He’s young, only 21 years old, but despite his age, Marten Luiten has won many medals at European Championships already. Last week, in Hungary, the Dutch U25 rider took home three medals, bronze with the Dutch team and a silver and bronze individual medal, all with his mare Fynona.
Luiten is not only a gifted rider, though. Since last year, he is also ambassador of the CDI3* Indoor Friesland in the Netherlands in October of this year, together with Dinja van Liere and Hermès. The organization of Indoor Friesland is proud of their young ambassador and his friendly way of riding and interviewed him on his way home from Hungary. Read the condensed version of that interview here.
Always Learning
Luiten rides with so much feeling, so friendly, and in such harmony. What is his secret? “I don't really know. Fynona is of course a sensitive horse and I'm realizing more and more that you have to look at every horse as an individual. Every horse is different,” says Luiten. "I think it is especially important that you try to get something out of everything and that you are really open to learning. For example, a few years ago I was sitting in the stands at CHIO Aachen and our national coach Alex van Silfhout and Leunus van Lieren were watching the Grand Prix nearby. With Fynona, I was just at the stage of learning piaffe and passage. I asked them if they wanted to explain what exactly happened in the ring. They did and it turned out to be a very educational afternoon. Another example; at a horse show, almost everyone gathers around the main arena to watch the competition. However, watching the warm up is actually much more educational. You can always see several riders at work there at the same time and you see how they warm up their horse, how they work towards their test, and how they solve problems.”
Schedule
Fynona will now get some time off and Luiten will focus on his other horses.
“I have a couple more very nice horses in my stable. Lately, a lot of time and attention went to Fynona, but the other horses certainly deserve the same. I could ride U25 for a few more years, but I don't think I will finish it completely. I'm looking forward to riding a real Grand Prix test,” he smiles. "Although I still want to improve a few things before I really take that step.”
Ambassadorship Indoor Friesland 2023
“Last year, I really enjoyed it and I received a lot of nice reactions for both the event and my ambassadorship. I was a real jack-of-all-trades, I did everything and I liked it."
Unique Ring with Beautiful Backdrop
"When I think of Indoor Friesland, I think of the ring, which was unique,”says Luiten. "I still see pictures of it on social media. The shape of the ring and that great curtain with the typical Frisian landscape as a backdrop were very special. I also still think of the great atmosphere and the many spectators on almost every day; I am really looking forward to this year’s edition and I hereby call on all riders to sign up for Indoor Friesland 2023 from October 20-22. It is a great event for everyone. Especially for top riders. They can let their younger horses get used to an impressive arena in a relaxed atmosphere and in great conditions. For example, Fendi of Sönke Rothenberger rode one of his first international competitions in Friesland last year and Charlotte Fry also let new Grand Prix horses gain experience. Indoor Friesland is also perfect in terms of planning, at the start of the indoor season. The stables were great and well organized, the temperature was perfect, there was an extra warm up arena and a lunging circle and the whole setup is very compact. In a few steps you are from the stables in the vendor village and at the main arena. Finally, there is a beautiful hotel directly at the competition location. Even if you sleep in the hotel, you are always close to your horse.”
Photo: Digishots
Text: Marjan de Wildt and Dinette Neuteboom for Indoor Friesland
Related Link
Scores: 2022 CDI Leeuwarden