Short-Listed Horses after Second Dutch Selection Trial for 2023 World Young Horse Championships

Dressage

The Netherlands

Thirty-four horses in three age categories have been short listed for Dutch team selection for the 2023 World Young Horse Championship after a second team selection trial in Ermelo on 13 - 14 June 2023.

Long List and Wild Cards

A long-list of horses was drafted after a first selection trial in Nunspeet. The past two days these re-appeared in front of selectors Veronique Roerink, Emmelie Scholtens and Johan Hamminga.

At the second trial, several wild cards attended who couldn't make it to the first for grounded reasons and wanted to be assessed. Two of the wild cards made it onto the short list. Cathrine Dufour has also entered the 5-year old Nox but ended up not making it to the selection trial after she had two wisdom teeth surgically removed and couldn't ride for a while.

The three wild card horses that passed were 5-year old Dutch Dream (Edith Chardon), 6-year old My Vitality (Eric Guardia Martinez), and 7-year old Lakewood (Robin Heiden).

Home Advantage

The long listed combinations had to perform the finals test in an arena that was already quite dressed up to resemble a competition. The Dutch have the home advantage that they practice on the actual show grounds where the World Championships will be held. Each horse was given plenty of time to familiarize himself with the arena, before doing the test. Afterwards each pair got tips from Scholtens and Hamminga as working points.

"The finals test is quite challenging and it was nice to test the horses in it," said Hamminga. "We've got a lot of information about the quality of the horses and riders. Three good gaits are important, especially a good walk. We further selected on good self carriage and a friendly, harmonious image, so that the horses can show throughness and a natural way of going. It is also important the combination can cope with the increasing pressure of a World Championship."

Short List

The selectors picked 12 horses in the 5 and 6-year old division and nine 7-year olds for the short list. A third and final trial will take place in July after which the team is announced.

Dutch short-listed horses are

5-year olds

Phoebe Peters - Everest (by Especial)
Charlotte Fry - Nacho (by Negro)
Charlotte Fry - Nalegro (by Painted Black)
Dinja Van Liere. - Nashville Star (by Desperados)
Femke De Laat - Nashville Sw (by Secret)
Bart Veeze - Nero (by Ferguson)
Marlou De Ruyter - New Orleans (by Blue Hors Farrell)
Julia de Ridder - Nyrone Fortuna (by ferdinand)
Kim Alting - Dark Rousseau (by Dettori)
Kim Noordijk - This is Naqueen (by Trafalgar)
Sem Stiemer - Nacho (by Indian Rock)
Edith Chardon D - utch Dream (by Dream Boy)

6-year olds

Thamar Zweistra - Hexagons Mr Magnum (by Expression)
Hans Peter Minderhoud - Massimo (by Toto Jr)
Amber Hage - Mercurius ACM (by Dream Boy)
Danielle Heijkoop - Mac Toto (by Toto JR.)
Danielle Heijkoop - Mister Johnson J.J. (by Toto jr)
Dinja Van Liere - Mauro Turfhorst (by Zonik)
Femke De Laat. - Mission (by Eye Catcher)
Kirsten Brouwer - Magnum (by Furst Romancier)
Curro Benitez Sanchez - Magic Johnson Van De Edcohoeve (by Johnson)
Benedek Pachl - Hexagons Gorgeous Black Art (by Toto JR.)
Hans Peter Minderhoud - My Toto (by Toto JR.)
Eric Guardia Martinez - My Vitality (by Vivaldi)

7-year olds

Adelinde Cornelissen - Luqiedo (by Aqiedo)
Jessica Nijpjes - Luna (by Governor)
Curro Benitez Sanchez - Lord Platinum (by Ferguson)
Kirsten Brouwer - Lennoxwaard (by Elcapone)
Hans Peter Minderhoud - Las Vegas (by Ferdeaux)
Thamar Zweistra - Hexagons Luxuriouzz (by Johnson)
Niels Bax - First Lewis (by Ferguson)
Kirsten Brouwer - Lightning Star (by Ferguson)
Robin Heiden - Lakewood (by Jazz)