Dutch former team rider Danielle Heijkoop is planning to make her CDI show come back in June with her 17-year old Dutch warmblood gelding Siro in hopes of qualifying on the Dutch Olympic team this year.
Danielle Heijkoop and Siro (by Gribaldi) were members of the Dutch team at the 2013 European Dressage Championships in Herning, Denmark. An injury kept them for making it on the Dutch team for the 2014 World Equestrian Games. In 2015 they qualified for the World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, but Siro fractured his splint bone which prevented him to go. He recovered quickly, yet at the 2015 Dutch Championships in June the horse was withdrawn from the freestyle as he was not fit enough.
Danielle and Siro returned to the show ring on Friday 13 May 2016 at the practise event in Uden, The Netherlands.
"Finally I was able to bring Siro again, even though the show was not "real"," Heijkoop told Dutch equestrian magazine De Hoefslag. "Siro needed to do a test. He's never spooky, but he needs to get routine and at a practise show he's always a bit more enthusiastic than at home, although that does not work to his disadvantage. I'm very careful with him, I have to say. We've had so much bad luck last year."
Heijkoop believes her horse is now ready to get back in action and she is aiming for Dutch Olympic team qualification.
"With Siro I'm planning to compete him at the CDI Roosendaal at the beginning of June. Afterwards I'll do the normal selection process for Rio. The CHIO Rotterdam and the Dutch Championships are planned for Siro. I hope to ride my first Olympics with him."
Photo © Astrid Appels
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