Stunning performance by TKJ stallions at CHIO Rotterdam: 'That was awesome!'

Stunning performance by TKJ stallions at CHIO Rotterdam: 'That was awesome!'

Experienced Grand Prix rider Kirsten Brouwer looks back enthusiastically on her performance with the Friesian stallion Gentleman Jack TKJ (Hessel 480 x Michiel 442), together with Hennie Roffel on Rémy Martin TKJ (Alwin 469 x Fetse 349). Hennie had been asked to bring in the Nations Cup show jumping teams prior to their Nations Cup competition yesterday afternoon. The idea arose to do so with two horses – “After all, I had two with me!” – and Kirsten proved to be quite open to the plan.

It was Kirsten's debut on a Friesian horse. "Yes, I used to have a lesson on a Friesian at the riding school, but I can't remember it very well anymore," she says. "I really wanted to ride Gentleman Jack; I've ridden quite a few times with Hennie in the Light Tour. I find him a very appealing horse, with a beautiful sport build. Hennie's other horse is built a bit more robustly. Gentleman had already had a very good Prix St Georges by the end of that morning, and it was quite warm. But he just kept going, mind you, no problem at all. He is a very rideable horse with a lot of willingness to move. Super honest too, because he just kept going."

Kirsten spent at most fifteen minutes in the saddle of the Frisian stallion before they had to enter the arena. 'It was very well-behaved that Gentleman walked around with me like that; only Hennie rides him, so that must take some getting used to for a horse like that,' she praises the stallion's character. Shortly beforehand, the riders had devised a sort of test, in which they rode towards each other alternately side by side and then again from different angles of the main arena, the 'Rotterdam Stadium'. 'It was a bit of improvisation because the course was already set up, but we put on a nice show, including difficult exercises such as lateral movements, changes, and pirouettes,' says Kirsten. 'I enjoyed it immensely!'

'In principle, Gentleman is a bit more observant than Rémy, and it was very funny to notice that he sort of reassured his stablemate, one year younger, in that imposing arena. The Wilhelmus was impressive while we were lined up opposite the royal box. The national anthem was sung live; everyone stood up; very special.'

Bron: https://kfps.nl/nieuws/prachtig-optreden-tkj-hengsten-op-chio-rotterdam-dat-was-gaaf/

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Prachtig optreden TKJ-hengsten op CHIO Rotterdam: ‘Dat was gaaf!’

De ervaren Grand Prix-amazone Kirsten Brouwer blikt enthousiast terug op haar optreden met de Friese hengst Gentleman Jack TKJ (Hessel 480 x Michiel 442), samen met Hennie Roffel met Rémy Martin TKJ (Alwin 469 x Fetse 349). Hennie was gevraagd om de Nations Cup-springteams binnen te halen voorafgaand aan hun Nations Cup-wedstrijd gistermiddag. Het idee ontstond om dat met twee paarden te doen – “Ik had er immers twee bij me!” – en Kirsten bleek wel te porren voor dat plan.

Hooguit een kwartiertje zat Kirsten in het zadel van de Friese hengst voordat ze de baan in moesten. ‘Heel braaf dat Gentleman zo met mij rondliep; alleen Hennie rijdt hem, dat moet toch even wennen zijn voor zo’n paard’, prijst ze het karakter van de hengst. Kort van tevoren hadden de amazones een soort proefje bedacht, waarbij ze af en toe naast elkaar en dan weer vanuit verschillende hoeken van de hoofdpiste, het ‘Rotterdam Stadion’ op elkaar af reden. ‘Het was een beetje improviseren vanwege het parcours dat al opgesteld stond, maar we hebben een mooi showtje weggegeven, met ook moeilijke oefeningen zoals appuyementen, wissels en pirouettes’, aldus Kirsten. ‘Ik heb er enorm van genoten!’

‘In principe is Gentleman wat kijkeriger dan Rémy, en het was heel grappig om te merken dat hij zijn één jaar jongere stalgenoot soort van geruststelde in die imponerende baan. Indrukwekkend was het Wilhelmus terwijl wij tegenover de koninklijke loge stonden opgesteld. Het volkslied werd live gezongen; iedereen ging staan; heel bijzonder.’ (cd)

Bron: https://kfps.nl/nieuws/prachtig-optreden-tkj-hengsten-op-chio-rotterdam-dat-was-gaaf/