Dutch champion Marieke van der Putten victorious in Grand Prix Dressage

In a sundrenched Rotterdam Arena, Marieke van der Putten and Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P produced a personal best score of 77.957 %. She was pleased with her performance with the 12-year-old mare (s. Zonik N.O.P.). "She's an amazing horse, and she gave me an amazing feeling during our test. She keeps getting better with every competition." 

The pair produced a strong test that may have looked easy to the spectator, but looks can be deceiving, Van der Putten says: "It went really well, but we did also have some difficult moments here and there. The Rotterdam Arena is a great location with a wonderful atmosphere, but for Zantana this can also be challenging at times. Beforehand, I knew I had to pay attention tot this. I'm very happy with her and how it went. It couldn't have gone better." 

Van der Putten also competed in today's Grand Prix with Kuvasz RS2, producing a score of 72.239 %, which put the pair in fifth place. On Saturday, Marieke van der Putten will first appear in the Rotterdam Arena with Kuvasz RS2 for the CDI4* Grand Prix Special, after which she'll compete with Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P. in the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle.

Looking forward to Saturday

British rider Becky Moody and Jagerbomb (v. Dante Weltino OLD) took second place with a score of 75.282 %. Last april, the pair won the World Cup Finals in Fort Worth, U.S.A. "I probably didn't have the best of rides. I made a few silly mistakes, and Jagerbomb was not as sharp as I would have liked him to be." 

Then, with a smile: "If we had piaffed in the test the way we did when the audience applauded us during the prize giving ceremony, we would have done considerably better." 

Anticipating Saturday's Grand Prix Freestyle, Moody saw room for improvement. "I look forward to Saturday. I heard tickets are sold out. It's a fantastic venue and with a packed stadium the atmosphere will be electric. That will suit Jagerbomb a lot. Most of all, I see today as a kick up my own backside to do better on Saturday."

New superstar

Dutch rider Dinja van Liere came in third place with Mauro Turfhorst N.O.P.T. and a score of 75.000 %. "I'm very happy with my horse and my test. We had a small mistake in the transition to canter, but that was mainly my fault. If I had any expectations going into the competition today? Before the test, I had told my groom that I'd be happy with 73 percent, and very happy with 75 percent. So, I'm very happy." 

Two weeks ago, the pair took second place at the Dutch national championships. "Mauro is only nine years old and at the start of his career. This is only the fifth time we've competed in a Grand Prix, I believe. Mauro did a really good job in this atmosphere, he behaved himself really well. He is a real superstar."