The Belgian owned Dutch warmblood gelding Melvin has been partly sold to Tineke and Joep Bartels of the Horse Academy in Hooge Mierde, The Netherlands. The 11-year old Melvin is by Flemmingh x Amor and is owned by Brigitte and Patrick de Deken from Kontich, Belgium.
De Deken initially bought Melvin as a 6-year old from Practie Comfort Ltd. for their daughter Julie de Deken. Since May 2004, Melvin has been in training with Imke Schellekens-Bartels who is preparing the bay gelding for the Grand Prix tour.
"Melvin and Julie did not really click, and by selling half of Melvin to Tineke and Joep we hope that the horse will have a very bright future in the Grand Prix ring. The Bartels have several Grand Prix horses coming along and we want to make sure Melvin is one of them," Brigitte de Deken told Eurodressage.
Melvin competed at the 2000 World Young Horse Championships under Belgian Wim Verwimp. Former Belgian Grand Prix rider Arlette Holsters trained and competed him at Prix St Georges level. Melvin and Bartels are expected to make their debut in the show ring in the late spring.
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