With Dutch pony power in play at the 2013 CDI Roosendaal Indoor on 5 - 8 December 2013, Lisanne Zoutendijk and Champ of Class blitzed the field for a triple first place, followed by three other top combinations: Mercedes Verweij and Brouwershaven's Nairobi, Joelle Peters and Haasendonk's Sultan and Veronique van der Panne and Rhyfedd Spike. The top place-getters were all proud to show that in terms of dressage, smaller does not in any way equal less talent!
Winner of the team, individual and Kur test with 76.966%, 77.317%, and 77.625%, Holland’s Lisanne Zoutendijk and 9-year old Champ of Class (by Champion de Luxe x Dornik B ) proved that their training is paying off and that with a little help, anything is possible.
“On the first day for the team test I was lucky to have the help of my trainer Coby van Baalen, as she helped a lot to ensure we maintained a good control over the extended paces because I could feel that Champ had a lot of energy, but with her help we had a great performance and won the test with 76,966%,” said the 15-year old.
Victorious again on the second day with a personal record of 77,317%, Lisanne also pulled off a stellar Freestyle. She told Eurodressage that as she was riding her last line she thought to herself, “Yes this was really good!" She added, "for me, this Freestyle test was the highlight of this competition!”
Hoping to be part of the 2014 Dutch team selection for the European Championships in Millstreet, Lisanne is working specifically on getting more expression in the trot. She knows that with the help of her daily trainer, Jeroen Okkema, as well as Coby van Baalen, she can do just that!
Mercedes Verweij and her 8-year old Welsh pony Brouwershaven Nairobi (by Woldshoeve’s Silco) came in runner-up for the team test on 71.026%. She dropped to 7th in the Individual and 11th in the kur. She hopes that she can keep her pony more focused in the ring to improve her consistency in competition.
"I ride mainly for myself more than on winning in competition," said Verwey. "But Nairobi and I had prepared for this competition in Roosendaal really well and in the training I had been practicing the test and also working more specifically on the looseness through his body."
Trained at the Stable Brouwer in northern Netherlands, Mercedes is taught by Lotje Schoots and Yessin Rahmouni. She also her horse Zarah (by Oscar).
“Zarah has already been competing at small tour level and I hope to successfully take part with this horse at junior level next year," she said. "For now, what especially needs to be improved is the obedience of Nairobi in the competition ring!”
Third in the team test on 70.598%, 14-year old Joelle Peters and her 14-year old pony Haasendonk's Sultan (by Nieuwmoeds Patrick) rose to take second in both the individual and kur tests with 71.585% and 74.333%. As the pair's first international show since Arrezo last summer, Joelle feels that Sultan has made a lot of progress since those all important Europeans.
"In Roosendaal Sultan was in fine form and I felt him far more steady in the contact," said Peters. "He also has now a lot of suppleness in his movement and I had a great feeling while riding him."
Joelle told Eurodressage that the friendly atmosphere in Roosendaal made it a pleasure to ride at the grounds and that she felt her pony getting better and better as the show went on. "He was really growing in the tournament and I was particularly proud of him scoring 74,3 in the kür to music," she added.
Aiming on fine tuning the details of test riding with trainer Karin Retera, Joelle knows that Karin has great knowledge of how to improve her performance in the tests and to make Sultan score even better! "Aside from my training twice a week with Karin, I also journey twice a month to our team Chef d'equipe Tineke Bartels. However, in the week leading up to a show we increase our training, trying to improve all things and to stretch the limit," she said.
Working specifically on exercises such as half pass and leg yielding, Joelle focuses a lot on variations of bending and flexing her pony, to make him more supple.
“We are riding one year together now and Sultan is still getting better every day. He really is a magnificent pony with a great character," she explained.
Coming in fourth place in the team on 69.957%, 14-year old Veronique van der Panne and her 9-year old pony Rhyfedd Spike (by Veenstra's Prommis) took third on the individual and kur with 71.463% and 72.625%.
"My pony did a great job,” Veronique accounted proudly. “He is the most lovely pony in the whole world!”
Trained by Team Hexagon Veronique hopes to work hard in 2014 and continue making her pony and herself believe that anything is possible. “I am currently working on passage with my pony, because if a horse can do it, why can’t a pony," she said.
by Sarah Warne for Eurodressage
Photos © Astrid Appels - Eurodressage was on the scene taking pictures of all pony riders, young riders and U25 riders at the CDI Roosendaal. Contact us for prints.
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