Jos Verlooy's 11-year-old gelding Igor (Emerald van't Ruytershof x Nabab de Reve) has been crowned Horse of the Year 2019 in Belgium. Bred by Maarten Van Waes, Igor is the only offspring out of the mare Tinica. 

It's the readers of the publication Landbouwleven who have voted Igor to the top, ahead of other world-class BWP horses such as Tobago Z, Jasmien vd Bisschop, Delux van T&L, Ipswich vd Wolfsakker, Claire Z, Espoir, Clintrexo Z, Gazelle ‘ter Elzen’ and Gancia de Muze. 

This year, Igor won the team gold medal and individual bronze the European Championships in Rotterdam, as well as finishing 2nd in the CSI4* World Cup in Toronto and 3rd in the CSI3* Grand Prix in Knokke. 

The award ceremony will take place at Jumping Mechelen later this month.