Welsh ponies lead the pack at the CAI 3* in Lähden

Both the pony pairs and pony fours classes at the CAI3* in Lähden last weekend were won by pony drivers with Welsh ponies. Rodinde Rutjens took gold in the pairs competition, and Marijke Hammink narrowly edged out Jan de Boer—who also drove Welsh ponies—to win the four-in-hand competition.

Several pony drivers competed in the three-star CAI in Lähden, Germany, with the Dutch National Championships in Hellendoorn (June 16–18) and the World Pony Driving Championships in Oirschot (August 30–September 3) on the horizon.

In the two-horse teams category as well, a Welsh pony won silver.

Photo Series by Theo ten Brinke

Four-horse team

In the four-in-hand class, Marijke Hammink won with Beukenhof’s Wesley, Pietje v.d. Knollentuin, Roosendaal’s Thunder, Ysselvliedts Curlley Mate, and Uiterwaarden’s Masterclass. The silver went to Jan de Boer with Heidepark’s Him, Shorebrook’s Hot ’n Spicy, Shorebrook’s Hot Tropic, Templedruid Smirnoff, and Shorebrook’s Hole in One.

Two-horse team

In the two-horse teams category, the top honors went to reigning world champion Rodinde Rutjens with De Kuilen’s Brody, Heide’s Berg Alves, and Majan’s Swen. She talks about her marathon to Hoefnet: “I’m so happy about this. This is only the third time I’ve done the left-hand turn. At the first jump, they were already moving so smoothly on their own that I thought, ‘Just let them go!’ All I had to do was steer.”

NWR Aglaya’s Livorno (sired by Fleuramo’s Justin out of Aglaya’s Lousanne), bred by Eef and Joukje Kwakkel, also performed successfully in Lähden, winning silver in the two-horse team event with Dennis Schneiders.

For a detailed report on the game, read:
Lähden 2023: Dutch pony drivers on track for the World Championships (Hoefnet)

Do you know of any Welsh ponies that have recently performed well at a national or international competition or championship? If so, please email that information to webredactie.nwpcs@gmail.com. Preferably with a royalty-free photo.