A New Story stands out during first DPC selection

HEEREWAARDEN - The bay NWPCS stallion A New Story (by Jonkers’ Jayden) came, saw, and conquered during the first DPC selection in Heerewaarden last Saturday. Under the saddle of Bo Leijten he ran to 87 points. With that he not only won the four-year-old class, but judges Bart Bax and Hans Peter Minderhoud also gave him the highest score of the day.

“A New Story really stood out,” Bart Bax explained. “He has three good gaits with extra technique and already walks very uphill in them.” The approved stallion received the lowest mark of 8.5 and received this for the walk, trot, carrying & suppleness, and harmony. The canter, general impression, and conformation were rated with a nine.

Second in this class was the striking grulloruin Didgeridoo NE WE, a descendant of Kastanienhof Donnertrommler. Ridden by Sophie van Norel, he collected 80.5 points. Everything was rewarded with an eight, except harmony: there the combination received an 8.5. “This pony had a lot of power and balance,” says Hans Peter Minderhoud. “Trial-wise he was also the strongest in this group.”

Third place again went to Bo Leijten, this time with Perfect Lightfeet (by Coelenhagen's Handsome King). Their performance was good for 79.5 points. “Perfect Lightfeet is a pony with a lot of charisma. He is very nicely built uphill and also maintains this in motion.” Among other things, Perfect Lightfeet received an 8.5 for trot, general impression, and conformation.

Best running of all

In the five-year-olds, top honors went to Pronk Stables Geronimo Taonga (by Golden West). Under the saddle of his regular rider Bridget Lock, the approved NRPS stallion came to a total of 85.5 points. “That one could really run the best of all,” Hans Peter says immediately. Bart Bax agrees wholeheartedly, “He has a lot of scope and print.” This was reflected in the marks, as he received an 8.5 for his walk, canter, carrying and suppleness (as well as general impression and conformation). His trot was rewarded with a nine.

It was Marjolein Ebbers who got to ride her NWPCS-approved stallion Amalia's Marcus (by Nijebert's Marc) in second place (84.5 points). So after a fine DPC season last year-they were then allowed to line up third during the final in the four-year-olds-the combination was now off to a good start. “Marjolein and Marcus showed a very consistent test. Everything is already very well controlled and natural, and in addition he has three good basic gaits,” said Bart. That naturalness was rewarded, as the combination received a nine for harmony.

Once again it was Bo Leijten who completed the top three here. Last year she won the final in the four-year-olds with her NRPS gelding Durello (by Diamond Touch); now the combination received 79 points in this first selection. “The other two had a bit more quality in the movement,” says Hans Peter Minderhoud, “but this pony really walked so incredibly nicely in the bridle. He was also very fine on the aids.”

Lots of attitude

The winner was no stranger to the six-year-olds either; they had already won several selections in the five-year-olds last year. Ize Herwers had saddled her NWCPS stallion Coco (by Coelenhage's Happy Hour) and rode him to 78.5 points. “This pony really stood out because of his incredibly beautiful attitude during the presentation. He showed a good performance with a very nice, consistent image.”

It was Jimmy TGD (by Rondo's Cerruti) who took second place in the six-year-olds. He was presented by Tessa Goedhardt and received 77 points from the judges. “Oh, I thought that was such a nice pony!” says Hans Peter enthusiastically right away. “He could trot and canter really well, but lacked a little space in the walk which cost him points.” Bart Bax mentions here another positive point is the pony's industriousness.

Ridden by Sterre Kraaijeveld, Wapiti SK (by Der Feine Lord AT) finished third. This made Wapiti the highest placed mare of the day; the combination received 76.5 points. “This was another one of those combinations that trial technique was very good and beautifully presented. The rhythm was sometimes a little high, which then came at the expense of the carrying.” The combination received an 8.5 for harmony.

The next DPC selection will take place in Wezep on June 22.
For all results see below: