In 1996 the Belgian Young Riders Team won the team and individual gold medal at the CDI-YR in Hickstead, England. The organization of "Dressage at Hickstead" set up an international youth competition in which a European Championship was simulated.
In the weekend of 1st till 3rd October Belgium made a similar performance in the Euro Future Cup in Bremen, Germany. Although the team medal did not shine as much as the junior gold of 1996, the silver came as a god's gift. Belgium captured second position through riders of Veronique de Baecker, Ona de Wagenaere and Lawrence Raemdonck. It was Veronique who maintained a strong presence throughout the competition. Fifth in the preliminary, sixth in the team test and third in the individual test turned Veronique into the prima donna of the Belgian Young Riders team.
Ona de Wagenaere also seemed to have shaped up from her Euro Championship low tie performance. The 20 year old aspiring professional dressage rider scored two solid marks of 65%. Lawrence Raemdonck followed as third Belgian rider with his Dutch warmblood Mozart (by Bravour x Roemer). It was mainly the fact that Belgium beat Holland at Young Riders level in an international dressage competition that gave the silver medal a historic allure. The Dutch Marlies van Baalen served as sole contributor for Dutch bronze as the 19 year old rider from Brakel, The Netherlands, won the preliminary, team and freestyle test. The German Team was yet again undefeatable and took the lead with 4032 points.
Complete scores of the 1999 Euro Future Cup in Bremen
Image copyrighted: Ruud van Tienen
