Dutch Junior Team Horse Fariska Sold

Dressage

The Netherlands

Fariska, the Dutch team horse of children and junior rider Lara van Nek, has been sold.

Fariska is a 15-year old Dutch warmblood mare by Vivaldi out of Variska (by Nourejev x Houston). She is bred by A. Dijkstra.

Career Starter

The mare was an eye catcher from the start, winning the foal inspection in Tolbert in 2010. She sold in the Starsale Foal Auction for 5,750 euro to Willeke Bos, the mother of Lara van Nek.

The chestnut mare became the career starter for Lara. The pair competed at five European Children and Junior Riders Championships.

The duo made its international show debut at the CDI Nieuw en St. Joosland on April 2017. They placed in the top five in all three children's classes.

Five European Championships

At the 2017 European Children Championships in Roosendaal, they won team gold and placed fifth individually. They went on to compete at two further European Children Championships, winning team gold and individual silver in 2018 in Fontainebleau and team and individual silver in 2019 in San Giovanni in Marignano.

At the end of 2019 they moved to junior level but in 2020 Van Nek chose to compete pony Baumann's Despino on the Dutch pony team at the European Pony Championships in Pilisjazsfalu.

In 2021 Lara and Fariska competed at plenty of CDI's to gain mileage but it wasn't until 2022 that they returned on the team for the 2022 European Junior Riders Championships in Hartpury, where they won team silver and placed 16th in the individual test. At the 2023 Europeans in Kronberg the Dutch team had a lull and dropped to 10th team place, while individually they were 28th.

Van Nek did not compete Fariska internationally in 2024. During their time together, they showed in 101 international classes.

Schoolmaster

The liver chestnut mare has now been sold as a schoolmaster. The seller did not want to reveal the identity of the buyer.

At the 2022 European Junior Championships

"We grew up together and learned everything together. Thank you for making my dreams come true and be the sweetest horse someone can dream of," Van Nek said to announce the sale of Fariska.