Wim Impens, the breeder of Henrik von Eckermann's King Edward (Edward 28 x Feo) has received the 2022 Longines WBFSH Breeder Award. Von Eckermann's double World Champion King Edward topped the final WBFSH Breeders Ranking of 2022 with a total of 2359 points. 

On their website, WBFSH wrote: "Wim Impens got into horse breeding through his father and grandfather, who took him to stallion shows from a young age, and also encouraged Wim to share his ideas freely. He now does the same with his sons, who are also involved in the family breeding operation. Wim has always been interested in breeding and genetics, and he strongly believes that when breeding horses, you have to think in generations and look to the future. 

His breeding goal is to breed horses for his sons to ride. He wants to produce horses that can jump, with good gaits and a good gallop, but that can also perform at a low level of dressage. But he certainly never dreamed that he would breed a world champion! 

As a foal, there was nothing particularly special about King Edward. He was rather small and lacking long lines. But when Wim sees him now, in action on television, King Edward is so much like his mother, Koningin de Lauzelle. He says he is a carbon copy.

On winning the Longines-WBFSH Breeder Award: He is incredibly proud to win the Longines-WBFSH Breeder Award, especially as Longines is such a big name in the equestrian world. Winning the award is a wonderful validation, that even a small breeder can be the top breeder in the world."