Three times national anthem!

Hello all,

Well, I never promise again to keep you updated as it took very long this time 

Right now we are back in Leende for a few days already. We have had a great trip to Mallorca, Barcelona and then Pompadour.

After a few days of training in Barcelona we have travelled to Pompadour in France. We arrived on Monday and Jose Manuel Vicente Guil arrived as well that day with the horses Euro and Sacre Coeur.

Euro is co-owned by The Beukenvallei and Adri de Bruijn. Jose Manuel competes him in the class for six year old horses. Sacre Coeur is owned by Kojiro Soma, Akane’s husband. Jose Manuel showed him in Pompadour at Grand Prix level for the first time.  

On Thursday the vet check was on the program. All horses passed easily. On Friday all Beukenvallei team members showed for the first time at this show.

First it was Jose Manuel’s turn with Euro at 9.09 AM. The pair showed really well. Too bad one change wasn’t good. The final score was over 73% and this resulted in a third place in the class for six year old horses.

Then it was up to Authentic for the Prix St. Georges. She felt great in the warming up and the test was very good. She did a super job! We scored over 71%. I was very satisfied. As it was a big field it was pretty exciting to wait for the final result.

Around 12 I entered the arena aboard Showboy. I mentioned it before but it was such a big field so I really had to go for it. Showie felt great in the warming up as well. Around the ring he still was super so I decided to give all we have. Yes, we succeeded! Such a super horse! Our score was more than 72%. A few more riders to go…. And then you see the final ranking: Showie and I won the test! And YES! Authentic came second!! Of course I am so proud of the horsies!

After this happiness we had to concentrate again. Marcel’s Japanese student Akane had to ride. She did a good job and scored 65,6% and finished sixth!

On Friday we didn’t go to bed late as on Saturday morning we had to start early. Jose Manuel and Euro had to show at 9 AM. They performed really well and this resulted in 77,8% and the pair finished as runner up!

On my to do list there were two Intermediaire I tests with Authentic and Showboy. Authentic had to go first. I felt she was good in the warming up. I was very happy with the test, although I made some small mistakes. We got 70,4% and we had to wait for the rest of the results of the other competitors.

Showboy felt super super during the warming up. I didn’t had that feeling often before! I made some transitions around the arena and I felt his power. I enjoyed it so much! Unfortunately he miss stepped just before one pirouette and that cost a lot of points and the victory but I was very happy with his performance. We came fourth with a score of 69,6%. Authentic still was in the lead! After the last participant I finaly knew it…. We won the test!

The best 15 qualified for the Freestyle. I had to choose between Showboy and Authentic. A difficult choice! Showboy is great in the kur, I knew it will all come together in this test. But he already did the kur in Mallorca and Treffen so he might needed a day off? Authentic never was shown in a kur before, I didn’t even practice… So how would she react? Hmmmm what should I do…. After I discussed it with Marcel and Anky I decided to saddle Authentic. Both proved to be in top shape so nothing to loose. I thought ‘let’s give it a try!’

On Saturday it was a day off for Akane and Kojiro so we just trained. On Sunday they will compete in the Grand Prix Special.

On Saturday we were all in the party mood after the good results.

On Sunday it first was up to Akane and Kojiro in the Special. Both did great! Both had to come back for the prize giving ceremony! Akane and Don Luka came second and Kojiro and Sacre Coeur finished fifth.

I had to wait so long on Sunday before I could start riding. I entered the ring at 5:03PM with Authentic and there was only one rider after me. Authentic felt great again during the warming up. She never competed three days in a row but actually she felt better every day! I said to Marcel I will do everything to ride a good test but nobody will take this feeling away from me! The test was super: all exercises fit to the music and I could slow down a little when I noticed I was a little ahead of the music. It felt fantastic. A tiny mistake in the tempi changes every second stride, too bad. I had the chance to do it again but I decided not to do it. It just was a small mistake and the rest was so good!

Waiting made me even more nervous than riding, pfff…. Marcel saw the score as first. YES we did it again! Authentic won the freestyle kur to music! We scored 73,4%. Super cool and what a fantastic end of some great weeks!

These successes were not possible without Marcel and Anky, my top groom Ivanna Tiemessen, Showboy’s owner John Salden, Authentic’s co-owner Louise, Euro’s co-owner Adri de Bruijn, Jose Manuel Vicente Guil, Maddy Ramakers, Ankie van der Heijden, Lotte Verstappen and Malou Rutten who manage everything at home when we were on tour. A thank you as well for Custom Saddles and Judi Frontriemen. Due to there good care the saddles fit the horses perfect and they look shiny!

Thanks you all! I have looked forward to this trip so long and now it’s just a memory. We had a great time and how successful it was! I am so proud of the horses!

Lots of love, Joyce

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