For 18-year old Dutch junior rider Stephanie Kooijman, who recently has gone professional by accepting a job at Tineke Bartels' Academy, the 2011 CDIO-JR Moorsele was business as usual and that showed. The level-headed blonde won all three junior CDIO classes aboard her 8-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Winston (by OO Seven x Rhodium) scoring 72.207% in the team test, 73.640% in the individual, and 76.208% in the Kur.
Two weeks after their hattrick at the CDI-JR Roosendaal, Kooijman and Winston repeated that feat at the well visited international at Zilveren Spoor in Belgium. Being under constant professional supervision, Kooijman has shifted a few gears in the training of her huge Winston and it showed as in the warm up the pair was struggling with the contact. However, in the show ring Kooijman held her hands quiet and steady and Winston trotted in a beautiful frame with the head nicely at the vertical. The extended trots were powerful but the rein back was hesitant and Winston still needs to improve his balances in the voltes. In the extended walk the black gelding covers much ground but could be purer in the 4-beat rhythm. The canter work is expressive and uphill though in the team test the horse came slightly croupe high in one flying change. The pair experienced few problems in keeping all competition at bay with their three high level tests.
With Verkooijen as anchor, the Dutch Junior Riders' team also won the nations' cup with 2322 points in total. Suzanne van de Ven and the Oldenburg mare Donna Gracia (by Donnerschlag) were the second highest placing Dutch pair in the team test with 68.829% (4th). The highlight of her test were the huge flying changes. The trot work was also very balanced and rhythmical though the liver chestnut mare is slightly stiffer on the left lead which showed in the shoulder in. Van de Ven went on to finish third in the individua (70.570%) and fourth in the Kur (70.375%)
The Belgian team finished second in the nations' cup with 2277 points. In the team test the best scoring Belgian was Julie van Olst on the Dutch warmblood mare No Problem (by No Limit). The duo finished third with 69.595% scoring high especially for submission. The mare was very light in the bridle and soft in the contact with the bit. In general she could move more uphill, especially in the trot extensions and flying changes, but the smoothness and effortless of their work were exemplary.
Belgian junior rider Jorinde Verwimp has become a true jack of all trades, or let's say "levels". After moving from ponies to horses at age 15, the Wiekevorst based 16-year old has been competing at junior and young riders level, in the seniors' small tour as well as at Grand Prix level with an impressive string of horses. The best horse in her collection at the moment is the one she rides the junior classes with: the Dutch warmblood gelding Tiamo (by Lester x Hemmingway). The huge, long legged bay gelding has very impressive gaits and lovely silhouette because of his knee action. He covers much ground in trot and canter and appears very solid in the traversal movements and flying changes. The gelding tends to hollow his back though, as he pushes his neck high but Verwimp stayed calm and collected in the saddle and pulled off excellent scores, especially in the individual (72.061% 2nd place) and kur to music (75.625% 2nd place).
Spanish junior Alexandra Barbançon saddled her second junior rider's horse Mango Webbe, an 8-year old Dutch warmblood by Jazz x Krack C previously competed by Spanish Agusti Elias. The liver chestnut is a beautiful horse but looked green at this level lacking swing in the back and swooshing its hyperactive tail throughout the test. The canter work showed much promise and the horse is able to do fantastic flying changes, but needs to be lighter in the bridle to consistently score above the 70% marker. Young Barbançon put in a great effort, nonetheless, and scored 71.171 in the team test (2nd), 69.649% in the individual (4th) and 68.708% in the Kur (7th).
Belgian Eline de Coninck gradually improved in the competition and aboard her 10-year old Oldenburg gelding Don Warohn (by Dormello x Avus) she moved from a 9th place in the team test (66.667%) to a fifth in the individual (68.202%) and a third in the Kur (71.250%). The liver chesntut has fantastic cadence in trot and is virtually as rhythmical as a clock. In the walk he can get a bit tense which affects the clarity of the rhythm and in canter the uphill tendency slackens slightly but in general the horse is very well trained and is a very consistent performer at international shows. De Conick is trained by Eddy Swennen.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED - more photos in IMAGE GALLERY below
Related Links
Scores 2011 CDIO-PJYR Moorsele