Petra van Esch's Fiji Sold to Japan

Dressage

Japan

Dutch dressage rider Petra van Esch has sold her Grand Prix horse Fiji to Mr. Matsunaga in Japan.

Van Esch, who runs a sales and training facility in Gemonde, The Netherlands, but who competes much in Germany, trained and competed Fiji herself. He is a 12-year old NRPS registered gelding by Florencio out of Nelinora (by Climax).

Between 2014 and 2017 she competed him mainly at shows in Germany, with starts in Walldorf, Munich, Chiemsee, and Grüningen.

The pair made its international show debut at small tour level at the 2017 CDI-W Neumunster. One year later, they returned to Neumunster for another round at small tour, followed by a start at the CDI Hagen in April 2018.

In November 2019 the combination moved up to international Grand Prix level and posted 61.348% in their first CDI at the highest level. Almost a year later, at their second international at top level, they scored 66.935% in the Grand Prix at the CDI Hagen. In the freestyle they earned 69.805%.

Van Esch and Fiji competed in a Dutch squad selection trial in The Netherlands in September and scored 69,022% to place second. She intended to ride some World Cup show this winter, but Fiji sold instead.

The horse has been acquired by Mr Matsunaga.

"The people who bought Fiji did so from a video. I have never had that before," Van Esch told Eurodressage. "During the week a girl will ride him for the owner and on the weekend the owner will ride him himself. He was looking for a very tall horse. Apparently there are tall Japanese. He might take him to a show, but nothing big. They mainly want to have fun with him. I get a very good feeling from these people, which is good."

Van Esch will continue her competition career with the 10-year old full brother of Fiji, Fifty Fifty, whom she has been competed at international small tour level since February 2019.