Hans Peter Minderhoud's highly successful small tour horse Ucelli T has been sold to 16-year old Belgian junior rider Noémie Goris. The bay gelding is moving to Nieuwrode, Belgium, on Thursday 13 May 2010 and will be Goris' hopeful for a Grand Prix career.
Ucelli T is a 9-year old Dutch warmblood gelding by Olivi out of Prima Donna T (by Gribaldi x Raimond), bred by H.J. Tüss and previously owned by Tüss and Hans Vrijvogel. The highly talented bay gelding came in training with Hans Peter Minderhoud in the spring of 2006 and won the Pavo Cup Finals in Ermelo a few months later. In 2007 the combination participated at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses and they grabbed the silver medal in the 6-year old division behind gold medallist Deveraux OLD.
Ucelli T's career never stopped going upwards. In 2008 he made the transition to Prix St Georges level and won every national test he entered in. In 2009 the sympathetic gelding became Dutch Champion at small tour level. This year the combination rocketed to the top winning the small tour classes at the CDI in Zwolle and Amsterdam. Ucelli T is now Grand Prix ready.
Goris first noticed her new horse in Zwolle, January 2010, and immediately knew he could be the one they had been looking for for half a year. "I really connected with him when I first tried him out," Goris told Eurodressage. "This horse is incredibly talented and has three amazing gaits. There are no limits to his potential."
Goris, who is trained by Carmen de Bondt and Belgian Grand Prix team rider Jeroen Devroe, aims to make her Grand Prix debut with Ucelli T, though the pair might first compete at small tour level to gain show experience. "Of course everybody dreams of the Olympic Games. Who knows," said an enthusiastic Noémie.
Noemie Goris was Belgium's leading FEI pony rider, celebrating the Belgian Pony Champion's title in September 2009. She has now successfully made the transition to Junior Riders level with Wunderbar NG (by Waikiki) and is a fixture on the Belgian Junior Riders' Team.
Related Links
Santano and Ucelli T win 2006 Pavo Cup Finals
Silver for Ucelli T at the 2007 World Young Horse Championships
Scores 2009 Dutch Dressage Championships