Hans Peter Minderhoud's Invictus Gets New Rider

Dressage

The Netherlands

Hans Peter Minderhoud's internationally competed Grand Prix ride Invictus has found a new rider. The bay gelding will remain in The Netherlands.

Invictus is a 12-year old KWPN bred gelding by Jack Sparrow out of Ebony Rose C.R. (by Voice x Rossini). He is bred by C. Roodenburg.

Low Mileage

Originally named Ile de Re C.R. (after the island off the Atlantic coast of France near La Rochelle), the bay gelding is out of the first and only full crop of foals born in 2013 by Carolyn De Roo's controversial stallion Jack Sparrow, who never fulfilled the KWPN licensing requirements, but got Oldenburg approved.

The stallion was bought by Edward Gal and slowly trained up the levels. He was hardly compete as a young horse.

Hans Peter Minderhoud

Invictus came to prominence under Hans Peter Minderhoud in 2020 when the 7-year old won the Dutch Small Tour Championships in Ermelo. They were selected on the Dutch team for the 2020 World Young Horse Championships, but the event was cancelled due to corona.

In April 2022 Invictus made his national Grand Prix debut in Exloo, where he scored 68.732% and 70.580. He was entered for the Dutch Grand Prix championships in May, but was a no-show.

In 2023 the pair began competing regularly at Grand Prix level, showing at CDI's in Exloo, Geesteren, Rotterdam and Kronenberg Indoor. He had to retire at the 2023 Dutch Championships but won the consolation class. The Dutch warmblood is endowed with incredible talent and potential for the Grand Prix work, but his temperament was not always up to par for high performance sport, leading to inconsistent Grand Prix scores going from 62.370% to 73.979%.

He was gelded, which led to more reliable performances. Their last international competition year was in 2024. Invictus showed in Lier, Aachen Festival 4 Dressage, and Tolbert. He did not go to the 2024 Dutch Championships but was long-listed for the 2024 Olympics. In October 2024 he did CDI Leeuwarden, where he retired from the GP test. It was the horse's last CDI.

Gregor Tacx

Invictus has moved on to Dutch national Grand Prix rider Gregor Tacx and his partner Joost Westendorp. Tacx trains with Nicole Werner.

"Some opportunities come your way… and just feel right," said Tackx. "We are beyond proud — and honestly a little humbled — to welcome Jack a.k.a. Invictus into our stables. This horse brings together everything we value: the biggest heart, an overflow of talent, and that rare spark you can’t put into words."

The 35-year old Tacx runs Stud farm Van Alle Winden and competed once internationally, as a show jumping rider at the 2008 CSI Zuidlaren. He has bought more prolific horses in the past, including Judy Reynolds' 2010 WEG and 2011 European Championship ride Remember and Vivace de Jeu.