Forever Valentine, a Belgian bred and owned 2021 Bundeschampionate winner, has found a new rider in Belgium. Young Rider team member Jette de Jong has taken over the reins.
Forever Valentine is a 10-year old Westfalian mare by Franziskus out of Lilou (by Laurentio x De Niro). She is bred by breeders' group ESG Heinrichmann-Pötter-Schulze
Bundeschampion
Born at the yard of Georgia Schulze-Lefert's parents, the bay mare was nicknamed "Das Fahrrad" (the bicycle) as a foal.
Owned by Belgian Caroline van Zele, the mare made its show debut in Germany as a 5-year old in 2020. Under Thomas Schulze she was first competed in June 2020 and he took her to the Bundeschampionate, where she finished 14th in the 5-year old finals after finishing third in the consolation.
A year later, in 2021, the pair was able to win the highly coveted gold medal and title at the Bundeschampionate in the 6-year old division. Schulze kept training her and took her back to the 2022 Bundeschampionate as a 7-year old and finished 10th in the Finals.
They also tried qualifying for the World Young Horse Championships in 2021 and 2022, but were not picked on the German team. In 2020 they were selected but the show was cancelled due to covid.
Forever Valentine did not compete in Germany in 2023. She left Schulze's stable in December 2022 and first moved to Holland to Femke de Laat's barn before relocating back to Germany to Beatrice Hoffrogge. Bea debuted her at the local show in Datteln at S-level in March 2024 and showed her in the developing PSG horse classes through August 2024, the horse's last show.
Jette de Jong
At the start of October 2025 Forever Valentine moved into the stable of Belgian young rider Jette de Jong.
The new duo made their show debut immediately at the national competition in Dentergem on 19 October, where they placed first with a 69.338% in the Prix St Georges.
"What a girl," Jette said after her first show and win. "She is one of a kind, so special and working her heart out after just 2 weeks together."
Photo © Stefan Lafrentz
Related Links
Scores: 2020 Bundeschampionate
German Horses Selected for 2020 World Young Horse Championships
Scores: 2021 Bundeschampionate
Scores: 2022 Bundeschampionate
Participants for German Selection Trial 2021 World Young Horse Championships
Forever Valentine Scoops up Title in 6-year old Finals at 2021 Bundeschampionate
Diaton and Forever Valentine Win 2021 Hagen Bundeschampionate Qualifier
Horses Selected for Second German WCYH Selection Trial of 2021
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