Dutch junior rider Marjan Hooge and Dutch young rider Stephanie Kooijman brought home the majority of the trophies that could be earned in the youth riders divisions at the 2013 CDI Drachten on 5 - 7 January 2013. Whereas the pony classes in Drachten were well filled, the junior and young riders tests were quite skimpy, only featuring a combined total of twenty riders.
The 15-year old Dutch junior Marjan Hooge has been round the block more than once. Already competing at FEI pony level since 2009, Hooge gained valuable experience on ponies Mr Matcho and Diamonds are Forever. In the autumn of 2012 the tall Dutch girl made the transition to junior riders aboard Fulltime, but it needed the partnership with her trainer Annemiek Vincour-Kromt's Grand Prix horse Richfield for Marjan to get into the winner's circle.
At their first international show as a pair, Hooge and the 13-year old stallion (by Riccione x Ferragamo), previously owned by Flyinge State Stud, impressed with their consistenty and balance. While the rider was still seeking slightly too much support on the bit, the horse knew its job and executed the M-level movements with great ease. The duo won the team test with 71.306%, the individual with 70.657% and placed third in the Kur with 72.500%.
German 2012 European Championship Pony Team member Lena Charlotte Walterscheidt made the transition to Junior Riders level aboard the 9-year old Oldenburg gelding Solist (by Sandro Hit x Rubinstein). She started out with a conservative ride in the team test (69.594% - 2nd) and reclaimed that second spot in the Kur (74.125%). Aimee Weise and the 14-year old Dutch bred Sportlife (by Montecristo) improved their scores throughout the show and climbed from fourth place in the team test ( 68.873%) to a second in the individual (68.947%) and the victory in the kur (74.791%).
At young riders' level there was only one rider wielding the axe of power: Stephanie Kooijman. In September 2012 the rider fractured her shin bone in a stable accident and underwent intensive rehabilition to get her back into the saddle in Decemner. Kooijman's trainer, Dutch Olympian Tineke Bartels, kept her 10-year old Dutch warmblood Winston (by OO Seven) fit in the meantime. The powerful black gelding is showing some improvement in the pirouettes, as he can now take more the weight on the hindquarters. Kooijman won the Young Riders team test with 73.728%, the individual with 72.982% and the kur with 76.833%.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED
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Related Links
Scores 2013 CDI Drachten
Lavinia Arl Leads Pony Division at 2013 CDI Drachten