Trudi Houwen: “Head group of five-year-olds in Heusden lots of potential for higher work”

HEUSDEN - Judge Trudi Houwen is enthusiastic after the DPC selection competition, which was held Aug. 3 in Heusden. “The prize winners in the five-year-olds formed a very strong group. Those three ponies all have the talent and quality for the higher work.” The win here went to Pronk Stables Geronimo Taonga (by Golden West) under rider Bridget Lock.

The combination received a whopping 88.5 points, leaving no doubt about the win. The NRPS approved stallion received a nine for all three of his gaits and also received this for his conformation. The other components were rewarded with an 8.5. “Geronimo has a lot of self-carriage in motion and a nice elevation. In his three good gaits, he also shows a lot of body use and steps well behind. Bridget also presented him very professionally,” says Trudi.
Second was D&R Sport Pony's Night Prince (by Nightfever II), also an NRPS-approved stallion. He was presented by Vycho Lurvink and came to 85 points, with a nine for canter, harmony, and conformation. “You could see that Vycho had a little less experience in this particular competition, but he presented Night Prince with so much power and passion, it was enjoyable! He really rode every meter for what he was worth. Night Prince was a lot of stallion though, but he showed good control in that. He walked with a lot of go, a lot of body use, and showed three good gaits.”
Maddy Dijkshoorn closed out the top three with Cantares Dancer (by Can Dance); they scored 80 points. “They showed good transitions and tempo changes, where the connection in balance stood out positively. In stride the pony could still develop a bit more body use,” Trudi thinks.

Better and better

In the four-year-olds, the win went to Elize Besseling and Thrianta's Prime Time (by Spoorzicht's Jupiler) with 82 points. “This pony was presented very nicely and unforced by a still fairly young girl. In this he walked around with a lot of self-carriage and has a lot of go by nature. Elize had a very nice connection and the pony ran well through the body. He also got better and better during the test,” explains Trudi. Prime Time received a nine for conformation, 8.5 for the walk, and otherwise only eights.
Fudge VIP (by Wildzang Time Lustre), who recently won in Tolbert, now finished second with rider Balou Bontekoe. The combination received 78.5 points. “Fudge has a lot of technique in the legs and is very active in it with a nice attitude. He still lacks some concentration and therefore a constant image.”
Sofie van Rooij rode RPSL Catch Culli (by Cosmo Callidus NRW) to third place with 78 points. “Sofie rode him nicely towards the hand, which gave a constant and even image. In doing so, the pony had sufficient balance in all three gaits.”

Six-year-olds

The six-year-olds saw three on the starting list, but only two took off. Bridget Lock rode Monaco WNR (by FS Mr. Right) here to the highest score with 78 points. “The performance was still a little inconsistent. He has enough spring in the walk and enough body use, but still has some trouble with a constant connection. In the moments when it fits, you can see the quality right away.”
Rifei's Royal Rubyne (by Houdringe's Rasputin) received 71.5 points under Esmee de Wit. “This was a fine pony that was presented unforced, but could still walk more uphill,” Trudi concluded.