glamourdale the Stallion — Key Facts
| Full name | Glamourdale |
| Date of birth | 10 May 2011 |
| Breeder | J.W. Rodenburg, Netherlands |
| Owners | Anne & Gert-Jan van Olst (Van Olst Horses) |
| Studbook | KWPN (Royal Dutch Sport Horse) — also approved Hannoverian, Oldenburg, Westfalian, Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar |
| Sire | Lord Leatherdale |
| Dam | Thuja |
| Damsire | Negro |
| Colour | Black |
| Height | 1.70 m / 16.3 hands |
| Discipline | Grand Prix dressage |
| Rider | Charlotte “Lottie” Fry (GBR) |
| Standing at | Van Olst Horses, Den Hout, Netherlands |
| UK semen distribution | Stallion AI Services, Whitchurch, Shropshire |
Pedigree and Early Promise
Glamourdale’s pedigree is a deliberate cross of two of the most influential KWPN dressage sires of the modern era. His sire Lord Leatherdale (by Lord Loxley out of an Hohenstein mare) is famed for producing rideable, expressive offspring with strong work ethic. His damsire Negro is the sire of Valegro, the most successful dressage horse in British history under Charlotte Dujardin, which makes Glamourdale a half-cousin in damline terms to the horse who set the bar for Grand Prix performance in the UK.
His career began under the spotlight in 2014, when he was crowned Champion of the KWPN Stallion Inspection in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and went on to take Reserve Champion at the KWPN Performance Test. His outstanding canter — already powerful as a three-year-old — and an honest, willing temperament made him a centre of attention from the start.
Partnership with Charlotte “Lottie” Fry
Glamourdale was matched with British rider Charlotte Fry — known to most fans as Lottie Fry — based at Van Olst Horses in the Netherlands. Fry, daughter of the late British dressage rider Laura Fry, has built her career inside the Van Olst stable and partnered Glamourdale through every stage of his progression from young horse to global superstar.
Their breakthrough came at the 2018 FEI World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Ermelo, where Glamourdale won the seven-year-old World Championship. The result confirmed that the canter and presence on display under saddle were translating into competitive scores at international level.
Road to the 2022 World Championships
The 2022 FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark were the moment Glamourdale moved from being a brilliant young horse to a household name in dressage. Lottie Fry and Glamourdale won the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle, becoming double World Champions in the same week. They also helped Britain win team silver, and the freestyle test in particular drew gasps from the crowd as Glamourdale produced a piaffe and passage of extraordinary cadence and elevation.
The pair rounded out the European Championships circuit with team gold and individual silver in 2023 in Riesenbeck, Germany, cementing their position at the top of the sport.
Paris 2024 Olympic Bronze
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, held at the Château de Versailles, Lottie Fry rode Glamourdale to individual bronze in the Grand Prix Freestyle. They also contributed to a strong British team performance. The Olympic medal was significant for two reasons: it confirmed Glamourdale’s status as a Championship-tested medal-winner across consecutive Olympic cycles, and it brought Lottie Fry her first individual Olympic medal at the age of 28.
FEI Dressage World Cup Final 2025
The 2024/25 FEI Dressage World Cup season belonged to Glamourdale. The pair won qualifiers in London, Amsterdam and elsewhere on the European tour, finishing top of the Western European League standings, before sealing the campaign with victory in the Freestyle at the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Basel in April 2025. The result added the World Cup title to Glamourdale’s already impressive CV and underlined Lottie Fry’s place at the top table of world dressage.
Three-Time KWPN Horse of the Year
Off the showground, Glamourdale’s reputation has been recognised by his own studbook three times. The KWPN named him Dressage Horse of the Year in 2023, 2024 and 2025 — a hat-trick that no other modern Grand Prix horse can claim. Each award is given for a combination of competitive results, breeding influence and contribution to the studbook’s profile.
The Glamourdale Style of Dressage
Trainers and judges talk about Glamourdale in three terms — power, elegance and personality. Three traits stand out:
- The canter: Spectators routinely describe it as the most expressive canter in the sport — uphill, elastic and with significant suspension. Even in the Grand Prix changes, the canter retains its quality.
- The piaffe and passage: Glamourdale shows clear forward intention even at the highest levels of collection, which is what dressage judges reward most heavily.
- The temperament: Van Olst describe him as honest, reliable and willing — the unglamorous virtues that allow a stallion to perform consistently in the white heat of championship arenas.
For more on the discipline as a whole and how Grand Prix tests are scored, see our guide to dressage and our wider piece on dressage explained.
Breeding and Stud Information
Glamourdale’s competitive success is mirrored in the breeding shed. He stands at Van Olst Horses in the Netherlands, with frozen semen distributed across Europe and to the UK through Stallion AI Services in Whitchurch, Shropshire. He is approved for KWPN, Hannoverian, Oldenburg, Westfalian and Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar registries, and Hilltop Farm in the United States holds his approval for North American breeders.
His offspring report shows:
- More than 35 KWPN-approved sons
- An expanding group of elite-rated daughters in the KWPN studbook
- Strong type — long-lined, well-proportioned, often inheriting his black or dark bay colour and his powerful canter
- Increasing presence at the top of the WBFSH dressage sire rankings
For UK breeders, frozen semen is typically booked through Stallion AI Services with collection logistics handled stud-side. Stud fees vary by season and by mare quality — direct enquiry to the booking agent is the route to current pricing. Prospective owners often pair Glamourdale’s bloodline with mares from established UK warmblood lines, and the dressage market has shown a clear premium for foals carrying his pedigree.
Owners interested in the wider context of the Dutch breed should read our overview of the Dutch Warmblood and our deeper article on the KWPN horse.
What Glamourdale Means for Modern Dressage
It is fair to say that Glamourdale has become to KWPN dressage in the 2020s what Valegro was to British dressage in the 2010s — a benchmark horse who has changed how the public, judges and breeders evaluate the sport. His combination of expressive movement, championship results across consecutive Olympic cycles, and a young British rider whose career has grown alongside his own makes him a once-in-a-generation figure.
For UK breeders, his accessibility through Stallion AI Services means the bloodline is no longer the preserve of large continental breeding operations. For South African breeders, frozen-semen logistics through Europe make him a realistic option for Grand Prix prospects. And for fans, his record sets the standard against which the next generation of dressage horses will be measured.
Frequently Asked Questions
What breed is Glamourdale?
Glamourdale is a KWPN — Royal Dutch Sport Horse — also known more broadly as a Dutch Warmblood. He is registered with the KWPN dressage book and approved for breeding by Hannoverian, Oldenburg, Westfalian and Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar studbooks.
Who owns Glamourdale the stallion?
Glamourdale is owned by Danish Olympian Anne van Olst and her husband Gert-Jan van Olst, of Van Olst Horses in Den Hout, Netherlands. They also own his sire, Lord Leatherdale.
How tall is Glamourdale?
Glamourdale stands 1.70 m, which is 16.3 hands high.
Who is Glamourdale’s rider?
Glamourdale is ridden by British rider Charlotte “Lottie” Fry, who has been based at Van Olst Horses for her senior career. Fry trains with the Van Olsts and rode Glamourdale to double world titles, Olympic bronze, European gold and a World Cup Final win.
What has Glamourdale won?
Headline results include Reserve Champion KWPN Performance Test (2014), FEI World Champion of seven-year-old dressage horses (2018), double World Champion in the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle (Herning 2022), team gold and individual silver at the 2023 European Championships, individual bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, victory at the FEI Dressage World Cup Final in Basel 2025 and three KWPN Horse of the Year awards (2023, 2024, 2025).
Can I breed my mare to Glamourdale in the UK?
Yes — frozen semen is distributed in the UK by Stallion AI Services in Whitchurch, Shropshire. Booking, payment and shipping logistics are handled through the agent, with collection conducted at Van Olst Horses in the Netherlands.
What are Glamourdale’s foals like?
Van Olst, Hilltop Farm and the KWPN studbook describe his offspring as long-lined, well-developed and athletic, often inheriting his powerful, uphill canter and a willing temperament. He has produced more than 35 approved sons and a growing list of elite-rated daughters, and his sons are themselves beginning to appear at the top of dressage breeding ranks.
Is Glamourdale related to Valegro?
Yes, by damsire. Glamourdale’s dam Thuja is by Negro, who is also the sire of Valegro — Charlotte Dujardin’s six-time Olympic and World Championship medal-winning gelding. The shared damline is part of why dressage breeding analysts watch the family so closely.
