Maura Knipscheer Takes over Ride on KWPN Stallion Cum Laude

Dressage

The Netherlands

Dutch Children team rider Maura Knipscheer has taken over the ride on the KWPN stallion Cum Laude from professional Vai Bruntink.

Cum Laude is an 8-year old KWPN registered and AES licensed stallion by Apache out of (by Weltmeyer x Rubinstein). He is owned by Sjak Laarakkers and Willeke Bos.

Bruntink announced the news on Facebook: "an empty box in our stallion barn. It feels very weird to see one of our top horses leave after so many years," she wrote.

Bruntink and Cum Laude

Trained by Vai Bruntink since he was a youngster, the black Cum Laude competed on the young horse circuit in The Netherlands. His biggest achievement at the time was placing 5th as a 6-year old in the 2016 Pavo Cup Finals.

In 2018 the pair made its CDI debut at small tour level during the World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo. The same year Cum Laude was approved for KWPN breeding based on his sport results.

In 2019 they rode at the CDI Exloo and placed third in the Prix St. Georges with 70.088%.

Junior Ride for Knipscheer

The 14-year old Maura Knipscheer will be making the transition to junior level with Cum Laude in 2021.

Aboard the 15-year old KWPN gelding Amaretto (by Krack C x Jazz), Knipscheer made her international show debut at Children's level in 2019. She competed in Joosland, Compiegne, Hagen and Exloo and was selected on the Dutch team for the 2019 European Children Championships in San Giovanni in Marignano, where she won team silver and placed 9th in the team test.

This year Maura and Amaretto competed at the CDI Lier and was re-selected on the Dutch Children's team for the 2020 Euros in Budapest, where she won team silver and individual bronze.

"I'm so looking forward to this new adventure with Cum Laude," said Knipscheer, who thanked her parents and coach Astrid Langeberg for their support.