Former Dutch Grand Prix team rider Antoinette Falandt has a new horse at her disposal. Since January 1, 2005, she is riding the 8-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Paco, a Welt Hit II x Rubinstein offspring owned by Daniella van der Wagt.
The 17.2 hand standing Paco has only been competed in two Fourth level classes so he has little show experience. "If all goes well, I hope to show him this summer. He doesn't have much experience so everything is still very exciting for him, but he's a quick learner and everything is going well so far," Falandt said.
Falandt is also training the 6-year old Seigneur, a Juventus x Zortin offspring, owned by Wim Zegwaard, and the Prix St Georges horse Lex (Farmer x Bentley).
To date, Falandt's apex in her show career was in 2003, when she became one of Holland's leading Grand Prix riders on the international show scene. Aboard Jarwo (Ferro x Statuar), Falandt impressed everyone by finishing 14th overall at the 2003 CDIO Aachen and 12th at the 2003 European Championships in Hickstead. Unfortunately, Jarwo (by Ferro) got injured right after the 2004 Dutch Dressage Championships and did not make it on the Dutch Olympic Dressage Team. At the moment he is still recovering from his injury.
Image copyrighted: Arnd Bronkhorst
Related Links
Rutten Announces Official Dutch Olympic Dressage Team
Antoinette Falandt at the 2004 Dutch Olympic Selection Trials
Falandt at the 2003 European Dressage Championships in Hickstead