Dutch Grand Prix rider Chantal van Lanen has received the ride on the small tour horse and 2007 KWPN mare champion Zhara Obertje (by Jazz x Contango x Amor).
Van Lanen began training Zhara Obertje on 1 August 2015 and the pair made its first public appearance at the 2015 Prinsjesdag KWPN Foal Auction on Tuesday 15 September 2015.
"She's a horse with a lot of potential. She's a horse with no limits," Van Lanen told Eurodressage. "I'll first be training her at hpme with the supervision of Adelinde Cornelissen to get the fine-tuning. At the end of the year we want to make our small tour debut and the goal for 2016 is to make the transition to the medium tour and finally Grand Prix. But I'll now be taking my time to make a really good debut."
Owned by De Korte family, Zhara Obertje is one of the many top breeding products of the most successful KWPN horse breeder to date, the late Huub van Helvoirt. She is a full sister to Grand Prix horses Tango and Bonzanjo.
The 11-year old Zhara Obertje was trained and competed to small tour level by Sofie van Vugt. This year she produced a foal via embryotransfer, the bay colt Kir Royal (by Negro), which sold for 12,000 euro at the 2015 Prinsjesdag auction. The mare also produced elite mare Elista Obertje (by Tuschinski) in 2009, Gorgeous (by Negro) in 2011, Happy Feet (by Don Schufro) in 2012, and Image of Zhara (by Negro) in 2013.
In 2007 Chantal van Lanen became Dutch junior riders champion on Beaujolais and won team gold at the 2005 and 2006 European Junior Riders Championships and team silver, individual bronze and gold at the 2007 European Junior Riders championships. In 2008 Chantal continued her career at young riders' level with Revival (by Kelvin x Aktion) which she took to Under 25 Grand Prix level.
"Besides Shara I'm also riding two younger Jazz offspring for De Korte family; a 7 and an 8-year old. Adelinde coaches me on all horses. She's a real Jazz specialist," Van Lanen explained.
Photos © private - Astrid Appels
Related Links
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Van Lanen Sells Medal Winning Beaujolais to Barbançon
KWPN Mare Champion Zhara Obertje in 2007 Performance Plus Collection
Huub van Helvoirt Passed Away