Coco “Mini George” with Sterre Slosser

I’m sure you’ve all seen the video of Britt Dekker with Sterre Slosser. Sterre Slosser is, of course, no stranger to us anymore, so it was time to give Sterre and Jennifer Slosser a call. Because who is that striking little gray Welsh B pony named Coco that Sterre rides? And how did this super-tough Welsh B pony come into her life?

Coco's real name is Krien’s Dion; she is a descendant of Vikarien’s Joint Venture and is owned by the Duijts family

How did Coco actually come into your lives?

Sterre rode with Bolletje—that was, of course, also a well-known Welsh A pony But Bolletje retired. So we started looking for another pony to ride. Through Saskia van Es, we got in touch with Martijn Duijts. Martijn was still looking for a young rider for Coco, a sensitive and gentle B-level pony. 

Sterre took Coco for a test ride, and she basically rode off with her right away; Saskia also said immediately, “We can definitely do something with this.” In May 2021, Coco came into our lives, and during the outdoor championships, Sterre immediately became reserve champion both in the region and at the Dutch National Championships. 

What's the most fun thing you've done with Coco so far?

The gold medal and the beautiful orange sash at the National Championships are definitely really cool! But riding with Britt Dekker is also a lot of fun. These were definitely the most fun things we’ve experienced with Coco, and it’s too hard to choose between them.

How did you first come into contact with Britt Dekker?

By Saskia van Es: Sterre is a huge fan of Britt Dekker. Saskia sent Britt a message especially for Sterre, telling her the whole story about Sterre and asking if she might come by the stable to take a look. Britt already knew Sterre and Coco from Instagram. Britt then came up with the idea of riding a show at Horse Event.

The first time, we were assisted by Saskia van Es, and last Wednesday, Tineke Bartels came to coach us. Tineke will also be coaching us at Horse Event.

You can watch the video on Britt Dekker's Facebook page.

What are your goals for Coco now?

The highest level a B-class pony can reach is M2, and of course we want to try to achieve that. But we’d also like to compete in a few more shows.

And do you have any other cute ponies in the works?

We still have a few young ponies here. These are A and B ponies and are eventually intended for sale. Sterre can break them in, and then they can make another child happy.

For Sterre herself, we have a Section B pony; this one is a C size: Vosco’s Latte Tjello

Of course, Coco will be going back to the Duijts family soon to join their youngest daughter. Then we’ll start looking for another pony to compete with in the sport.
We don't even want to think about Coco going back; he's really become the king of the stable.
Coco is so special to us, and Sterre has formed a very close bond with him. Jolien Duijts and Coco had already been Dutch champions, but other than that, he was still relatively unknown around here.

Would you like to give something to the other kids?

When Sterre was 5 years old, she was scouted by Saskia van Es, and she has been taking lessons from her ever since. It’s so important to have good instruction that can guide you. But make sure you keep having fun, too. 

If things aren't going well during training, we just head out into the woods. Building a strong bond with your pony is also really important. Have fun together and just enjoy being a pony girl.

Sterre may be competing at a higher level by then, but she'll still have just as much fun at a Bixie competition. 

After a game, Sterre always asks for her stuffed animal, and she just wants to play or take her go-kart for a spin down the street. It’s just important to stay a kid.

Sterre now has a number of sponsors, but last year she really wanted a Kep Italia, and so, just like any other child, she had to save up for it. Sterre had to do chores and sell waffles to raise the money.