Idocus

KWPN Dressage Superstar

Courtney King and KWPN (Dutch Warmblood) stallion Idocus were one of the most successful horse and rider pairs to represent the United States in the discipline of dressage.

Idocus was foaled in the Netherlands and demonstrated his international dressage potential not long after being exported to the United States, when he was champion of his 100-Day Test in 1993 and Grand Champion of Show at the prestigious Dressage at Devon in 1994.

© Susan J. Sickle

With coaching from former Olympian Lendon Gray, who has been King’s mentor over the years, Idocus began living up to his potential with top placings at the Grand Prix level, including a third at the Zwolle International Stallion Show. However, King had to bid the son of Equador adieu when he was sent back to the Netherlands to further his breeding career. While there, Idocus competed in two World Cup Finals and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games under Marlies van Baalen.

Upon Idocus’ return to America in 2006, King worked hard to reconnect with the sometimes-willful stallion. It paid off when they finished sixth in the 2007 World Cup Final in Las Vegas, Nevada. That fall, King rode “Idy” to top honors in the $25,000 Washington International Horse Show Dressage Invitational.

At the start of the 2008 season, King-Dye and Idocus were #1 in the World Cup standings for the North American League. In March, they qualified to represent the United States at the World Cup Final in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

King-Dye and her mount emerged from the World Cup Grand Prix with the top American score of 70.125%, for seventh place. Idocus was officially retired from competition following the event.

Idocus lived out his retirement at DG Bar Ranch in California until his death in 2021, a few months shy of his 31st birthday. The stallion was standing at stud until 2017, and produced plenty of talented offspring who continue his legacy in the dressage ring to this day.

Idocus' Breyer model was available from 2009 to 2010.