Growing into a more successful combination at each competition they perform, Marlies van Baalen and Idocus are on a roll. Brought together in March 2001, Van Baalen and Idocus were a pair destined to excel. The bay licensed Dutch bred stallion Idocus built up his dressage career in the United States under former Olympian Lendon Gray and talented young rider Courtney King.
In order to boost his breeding career in the Netherlands as well as in the United States, this KWPN stallion by Ecuador got assigned a Dutch rider. Owner Christine McCarthney chose Marlies van Baalen, as Idocus seemed to match excellently with young gifted female riders.
Although trained and shown at Grand Prix level by Courtney King, Idocus initiated his competition career in Holland at Prix St Georges level.
"Marlies wants to gain some experience with him first in the small tour before moving up," mother Coby van Baalen explained. Their debut at a national competition was one everybody would dream about. Immediate victory sent the pair off for a promising start.
Marlies van Baalen is currently competing Idocus at international Prix St Georges - Intermediaire I level and their last show together to date was the CHIO Rotterdam in which they finished twice with the beautiful mark of 70%.
Related Links:
Scores: CHIO Rotterdam 2001
Idocus in Training With Marlies van Baalen
Rider in the Spotlight: Marlies van Baalen
Image copyrighted: Arnd Bronkhorst