In a total wipeout of the Young Rider classes at the brand new international 2014 CDI Nieuw en St. Joosland on 3 - 6 April 2014, Dutch Anne Meulendijks was the winner of all three tests on her Dutch warmblood MDH Avanti. She also took out the consolation final on her second horse Parole.
“The St Joosland CDI was a really nice and very well organized competition and to win every test is, of course, an amazing thing to happen,” Meulendijks told Eurodressage. “Avanti really goes like a rocket and he has changed so much. He is a great horse to ride and every day I think to myself “Wow, what a horse. The feeling on him is really cool!”
The 20-year old Anne listed the freestyle as her show highlight because she felt that her horse was really with her and they were together with the beat. With scores of 70.833% and 73.991% in the team and individual test on the 9-year old Avanti (by United x Farrington ), Meulendijks topped it off with 77.833% in the kur.
Anne was especially happy to be achieve such encouraging scores from the judges. “One judge gave us 81% and it is really cool to pass the 80% border for the first time."
Winning the consolation final with 69.695% on 10-year old Parole (by Paso Longo), Anne plucked the fruits of careful training over time. She expressed that she is very happy with how this horse is developing. “I have been with this horse for a long time and she gets better every time! She was originally planned to be for my sister, Lotte, but we swapped and she is now very happy with Ohio.”
According to Anne, her lead horse Avanti is very good to handle and is very quiet at home in his stable.
“You can do everything with him but when he knows it is important, he can really click into gear!
Parole is also a fine horse to handle but is still somewhat inexperienced in other things."
Returning back to her former pony coach Tommie Visser for training after getting instructed by Dutch team trainer Tineke Bartels the last two years, Anne confessed she clicks very well with Tommie and trusts him a full 100%. “He knows very well how he can get the best out of me and my horses. This is a new way of training but I feel my horses are becoming happier and happier!”
Onward to this year’s European Championship with Avanti, Anne is now a full-time dressage rider and is set to make the most of the year, which is her last asYoung Riders. “Then I really want to make the transition to the Under 25’s with my horses," she stated.
Text by Sarah Warne - Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Links
Scores: 2014 CDI Nieuw en St. Joosland
Anne Meulendijks Joins Bartels Academy Staff