Dutch Kimberly Pap and her brand new ride Victory found their stride at the 2018 CDI Sint-Truiden after making their international show debut at junior riders' level less than two weeks ago in Joosland. Pap and Victory scored a hattrick in Sint-Truiden at their second CDI.
The 17-year old Pap and the 16-year old Dutch warmblood bred Victory (by Jazz x Ulft x Porter) began their run at the 2018 CDI Sint-Truiden on 12 April 2018 by posting a winning score of 71.818% in the junior team test. On Saturday they repeated that feat and earned 71.373% in the individual test as only ride to score over 70%. In the kur to music they were a league of their own and totalled 76.042% staying almost a full five percent ahead of the competition.
"Victory went very well in all tests in Sint-Truiden. I was able to ride three very good tests," Pap told Eueodressage. "Of course there are still points for improvement, but I was very happy with how it went all those days. My top coach Nicolette van Leeuwen helped me every day. I didn't expect a hattrick, because I've only been riding him since December and I don't have much experience with him. And there were good combinations there!"
Pap is an experienced FEI pony rider and had a strong season at international FEI pony level in 2016 aboard Pippin's Pride AT (by). In 2017 they had to make the transition to junior level because Kimberly had reached the age limit, but it took her a while to find the right equine match that could enable her to continue a career on the international scene.
"I had two horses in 2017 with the goal of riding at junior riders level, but unfortunately I couldn't compete either of them due to health issues."
In December 2017, Renate van Vliet gave Pap the ride on the schoolmaster Victory and the pair immediately clicked. They did a few regional shows before achieving a first major season highlight, winning the 2018 Dutch Indoor Championships in Ermelo. They international debut was at the 2018 CDI Nieuw en St. Joosland at the beginning of April and they ended up winning the consolation finals. In Sint-Truiden they reigned supreme.
"Joop van Uytert approached us in December saying that he knew a horse I could do juniors with," Pap explained about her discovering Victory. "We went to look at Victory and it immediately clicked very well when I test rode him. A bit later we picked him up and now he's in our barn."
Pap aims to qualify on the Dutch team for the 2018 European Junior/Young Riders Championships in Fontainebleau, France, in July.
"I want to ride the observation trials for the European Championships as well as few other shows," said Kimberly. "My goal is to ride the 2018 European JR Championships. After that I'll focus on Young Riders."
Photo © HIPPOLLYWOOD
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Scores 2018 CDI Sint-Truiden
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