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In Rotterdam, there was sunshine, packed stands, four-star dressage and a newly crowned Dutch national champion who clearly had no intention of just making up the numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marieke van der Putten<\/strong> won Thursday\u2019s Grand Prix <\/em>of CDI 4*<\/em>of Rotterdam with Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P.<\/strong>, en signant un record personnel \u00e077,957 %<\/strong>. A first act that immediately set the tone: the Netherlands had not come to stroll around with pretty saddle pads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With her 12-year-old mare, by Zonik N.O.P..<\/strong>Van der Putten delivered a solid, clean test, at times almost too easy on the eye. The kind of performance that makes everything look simple. Spoiler: it never is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00ab She is an amazing horse, and she gave me an amazing feeling during our test. She keeps getting better with every competition <\/em>,\u201d said the Dutch rider, delighted to see Zantana continuing her rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Rotterdam Arena may look like a sporting postcard when the sun hits it just right, but it remains an arena. A real one. With noise, atmosphere, eyes everywhere, and that pressure that can turn a transition into a small tightrope act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Van der Putten knew it. Zantana may love the moment, but she can also get caught up in the scenery.The stadium in Rotterdam is beautiful, with a great atmosphere, but for Zantana it can also be a challenge <\/em>\u201d she explained. In other words: behind the polish of 77.957%, there was riding, tact, and a few tiny fires put out before the public ever saw the smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dutch rider had also entered Kuvasz RS2<\/strong>with whom she scored 72,239 %<\/strong>enough for fifth place. On Saturday, she will therefore return twice to the Rotterdam Arena: first with Kuvasz in the Grand Prix Special<\/strong>, puis avec Zantana dans le Grand Prix Freestyle<\/strong>. Two horses, two shots to fire, zero desire to go home early. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Next in, Becky Moody<\/strong> took second place with Jagerbomb<\/strong>, scoring 75,282 %<\/strong>. A solid performance, of course. But the British rider did not exactly look like someone who had ticked every box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The World Cup Final winner in Fort Worth in April admitted the test could have been better: a few mistakes, a horse not quite as sharp as hoped, and that very dressage feeling that everything could have been a little cleaner, a little more electric, a little more Jagerbomb, basically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She still smiled about it: if her horse had piaffed during the test the way he did during the applause at the prize-giving, the score might have looked different. Free translation: thank you, crowd, shame it came three minutes too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moody is already looking ahead to Saturday and the Freestyle. She heard the seats are sold out. She knows a full Rotterdam Arena can turn into a small volcano. And apparently, Jagerbomb likes it when it rumbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBeautiful to watch, not quite so simple to ride<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Becky Moody, second and not exactly satisfied<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mauro Turfhorst, nine years old and already broad shoulders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n