Young Rider Jeanine Nieuwenhuis and TC Athene Shine Bright at 2015 CDI Roosendaal Indoor

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2015 CDI Roosendaal Indoor

Multiple medal winning Dutch team rider Jeanine Nieuwenhuis has started a new chapter in her life with a new professional riding job and top horse to fulfil her Young Riders' ambitions. At the 2015 CDI Roosendaal Indoor on 2 - 6 December 2015, Nieuwenhuis and her new ride 10-year old Dutch gelding TC Athene achieved a hattrick in the Young Riders' division.

After winning team gold in 2012, team silver in 2013 and 2015 at the European Junior and Young Riders Championships aboard her loyal partner Baldacci, Nieuwenhuis felt read for a new turn in her life. She left Stable Hexagon, sold Baldacci and became an assistant trainer at Tim Coomans' dealer yard where she got the ride on TC Athene (by United x Negro).

Under Gerdine Maree TC Athene won the 2009 Pavo Cup Finals. In 2010 he got injured and missed out on all the young horse action, but a year later he finished 12th in the 6-year old finals at the 2011 World Young Horse Championships. Since then it has been very quiet around this talented chestnut until his return at small tour level in 2014.

"Gerdine Maree rode TC Athene from when he was 4 untill just over two years ago," Nieuwenhuis explained. "She was too busy so she brought him back to Tim. Coomans gave the ride to 20-year old Nieuwenhuis and sparked new life in the competitive career of his horse.

Jeanine and TC Athene won the CDI Roosendaal Indoor young riders team test with 72.368%, the individual test with 73.211% and the Kur to Music with 75.125%.

"I was so thrilled,” Jeanine told Eurodressage. "“Athene was great. He felt so happy and he gives so much power!”

Now training with Tim Coomans and Dutch youth rider team coach Tineke Bartels, Jeanine has two other, older horses in work, as well as numerous young horses to ride now that she has decided on a professional equestrian career.

“One of them is Great Lady TC, who was second in the Pavo Cup this year," she added. The Bretton Woods x Osmium mare was previously competed by Roos van Schaik.

For 2016 Jeanine aims to again qualify for the Dutch team for the 2016 European Young Riders Championships, which will be held in Oliva Nova, Spain in July.

by Sarah Warne -