Former Dutch medal winning Young Rider Debora Pijpers has obtained the ride on Marlies van Baalen's Grand Prix horse Zigeuner DVB as her Under 25 mount for the year.
Aboard her own Dutch warmblood gelding Now I'm Here, Pijpers was member of the Dutch team that competed at the 2013 European Young Riders Championships in Compiegne, France, where they won team gold and finished 13th in the individual test. Her horse was retired from competition sport in 2014.
Pijpers, who continued to compete Look at Him (by Likoto xx) nationally at small tour and Under 25 level, has now made her show debut on her trainer's Grand Prix horse Zigeuner DVB (by Gribaldi) who was campaigned lightly by Van Baalen at international Grand Prix level. The 12-year old KWPN gelding by Gribaldi x Ehrentusch suffered a colic attack in May 2015 but has now recovered to full health.
Pijpers made her show debut on the bright bay gelding at a local show in Nijkerk, The Netherlands, on 13 February 2016. They rode an Intermediaire II class and scored 62%
"It's an incredible opportunity," Pijpers told Horses.nl. "I'm very grateful for it. We still had a lot of communication issues in the test, but that's normal after such a short time. Now we'll have to make some mileage together and find the connection."
Photo © Astrid Appels
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