Let's give … Marijke Hammink a call

Dieke Slingerland tries to call a Welsh breeder every week, 
-a user and/or enthusiast for the ‘Let’s Give … a Call’ column. Who she calls depends on what’s in the news at the time.

Let's give Marijke Hammink a call. After winning the Dutch championship and being selected for the World Championships team, it's time to learn a little more about Marijke Hammink.

Who is on your team?

We really do the driving as a family, and a few friends help out at the stable. We don’t have any full-time employees, but we do have a number of interns. When we go to a multi-day competition, a good friend always keeps an eye on things and takes care of the ponies that stay behind at home.

What else do you all do besides driving?

We offer riding lessons and train many ponies; there are usually about 10 waiting to be trained. We also have a few boarding clients.

Do you only have Section A ponies for the carriage?

We used to have Shetland ponies, but nine years ago we switched to Welsh ponies, and Section A is the preferred choice here for the four-in-hand team. They’re beautiful and have a lovely temperament. But they’re also very functional; when it comes to jumping, a four-in-hand team of Section A Welsh ponies is the most agile.

What should you look for when buying a new pony?

Temperament is the most important factor, and for our outdoor team, we prefer brown ponies. Movement is also very important, and that goes hand in hand with conformation; a pony that can’t move well isn’t built for the job either.

Do you all score well in all sections?

We have the team under good control and they're running smoothly, so yes, that's right.

What do you think the team's chances are for the World Cup?

If everything goes well, we might be able to participate, but I won’t make any firm plans until October! So much depends on the trip there and how the ponies handle it all.

How many ponies do you have in total?

For the outdoor team, we have seven ponies; the five ponies that competed in the Dutch National Championships are also eligible to compete in the World Championships, and we have two more ponies that can join the team if necessary.
We also have a few young horses out in the pasture and some ponies for riding lessons. About 20 ponies in total.

Source: NWPCS

Photo: Theo Ten Brinke