Diana Porsche Adds WCYH Candidate Ma Belle to Collection

Dressage

Austria

Austrian Grand Prix rider Diana Porsche has added the 6-year old WCYH candidate Ma Belle to her collection of horses. The Dutch warmblood mare will stay with current rider Krista Kolijn.

Ma Belle is a 2017 born KWPN mare by Governor out of Fanita (by Vivaldi x Havidoff). She is bred by horse dealer Ad Valk.

Ma Belle is bred out of the best Dutch bloodlines with dam Fanita being the 2014 Pavo Cup champion, after which she disappeared from sport. Fanita was bred and owned by Andeweg family and competed by Emmelie Scholtens. Ma Belle sold to Jan Brink in Sweden, but returned to Holland as a 4-year old.

Krista Kolijn received the ride on the mare who was barely saddle broken in 2021.

"She's a spicy mare with a lot of movement, a top temperament," Kolijn told Eurodressage. "We did the IBOP (KWPN) mare performance test and is therefore Elite mare." In December 2021 the pair placed third in the 2021 Pluvinel Young Horse Talent Competition. Kolijn and her partner, Diederik Wigmans became co-owners with Brink.

In 2023 the combination made its international show debut in the 6-year old classes at the CDI Stadl Paura, where they were second twice. At last month's CDI Le Mans, the won the 6-year old Finals test with 78.400 points. Last weekend, the combination made it into the second round for Dutch team selection for the 2023 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo.

Ma Belle has now been sold to Austrian Diana Porsche, who trains with Diederik Wigmans.

"There were a lot of requests for her but because Diederik trains Diana and we have a good contact with her, she got first choice," Kolijn stated. "It's fantastic that such a horse goes to such a talented rider. Because Diana is riding a lot of shows now and is very busy in her own stable, she asked me to keep on riding Ma Belle, which I find great."

Kolijn has a foal Très Belle by Lord Diamond out of Ma Belle via embryotransfer and is expecting another one this year by Kjento. "I hope to have a lot of fun with them in the future," said Krista.