In an interview with Dutch equestrian magazine De Hoefslag, several Dutch WEG team riders disclosed their plans for the 2015 show season. Holland's number one pair, Adelinde Cornelissen, has expressed uncertainty whether she is aiming for the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas.
Coming off a Grand Prix Kur to Music victory at the 2014 CDI Mechelen, Danielle Heijkoop will continue to campaign the rising 16-year old Siro (by Gribaldi) in 2015, but also hopes to introduce her small tour horse Badari (by Gribaldi x Damocles) to Grand Prix level. The bay Badari was the 2014 Dutch Indoor Champion at small tour level.
Team anchor Adelinde Cornelissen has not made up her mind about her 2015 show plans with the soon to be 18-year old Dutch bred Parzival (by Jazz x Ulft). Her WEG team mates Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud are definitely showing in the World Cup qualifier in Amsterdam in January, but Cornelissen is not sure if she's going to make an appearance there.
"I hadn't really put Jumping Amsterdam on my calendar," Cornelissen told De Hoefslag. "Each time it turns out that Parzival doesn't like the surroundings there. But I might change my mind. I'm recovered from the leg fracture I sustained from a fall, which did mess up my original planning. I'm not sure if I'm aiming for the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas. Parzival will have to fly and although he's doing well with his heart, it is an extra risk, which I'm wondering I should take."
Cornelissen did mention that she wants to bring her home bred Zephyr (by Jazz) up to Grand Prix level as well as her latest ride, the Dutch stallion Aqiedo (by Undigo x Metall), which came to her barn in November 2013. So far she has ridden him only in clinics and has not taken him to a CDI competition. Adelinde is half owner of the black stallion together with Aris van Manen.
Dutch team rookie Diederik van Silfhout will make his show come back in Amsterdam aboard his number one GP mount, the rising 10-year old Dutch stallion Arlando (by Paddox x Mythens xx) in Amsterdam. The pair hasn't been out since the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Caen where they qualified for the Kur to Music Finals.
Source: De Hoefslag/Eurodressage
Photo © Astrid Appels
Related Links
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Heijkoop and Van Baalen Win the 2014 Dutch Indoor Dressage Championships
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Diederik van Silfhout Takes Provisional Lead in Grand Prix Special at 2014 World Equestrian Games
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