Hoping to just make it into the top five placings Dutch youngster Yoeki Bos was extremely surprised and happy with a double victory in the junior division at the 2015 CDI Le Mans - 23 - 25 October 2015. Bos and her mount Sandman were in command of the team test and kur and finished third in the individual test.
The 17-year old De Hoef based Yoeki Bos and her 16-year old Dutch warmblood Sandman (by Ragazzo x Donnerhall) scored 70,676% for victory in the team test and 71,250% in the kur.
“I honestly didn't expect to place first in the team and kur, or even third in the individual," Bos admitted. "On the second day we had some mistakes which is why our percentage dropped in the Individual to 67,544%. However on the other days Sandman was in top form and as these were my first victories at international junior level, you can imagine how happy and excited I was.
Bos explained that Sandman did an amazing job and the rider was particularly impressed with him as she felt that he was quite a bit scared of the main indoor arena.
“I have been riding him since I was 14, so that is around 3 years now. My previous trainer rode him at Prix St Georges level and wanted to sell him. Since we were looking for a nice horse with which I could start at regional level, it was logical that I would try him," Bos reminisced. "He is a great schoolmaster, and he has an amazing character. However he can be really naughty, which he was in my second test.”
Bos started her international dressage career at FEI Pony level with her pony Hof Ter Eekter's Jinx, but began combining junior level competition on Sandman already in 2013. In 2015 she had to make the definite transition to horses and said goodbye to pony showing.
At the start of this year Yoeki took six months off competition because she had the impression the riding just did not feel like she wanted it to feel. During this time she switched trainer and she has noticed a big change in her performance since then.
"I began training with Mark van de Donk and I feel that all my horses have improved so much. Next year will be my last year at junior level and I have two other horses in work; the 12-year old Winnetou (by Redford x Royal Diamond) and the 6-year old E-sis (by Westenwind x Ubis) which I hope to compete at junior level this year. When those horse are ready to start on junior level, I intend to make the change to Young Rider level with Sandman. My goal for 2016 is to improve my riding and my horses, both mentally and physically.”
Yoeki aims for a career in riding, but does not yet know if that will be on a professional level or an amateur. “This year I will start my exam year at school, and after that I plan to go on and get a degree, maybe in Lifestyle Informatics in Amsterdam," she added.
by Sarah Warne - Photo © Anniek van Schaik
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