Minderhoud and Johnson Capture 2011 VHO Trophy

Shows

2011 VHO Trophy

Hans Peter Minderhoud and his small tour horse Johnson (by Jazz x Flemmingh) captured the 2011 VHO Trophy at the 2011 KWPN Stallion Licensing in 's Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, on Friday evening 4 February 2011. Minderhoud had his 8-year old Dutch warmblood licensed stallion moving with much expression and made no mistakes to score 77.125% in the Kur to Music.

Minderhoud reigned supreme as the second placed pair, Angela Krooswijk on the Rhinelander licensed stallion Roman Nature (by Rohdiamant), scored 73.33%. The young rider and her muscled dark bay stallion made a few mistakes in the flying changes which pushed the score slightly down.

"I'm very happy with Johnson," Hans Peter Minderhoud remarked briefly. Krooswijk's trainer Coby van Baalen was pleased with her student's performance. "Roman Nature was a bit hot when he entered the ring and that resulted in a few mistakes. Nevertheless Angela rode a nice freestyle to mysic by Michael Jackson."

Mirelle van Kemenade-Witlox and the former PSI auction horse Dreamcatcher (by Day Dream x Rubinstein) finished third with 73.293%. The Oldenburg licensed and KWPN approved stallion also made a few mistakes in the changes despite his very harmonious silhouette throughout the test.

Photo © Dirk Caremans - Check out Caremans' photo database for more photos of the 2011 KWPN Stallion Licensing

Der feine Lord won group 1 somewhat curiously. Joline Thüning presented him with much feeling, and yet the pony lacked impulsion, moving his hind legs up instead of under the body, and freedom in the shoulders.

Lena Charlotte Walterscheidt and Lord Champion. Not mistake free, a bit rushed and not quite "there" yet in the back, but they scored just under 70% and won the second group.

Don Davidoff was a BuCha medalist in 2009 @ sold to the Walterscheidt family. He's gelded now, and while Lena-Charlotte's ride still lacked precision, he's a far cry from the bundle of nerves he was two years ago. A pair with perspective.

White Gold B, a member of last year's A-team under Grete Linnemann, scored 66.9% under Johanne von Danwitz after a mistake-free but a slightly tired-looking performance.

Anna Abbelen and Dornik's Donovan were BuCha finalists last year: this pair has shown a nice positive learning curve.

Celine König works miracles with Dorn, one of those Dornik offspring that are overly long in the back. To present a pony like this with so much engagement from behind is quite an achievement. At 64.4%, these two were a bit under-scored as well.

Luca Michels & Dein Freund started off with bad luck. Just when the bell rang the stallion spooked & Luca had no choice but to begin the test. The boy kept his nerve, though, and the pair showed a lovely canter tour with textbook connection.

Pia Klostermann on Dior de Luxe

A rider with a steep learning curve who presents Danny H in a very adept and clever way: Saskia Neuland scored 68.2% -- 2nd place in the second group

Dornik Double, now under Laura-Katharina Pauli

Die Kleine Liebe & Julia Schulze Frenking. A lovely pair! The pony got a bit BTV but still showed willingness and esprit. Why these two were sent home with only 63.8% was the mystery of the day: they certainly deserved the sympathy award!

This pony lacked some serious engagement with quite a bit of whip marks on his butt as a result. Not a pretty sight.