DSHS_Magazine_2022
DSHS Dutch Sport Horse Sales 08 ISSUE NO. JOS LANSINK Heroes of our time: ‘I am still 100% motivated’ VINCENT VOORN ‘Most of our wishes have been fulfilled’ RODRIGO PESSOA “I love our sport not only as an athlete but as a sportsman” EMMERS EQUESTRIAN From humble beginnings to a must see ‘attraction’ THE NEXT GENERATION JANOU HENDRIX TAKES THE REINS IN PICTURES MARLI HOMMEL’S ART SPEAKS VOLUMES
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- Page 4 and 5: Training • Showjumping • Qualit
- Page 6 and 7: The RED Carpet RED CARPET Family Bo
- Page 8 and 9: of equestrian heaven Worldwide Ship
- Page 10 and 11: started his own stable three years
- Page 12 and 13: HANDMADE TRUCKS SINCE 1987 TRUCKS F
- Page 14 and 15: DUTCH SPORT HORSE SALEs AMBASSADORS
- Page 16 and 17: From humble beginnings to a must se
- Page 18 and 19: Marli Hommel 'The horse is an endle
- Page 20 and 21: ' Being an artist a mission is neve
- Page 22 and 23: LAURA KRAUT Almost every year, the
- Page 24 and 25: TRADING STALLIONS BREEDING EVENTS S
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- Page 28 and 29: AT HOME WITH VINCENT VOORN Text: Je
- Page 30 and 31: 'When we settled here, my focus was
- Page 32 and 33: Fly First Class Official flight par
- Page 34 and 35: Jack Verstappen: “The Limburg Foa
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- Page 38 and 39: Home of auctions. SCAN TO FIND OUT
- Page 40 and 41: it might come in handy one day and
- Page 42 and 43: Mr. & Mrs. David Strain Family Hech
- Page 44 and 45: Meet the locals VICTOR LUMINATTI SP
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<strong>DSHS</strong><br />
Dutch Sport<br />
Horse Sales<br />
08<br />
ISSUE NO.<br />
JOS<br />
LANSINK<br />
Heroes of our time:<br />
‘I am still 100% motivated’<br />
VINCENT VOORN<br />
‘Most of our wishes have been fulfilled’<br />
RODRIGO PESSOA<br />
“I love our sport not only as an athlete but as a sportsman”<br />
EMMERS EQUESTRIAN<br />
From humble beginnings<br />
to a must see ‘attraction’<br />
THE NEXT GENERATION<br />
JANOU HENDRIX<br />
TAKES THE REINS<br />
IN PICTURES<br />
MARLI HOMMEL’S<br />
ART SPEAKS VOLUMES
Geen 18, geen alcohol.
contents<br />
ISSUE NO.<br />
0<br />
8<br />
<strong>2022</strong><br />
CONTENTS<br />
Column: Rodrigo Pessoa 3<br />
“I love our sport not only as an athlete<br />
but as a sportsman”<br />
Heroes of our Time 7 - 12<br />
The memories of Jos Lansink<br />
Local entrepeneurs 14 - 15<br />
Emmers Equestrian<br />
In Pictures 16 - 21<br />
Marli Hommel<br />
A Familiar Face 20 - 21<br />
Laura Kraut<br />
16 - 21<br />
IN PICTURES<br />
14 - 15<br />
LOCAL<br />
ENTREPENEURS<br />
<strong>DSHS</strong> Awards 23<br />
Horse of the Year: Ici<br />
<strong>DSHS</strong> Awards 25<br />
Youngster of the Year: Viper Z<br />
30<br />
FUN<br />
FACTS<br />
At Home with 26 - 29<br />
Vincent Voorn<br />
The Next Generation 35 - 37<br />
Janou Hendrix<br />
26 - 29<br />
AT HOME WITH<br />
Meet the Locals 40 - 41<br />
Victor Luminatti<br />
Fun Facts 45<br />
‘Typically Limburgs’<br />
34 - 37<br />
THE NEXT<br />
GENERATION<br />
DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM<br />
<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
1
Training • Showjumping • Quality sales<br />
2 <strong>DSHS</strong> |<br />
yveshoutackers Yves Houtackers y.houtackers@gmail.com<br />
The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
COLUMN<br />
RODRIGO PESSOA:<br />
'I love our sport not only as an athlete but as a sportsman'<br />
At the FEI Board Meeting in Cape Town last month, I was elected as the FEI Athlete Representative for the jumping<br />
riders. For a non-renewable four-year term I will represent our riders in the FEI Jumping Committee and in the FEI<br />
Athletes Committee. It’s the third -and last- time that I have agreed to run for election, and one of the main reasons<br />
for this was that it was very difficult for the International Jumping Riders Club to find a candidate with the necessary<br />
experience, and that was willing to dedicate the time needed for this very important position within the FEI. Sadly there<br />
were not many applicants.<br />
Motivation<br />
My passion for horses is deeply-rooted and profound and I firmly<br />
believe in sport’s ethical values and respect for horses as absolute<br />
priorities. I am aware of our sport’s requirements, and I believe that<br />
I know what is needed to inspire the hopes and dreams for new<br />
generations. In recent years I have been thinking a great deal about<br />
the future of our sport, about how we can make it better in every<br />
possible way for professional riders, for the young, for newcomers<br />
and, as an absolute priority in my opinion for our horses and their<br />
welfare. At this point in my career and after a life spent with horses<br />
and in the world of equestrian sport, I like to put my experience and<br />
commitment at the disposal of the future of our sport. As an athlete<br />
representative you bridge the gap between the riders and the FEI and<br />
I think it is a very important job. It does has have a political side, that’s<br />
not something I am very keen on but it’s part of it. But I dare to say<br />
that I have a deep knowledge of our environment, I’m not afraid to say<br />
what I think and I always want to fight for my sport. I love our sport<br />
not only as an athlete but as a sportsman with the intent to always<br />
look to the future with a vision for continuous improvement. This is<br />
also thanks to my previous experience as a member of the Jumping<br />
Committee, the commitment and aims of which I know in depth.<br />
Future goals<br />
I definitely hope that the new generation riders will realize that they<br />
have to improve and protect our sport. If we as riders want change,<br />
this is the path for it. Besides looking at ourselves, we can also learn<br />
from other sports. I really enjoy the professionality in sports like<br />
Formula 1, golf and tennis. When it comes to promotion, sponsorships<br />
and media attention, there is still room for a lot of improvement in<br />
our sport.<br />
Responsibility<br />
As an active rider, I see and hear a lot at the shows. Most riders<br />
come to me with complains, unfortunately it’s not really common<br />
that we hear the positive things. There are a lot of things to improve,<br />
since the Nations Cups are not going very well, the World Cup<br />
competitions lost its momentum and of course the much-discussed<br />
Olympic formula. There are also many complains about the entree<br />
fees, costs of the events and invitational systems. That’s why it felt<br />
like my responsibility to apply for this role one more time: the sport<br />
has given me a lot and I try to give something back by being the<br />
athlete’s representative. In this way, we as riders can impact the FEI’s<br />
decision-making process.<br />
Rodrigo Pessoa<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
3
The RED Carpet<br />
RED CARPET<br />
Family Bocken<br />
Mrs. Emma Augier de Moussac, Mr. Jango Yersin<br />
& Mrs. Charlotte Augier de Moussac<br />
"Always a great<br />
ambiance and<br />
a warm welcome"<br />
Team Redfield Farm & Team Horseflight<br />
Mrs. Kate Bomgaars & Mrs. Colleen Walsh<br />
Mr. Yves Houtackers, Mrs. Maria Aminoff, Mrs. Line Raaholt,<br />
Mr. Kim Kristensen & Mrs. Christine Raaholt<br />
Mr. Viktor Daem & Mrs. Rebecca Lindeblad<br />
4 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
RED CARPET<br />
Mr. Robert Ehrens & Mrs. Evie Buller<br />
Mrs. Rachelle Hanemaaijer<br />
& Mr. Maikel van der Vleuten<br />
Mr. Fredrik Spetz, Mrs. Alva Häger<br />
& Mrs. Stella Röhlcke<br />
Mrs. Alise Oken & Mr. Sean Crooks<br />
Mrs. Laura Kraut & Mr. Nick Skelton<br />
Mrs. Howe, Olivia Howe and Nicoline Rokke Team Fuchs<br />
Mr. Peter van der Kalle<br />
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See who joined us<br />
for a great evening!<br />
<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
5
of equestrian<br />
heaven<br />
Worldwide Shipping<br />
Explore our luxurious brands and<br />
enormous stock from the comfort of<br />
your own home. Scan the QR-code and<br />
we will welcome you online!<br />
Worldwide Shipping<br />
Explore our luxurious brands and<br />
enormous stock from the comfort of<br />
your own home. Scan the QR-code and<br />
we will welcome you online!<br />
6 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
heroes of our time<br />
HEROES OF OUR TIME<br />
After an epic sports career, seven-time Olympic rider Jos<br />
Lansink now focuses mainly on the training of riders.<br />
From his stable based in Meeuwen (Belgium), he<br />
guides riders and horses up to the highest<br />
level and since the beginning of this year<br />
he also is the national coach<br />
of the Dutch showjumping<br />
team. With his impressive<br />
track record and<br />
unprecedented dose of<br />
experience and wisdom,<br />
Jos Lansink<br />
Jos definitely deserves<br />
a place in our series<br />
Heroes of our Time.<br />
Text: Jenneke Smit | Photography: Remco Veurink<br />
Jos Lansink is highly regarded in the world of international<br />
showjumping. He started riding at the age of three and it<br />
turned out to be the very beginning of an impressive sports<br />
career. He became Dutch champion with the ponies and after<br />
that, the horses started to play an increasingly important role in<br />
the life of the farmer’s son. As the oldest son he was expected to<br />
take over the farm, but his heart was with the horses.<br />
Ehrens and Horn<br />
After finishing school, Jos started part-time riding for a trading<br />
stable. “The first time I worked half days at a trading stable and<br />
half days at home on the farm. At one point we sold a horse to<br />
Rob Ehrens through the trading stable and I got the opportunity<br />
to work with Rob for three months. After that I was determined<br />
to continue as a professional rider. Rob knew a stable near him<br />
that was looking for a rider. I went there, but left after one year<br />
because Hans Horn offered me a job, that was in 1982. He had<br />
bought De Wiemselbach and asked if I wanted to come and<br />
work for him. Because of that, I was able to go back to my native<br />
region”, tells Jos. This was the beginning of a partnership that<br />
would last for 14 years and included many highlights. Such as<br />
winning the Grand Prixs of Geesteren and Rotterdam in 1988<br />
and being selected for the Olympic Games in Seoul with Felix<br />
in the same year. In that Olympic debut, he finished seventh<br />
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started his own stable three years later and was able to take his<br />
top mount Cumano -owned by Jean Verlinden- with him. Shortly<br />
after, they already won the prestigious Grand Prix of Calgary.<br />
Together they achieved many outstanding results, including<br />
winning individual gold at the World Equestrian Games of 2006<br />
in Aachen. Jos had an extremely successful sports career, with<br />
participation at seven Olympic Games, six World Equestrian<br />
Games and ten European Championships. Unfortunately the<br />
legendary rider had to forfeit the 2016 Games in Rio due to health<br />
problems which put a hold on his sporting career. “My illness<br />
has brought a halt to my competition career. But most of all I am<br />
happy that I was diagnosed when I was and that I followed my gut<br />
to drop out of the Olympics for the surgery. If I hadn’t done that, I<br />
might now not be around anymore.”<br />
'Me and my family<br />
left the Netherlands<br />
for Belgium in 1996'<br />
with Felix and fifth with the team. Since the end of the eighties,<br />
Jos has been a recurring face at championships. Starting in<br />
1990 he competed at six consecutive World Championships<br />
where he won two bronze team medals. At his second Olympic<br />
Games he contributed to the memorable golden team medal for<br />
the Netherlands. Another memorable victory was achieved a<br />
few years later in 1994, when he won the World Cup final in ‘s<br />
Hertogenbosch aboard Horn’s legendary stallion Libero H.<br />
Belgium<br />
In 1996 Jos switched from the stables of Hans Horn to Leon<br />
Melchior. At Studfarm Zangersheide he was able to continue his<br />
successes with horses like Caridor Z and Carthago. To be able to<br />
compete with Zangersheide horses in global championships, Leon<br />
Melchior asked him to change nationality. “Me and my family<br />
left the Netherlands for Belgium in 1996 and five years later, Mr.<br />
Melchior asked me to do him this huge favour. Since things were<br />
going well and we felt at home in Belgium, I agreed on this. And it<br />
has never been a decision that I regret.” Due to circumstances, Jos<br />
Perfectionist<br />
In 2018, Jos rode his last international competition. He was and is<br />
an absolute pro in his profession. “I have actually never officially<br />
retired from the sport. It has grown this way due to several<br />
circumstances. Over the years we have had several riders in<br />
our stables and it is already quite a challenge to have the right<br />
horses for them. And I really enjoy training young horses and<br />
do the flatwork at home as well.” What has made Jos such an<br />
outstanding rider and trainer? “I have learned a lot by endlessly<br />
watching videos of my rides. It’s easy to say that you can always<br />
improve, but I have always been my own biggest critic and I think<br />
I owe my successes to that. Besides that, I have learned a lot<br />
from riding all kinds of horses. In the fourteen years spent with<br />
Hans Horn and later on at Zangersheide, I had to compete with<br />
a variety of horses. I think I benefited from all those experiences<br />
during the rider change at the WEG in Aachen, where I became<br />
world champion. Then you only have a few minutes to get to know<br />
your horse and to adapt. I have always worked hard to become a<br />
better rider and details definitely make the difference. I still see<br />
that every weekend. The only thing that changes by itself is the<br />
weather. In this sport you really have to work for it, it doesn't come<br />
for free. Sometimes you are in a good flow, but then you have to<br />
be aware because there is always another chapter coming up. You<br />
see that with individual riders but also with countries. Anyone<br />
who thinks he knows how it works in our sport, will sooner or<br />
later get fooled by it.”<br />
Chef d’equipe<br />
Nowadays Jos is active in the sport as a trainer and in the business<br />
of horse trading. His days were busy but in the end of 2021 he got<br />
an offer he couldn’t refuse. He went back to the Dutch colours as<br />
'It’s easy to say that you can<br />
always improve, but I have<br />
always been my own biggest<br />
critic and I think I owe my<br />
successes to that.'<br />
8 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
heroes of our time<br />
the national coach of the showjumping team. “I may have a Belgian nationality, but in my<br />
heart I will always be a Dutchman and I am happy to be able to contribute to the Dutch<br />
showjumping. I had a few offers from abroad but I declined them all. But when the request<br />
from the Netherlands came, I felt like it was the right opportunity. A few things were really<br />
important to me, I wanted the support of the riders and I wanted an assistant. After this,<br />
I could agree on this job. However, it still entails more work than I had anticipated. Being<br />
chef d’equipe is not only about visiting the competitions, but it also includes taking care of<br />
many other things. Such as making sure our riders are invited for the right competitions<br />
and keeping in touch with everyone involved. That all our effort immediately payed off in<br />
Herning, was truly amazing. The Dutch team claiming silver and the individual bronze<br />
for Maikel van der Vleuten exceeded my expectations. I hoped for Olympic qualification<br />
for the team, and that goal was also amply achieved. I try to make good arrangements<br />
with everyone and try to give as much clarity as possible at the start of the season, to<br />
make sure the riders know where they can work towards. We have a number of very good<br />
riders in the Netherlands, some of whom can perform really well at a championship, but<br />
often they only have one good horse. When it comes to championships both rider and<br />
horse need to be in their best shape, and the horse has to compete sparingly throughout<br />
the season. This season I entered 13 different riders for ten nations cups with a total of 19<br />
different horses. It’s a motivation for everyone when young riders also get the chance to<br />
be part of the team and it turned out well this first season.”<br />
'I may have a Belgian nationality,<br />
but in my heart I will always be<br />
a Dutchman and I am happy<br />
to be able to contribute<br />
to the Dutch showjumping.'<br />
Born in Rossum<br />
(NL)<br />
1961<br />
Olympic Games<br />
of Seoul with<br />
Felix (7 th )<br />
1988<br />
Bronze medal<br />
and team gold<br />
at EC La Baule<br />
with Egano<br />
1991<br />
Winning the<br />
World Cup final<br />
of Den Bosch<br />
with Libero H<br />
1994<br />
Olympic Games<br />
of Atlanta<br />
with Carthago<br />
1996<br />
Changed<br />
to Belgian<br />
nationality<br />
2001<br />
Started his<br />
own stable<br />
2004<br />
World Champion<br />
at WEG Aachen<br />
with Cumano<br />
2006<br />
Olympic Games<br />
of Beijing<br />
with Cumano<br />
2008<br />
Chef d’Equipe<br />
of the Dutch team<br />
<strong>2022</strong><br />
Started work for<br />
Hans Horn<br />
1982<br />
Bronze medal<br />
and team gold<br />
at EC La Baule<br />
with Egano<br />
1989<br />
Team gold<br />
at Olympic Games<br />
of Barcelona<br />
with Egano<br />
1992<br />
Started working<br />
for Zangersheide<br />
1996<br />
Olympic Games<br />
of Sydney<br />
with Carthago<br />
2000<br />
Bronze team<br />
medal at WEG Jerez<br />
de la Frontera<br />
with Caridor Z<br />
2002<br />
Olympic Games<br />
of Athens<br />
with Cumano<br />
2004<br />
Winning silver<br />
medal at the<br />
EC in Mannheim<br />
with Cumano<br />
2007<br />
Olympic Games<br />
of London<br />
with Valentina<br />
van ‘t Heike<br />
2012<br />
Winning the<br />
silver team medal<br />
at WEG Herning<br />
<strong>2022</strong><br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
9
HANDMADE TRUCKS SINCE 1987<br />
TRUCKS FOR 2 TILL 12 HORSES<br />
SUSTAINABLE QUALITY<br />
24/7 SERVICE<br />
10 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
Mentality<br />
Jos is the right man for the job as he masters the noble art of<br />
riding and overcoming the highest obstacles like no other. He<br />
always pays attention to the basics and always seems to be in<br />
a certain state of mental calmness. “In our sport you need a<br />
lot of dedication, patience and a long-term vision. Every day<br />
you experience new things and every horse is different. In my<br />
experience, most top level horses are something special. As a<br />
rider you have to be smarter than the horse, because you can<br />
never be stronger. The horses have a lot of blood nowadays but not<br />
only did they change, also the riders have a different mentality.<br />
And that doesn’t make it easier. Back in the days, it was really<br />
normal to help each other out. For example, I discussed a lot<br />
with Emile Hendrix when we were in the Dutch team together.<br />
We sometimes rode each other’s horses, I did the flatwork with<br />
Finesse and he helped me with mine. Everything is way more<br />
individualistic nowadays and that’s something I regret, because<br />
two people always have more knowledge than one.”<br />
Future goals<br />
The perfectionist in Jos also speaks when it comes to welfare.<br />
“We have 54 horses here in the stable and all of them go out<br />
in the fields or paddocks. In any case, the horses come out<br />
of their boxes three times a day. It is not fair to expect top<br />
performances from horses when they are in their stables 23<br />
hours a day. The sport asks a lot of the horses, so it is our job to<br />
manage that as good as possible. Also to prevent injuries. With<br />
the young horses, I really insist on giving them breaks. They<br />
really benefit from being in the field for two or three months<br />
and I have always done this with my horses. For example my<br />
Olympic horse Valentina van ‘t Heike, even when she was ten<br />
heroes of our time<br />
years old I let her recover in the field for the whole winter.<br />
Although there was a stable in the field to go in to, she preferred<br />
to be standing knee-deep in the snow and came back stronger<br />
than ever. A horse is an athlete and they need to be treated like<br />
that. Boredom is the worst thing for a horse so you need to keep<br />
them fresh in the mind and strong in the body.” Does Jos has<br />
anything to wish for at the moment? “My main goal is to stay<br />
healthy. I do everything I can to maintain that. For the rest I am<br />
quite happy with how life treats me. We have good horses, nice<br />
staff and riders, things are going well. As a chef d’equipe I hope<br />
we can win some medals. To achieve that, I am as motivated as<br />
I have always been as a rider”, concludes Jos.<br />
'My main goal is<br />
to stay healthy.<br />
I do everything I can<br />
to maintain that.<br />
For the rest I am<br />
quite happy with<br />
how life treats me.'<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
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DUTCH SPORT HORSE SALEs<br />
AMBASSADORS<br />
Over the years a fair number of horses<br />
have developed into true ambassadors<br />
of our auction. It is our pleasure to shine<br />
a spotlight on some of the super stars<br />
sold at the Dutch Sport Horse Sales<br />
between 2009 - 2018.<br />
1. Apart<br />
Larino x Burggraaf<br />
Pieter Devos (BEL)<br />
Succesfull at CSI 5* 1.60m Level<br />
2. Coronado (prev.: Charlie Grey)<br />
Cassini I x Accord II<br />
Nayel Nassar (EGY)<br />
Successfull at CSI 5* 1.60m Level<br />
3. Hello Senator (prev.: Everest)<br />
Carambole x Indoctro<br />
Scott Brash (UK)<br />
Successful at CSI5* 1.60m level<br />
4. Escoffier<br />
Lord Z x Numero Uno<br />
Barbara Schnieper (SUI)<br />
Succesful at CSI 4* 1.55m level<br />
5. Kamara van 't Heike<br />
Epleaser van 't Heike x Carthago<br />
Maikel van der Vleuten (NED)<br />
Successful at CSI5* 1.55m level<br />
6. Gamble (prev.: Gino)<br />
Vingino x Indoctro<br />
Connor Swail (IRL)<br />
Successful at CSI 3* 1.50m level<br />
12 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
AMBASSADORS<br />
7. Glamour Girl<br />
VDL Zirocco Blue x Caletto I<br />
Henrik von Eckermann (SWE)<br />
Successful at CSI5* 1.60m level<br />
8. Golia (prev.: Goliath)<br />
Bustique x Coriano<br />
Red Morgan (GBR)<br />
Successful at CSI 2* 1.45m level<br />
9. Harvard HX<br />
Bustique x Calido<br />
Shane O'Maera (IRL)<br />
Successful at CSI 3* 1.45m level<br />
10. Ici<br />
Douglas x Lux<br />
Ben Maher (GBR)<br />
Successfull at CSI 5* 1.60m Level<br />
11. Icebreaker (prev.: Investment)<br />
Nabab de Reve x Heartbreaker<br />
Dakoda Mower (USA)<br />
Successful at CSI 4* 1.45m level<br />
12. Joyko van Keysershof<br />
Entertainer x Lovefever<br />
Jill Silvandersson (SWE)<br />
Succesful at CSI 2* 1.45m level<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
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From humble beginnings to a must see ‘attraction’<br />
Emmers Equestrian<br />
Nearly forty years ago Chris Emmers joined the family business on the ‘Mill street’ in the Belgian town of Hamont-<br />
Achel. Her parents Jos and Liza owned an agricultural feed business and then eighteen-year-old Chris joined the team<br />
bright eyed and bushy tailed. Fast forward almost four decades and we see the same energy reflected in her daughter<br />
Lisa who passionately tells us about the growth and challenges the reknowned store faces. An equestrian heaven that<br />
she runs together with her parents, whilst her grandmother ‘Moeke’ still proudly looks on from the sidelines.<br />
Upon arrival we get the same, familiar greeting everyone<br />
gets when they enter Emmers Equestrian. Whether you<br />
are a regular or a first-time visitor the crew always has<br />
a warm welcome with a big smile in store! After a quick<br />
photo-opportunity with Dirk, Lisa and Chris, we grab a<br />
seat in the coffee corner of the Hamont-Achel store and<br />
ask Lisa about the working title for the article. “Emmers<br />
can be described as a must-visit theme park for<br />
equestrians”… Like when you tour the Paris region, the<br />
Eiffel tower is on the itinerary just like Disneyland.<br />
Unrivalled inventory<br />
Lisa smiles: “ I’ve never heard that<br />
said but it is a nice analogy.<br />
We often see foreign visitors<br />
that have come to Belgium<br />
or the Netherlands or<br />
surrounding countries<br />
that plan time to try<br />
horses and also visit<br />
our store. We’ve even<br />
had an occasion where<br />
a group of people from<br />
the middle east who<br />
first came to our store<br />
to literally buy anything<br />
and everything they<br />
needed to keep and ride<br />
horses. Only afterwards did<br />
they proceed to actually go<br />
and buy horses. That is the strength of our stores, we<br />
can basically supply anything in big or small quantities.”<br />
And Lisa is right, from small gifts for young pony riders<br />
to top-exclusive customized riding boots and helmets to<br />
the latest fashion and new inventions, the inventory of<br />
Emmers is unrivalled.<br />
Ever growing family business<br />
“My mother, an avid rider back in the day, could have<br />
never foreseen the feed business would grow into this.<br />
All the changes the company went through are really a<br />
story of its own. The feed business grew into a (farm)<br />
pets, aquatic & gardening center in 1987 with a special<br />
focus on equestrian supplies. Five years on my dad,<br />
who is also from an entrepreneurial family, joined the<br />
company as well, so it would continue to be a family<br />
business. Ten years on the pet & gardening center was<br />
sold and the equestrian part of the business continued<br />
as Emmers Equestrian. Since then, we’ve moved<br />
locations again because the store kept growing and we<br />
opened two stores in new locations as well: Sentower<br />
Park in Oudsbergen, Belgium and next to Peelbergen<br />
Equestrian Centre in Kronenberg, the Netherlands.”<br />
Multiple generations<br />
In 2018, when Lisa turned 23, she decided to also<br />
join the business. “That was against all odds really.<br />
I am not a rider and although I really like the sport<br />
and everything that comes with it, I am not a horsey<br />
girl. I got my Bachelor’s degree in China Studies<br />
Chris joins<br />
the family business<br />
Pet & garden centre is sold<br />
and the equestrian business<br />
continues at a new location<br />
1983<br />
1987<br />
Move to a bigger store<br />
2002<br />
2010<br />
Emmers Equestrian moves<br />
to the current store location in Hamont-Achel<br />
50<br />
Molenstraat<br />
Emmers - Boonen<br />
1983<br />
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LOCAL ENTREPENEURS<br />
and a Masters degree<br />
in Management &<br />
Organization. The<br />
things I learned in my<br />
Master’s degree are very<br />
useful to this day, but my<br />
China Studies aren’t. Asia<br />
and China in particular have<br />
always been a passion of mine,<br />
but it turned out that I found that<br />
same passion for our family business.<br />
There have been many changes since, partly because<br />
of the Corona pandemic, which gave the need for a<br />
proper functioning online store more urgency. We<br />
want to serve our clients virtually in the same way as<br />
they would visit our store. But getting the accounting<br />
system to work seamlessly with the inventory system<br />
and the website, that posed a real challenge behind<br />
the scenes. I am very proud of everyone that has<br />
helped to make that transition a success. We’ve even<br />
had to rent another warehouse space across the road<br />
in Hamont to accommodate all the inventory for<br />
the online sales.”<br />
Bursting at the seams<br />
The growth of Emmers Equestrian in numbers is even<br />
more impressive. “In 2018 we employed 15 tot 20<br />
people. In <strong>2022</strong> we have 40 employees and we are<br />
still hiring. Our offices are bursting at the seams”, Lisa<br />
smiles when she points to the small offices that are<br />
situated behind the counter in the Hamont store.<br />
“That is the latest project we are working on. We are<br />
now moving towards expanding the store with more<br />
office space and giving the store a bit of a new look<br />
and feel. The current structure has worked really well<br />
for us, but we do want to keep improving. And create<br />
spacious offices for our employees to work in, a<br />
nice meeting and break room and a store interior<br />
that is able to showcase all our products in the best<br />
light possible.”<br />
Company values<br />
As high as the shelves<br />
go in the store - there are<br />
even products displayed<br />
hanging from the ceiling -<br />
the organization structure<br />
at Emmers is arranged as<br />
the opposite.“Organizationally<br />
we have a very flat structure.<br />
Both myself and my parents are<br />
very involved and approachable”, Lisa<br />
continues. “And we strongly value every employee,<br />
from accounting to sales, to maintenance. Every link<br />
in the chain is equally important. That is also one of<br />
our core values: Equality. Next to kindness and being<br />
service-oriented, in addition to expertise. Besides<br />
amateur riders, we also have many professionals that<br />
rely on our store. We want to be able to advise them as<br />
well on the latest technologies, customization options<br />
etcetera. And keep on top of our inventory, keep it upto-date<br />
and grand.”<br />
Never a dull moment<br />
Currently we sell 20% of our products online and 80% in<br />
our stores. But I do foresee the Ecommerce business<br />
growing. There is a new project in the pipeline to really<br />
expand our warehouse capacity. We are looking into<br />
a full-fledged depot with an automated<br />
inventory and warehouse system<br />
to improve the logistics and<br />
efficiency. That does require<br />
a new location and more<br />
investments, but we see it<br />
as a part of our growing<br />
business and a new<br />
challenge. There is<br />
never a<br />
dull moment<br />
with us.”<br />
A second store is opened<br />
at Sentower Park<br />
The website business grows<br />
and a new depot is acquired<br />
to store the inventory<br />
LOCATIES<br />
2013<br />
2019<br />
A third store is opened at<br />
Peelbergen Equestrian Centre<br />
2021<br />
<strong>2022</strong><br />
opening 4de vestiging<br />
Uitbreiding<br />
An adjacent building is bought<br />
te Bernard Kempplein 1B.<br />
De winkel op het<br />
to enable the expansion<br />
De logistieke verwerking van de Bernard Kempplein breidt uit<br />
of the store and offices<br />
weborders krijgt meer ruimte.<br />
naar Bosstraat 22.<br />
2021<br />
gepland 2023<br />
verhuis logistiek<br />
Nog zoekende naar een<br />
passende locatie<br />
gepland 2023<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
15
Marli Hommel<br />
'The horse is an endless inspiration'<br />
Storm & Thunder<br />
The horse has many different<br />
appearances. When its feet hit the<br />
earth, it is both grounding and a<br />
force of nature. When it moves it<br />
can be light as a feather or ever so<br />
fierce. That beauty has been the<br />
inspiration for this painting.<br />
Every edition we display a collection of remarkable images. This year it is our honor to showcase the work of Dutch artist Marli<br />
Hommel. Born in the Province of Limburg, Marli grew up surrounded by horses, but her love for then only really established<br />
itself after she finished the Academy of Arts.<br />
“Due to my study at the Academy of Arts I was taught a broad spectrum of techniques. I initially dedicated myself to the abstract<br />
art of Japanese pencil strokes. I did a lot of research into the ancient technique and its emotionally laden qualities. I even won an<br />
award for this work at an art fair at Kawasaki City.<br />
Back in the day I taught arts at a local school and in my spare time I painted free works of arts. In my free work - paintings that are<br />
not commissioned by clients - I gradually developed painting figures, humans, bats and the contrast of strong and weak which is so<br />
very precarious in nature. My sister was, and still is an avid horse woman, so the request to paint horses came quite often. It took<br />
me a while but when I started with my equestrian art it felt so natural to me. Knowing and growing up around horses meant I could<br />
really feel and easily shape their bodies and portray the emotion they hold.”<br />
I knew then that I had found my mission. Even though it was not easy at the beginning, this path has brought me so much joy. Being<br />
an artist a mission is never complete, but there have been many beautiful and successful works of art. We always strive for the one<br />
masterpiece but seeing the happiness of the people that commission or buy my free work is why I enjoy creating works of art so<br />
much. I want to spark joy and make a positive contribution. I paint beauty, not drama and that is what’s reflected in my work. And<br />
especially the works that have been included in this magazine.”<br />
You can find more of Marli’s work on: www.marlihommel.com<br />
16 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
in pictures<br />
Kosmos<br />
This painting was one of<br />
the biggest I ever made on a<br />
commission. It is 5 by 3 meters,<br />
and I actually painted it with<br />
help of an aerial lift. It was made<br />
for one of the 10 most beautiful<br />
houses in Portugal. It portrays<br />
the connection between heaven<br />
and earth and the weightlessness<br />
of that concept.<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
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' Being an artist a mission is never complete'<br />
La Source<br />
This painting was inspired by the circle of life. Where everything ends and begins.<br />
18 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
in pictures<br />
This is a commissioned work for a family<br />
in honor of a young girl.<br />
This is the most sober work shown here. It is a young group of young Friesians.<br />
When they cross the field together, I see a big moving cloud of black. I did not want<br />
it to be too dark because it is such beauty. Many horses become one. They are all<br />
connected in a wonderful way.<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
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LAURA KRAUT<br />
Almost every year, the Dutch Sport Horse Sales is very pleased to welcome top rider Laura Kraut at<br />
the auction. Her relationship with the Hendrix family began almost 25 years ago and Emile and Paul<br />
have played an important role in her career by providing her with a number of top showjumpers.<br />
“They feel like family”, answers Laura when we ask her about this special partnership.<br />
Text: Jenneke Smit<br />
Laura Kraut’s competition resume is significant. She represented<br />
the United States at the Olympic Games, winning team silver<br />
in Tokyo in 2020 and winning a gold medal in Beijing in 2008.<br />
Laura was a member of the gold medal WEG Team in Tryon in<br />
2018, and a member of the silver medal WEG team at Aachen<br />
in 2006. During her career she has collected an impressive set of<br />
wins and her resume also includes numerous World Cup Finals<br />
and several Nations Cup teams. When it comes to Laura, this all<br />
wouldn’t have been possible without the memorable encounter<br />
she had with Emile and Paul Hendrix in 1998.<br />
First trip to Europe<br />
In that year, Laura had first set foot on European soil to<br />
buy a horse. “I had a student back then, Kate Bomgaars,<br />
and her father was a Dutch guy. In the past he had seen<br />
an advertisement from Stal Hendrix and contacted them<br />
20 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM 20
when he was looking for a horse for Kate.<br />
This resulted in him buying a horse from the<br />
Hendrix family by telephone and that horse<br />
did not disappoint at all. In fact, Athletico was<br />
exactly as described. That is why Kate’s dad<br />
insisted that in the next search for a horse, they<br />
would return to Stal Hendrix. And he asked<br />
if I wanted to go with Kate”, tells Laura, who<br />
eventually ended up riding Athletico. “It was<br />
quite a step for me to come to the Netherlands<br />
to try horses. Before that I only rode American<br />
thoroughbreds. I knew nothing about trading,<br />
found it hard to know who to trust. With<br />
the Hendrix family, it felt like someone was<br />
watching over me. Emile and Paul gave me a<br />
very comfortable feeling, they immediately<br />
tried their best for me and my students. When<br />
I was visiting them with Kate, I told Emile that<br />
I was trying to get a group of owners together<br />
to buy me a horse for the Olympics in 2000. I<br />
hadn't heard from Emile for months and had<br />
kind of forgotten about it, but one day he called<br />
me out of the blue to say that he had found<br />
the right horse for me. It was a seven-year-old mare, it was<br />
Liberty. When I look back on that, it was quite unrealistic to<br />
consciously look for a future Olympic horse but it turned out<br />
very well. I trusted Emile's judgment completely and had a<br />
good feeling about Liberty myself right away.”<br />
Liberty and Anthem<br />
Two years later, the duo participated in the Olympics in Sydney<br />
and finished in the sixth place with the American team. In<br />
the same period, they won the World Cup of Wellington and<br />
the Nations Cup of Washington. After her sporting career, the<br />
genetically valuable Libero H mare returned to the breeding<br />
farm of Paul Hendrix. “Liberty was an amazing horse and<br />
the second horse that I bought from the Hendrix family was<br />
another legend, Anthem. He was the horse that I could always<br />
count on. He won the Global Champions Tour Grand Prix in<br />
Madrid twice and he won countless of classes. With finding me<br />
those two horses, the partnership with Emile and Paul started<br />
off in an excellent way. They really have an eye for matching<br />
horse and rider. I never come to Stal Hendrix to try many<br />
horses. Normally the first or maybe second horse that they<br />
make me try, is the one I end up with. They do all the research<br />
and then it's up to me, whether I like the horse or not.” Many<br />
other horses underline this, such as Miss Independent, Milano<br />
and Quickstar.<br />
Front row<br />
Almost every auction we find Laura Kraut, most of the times<br />
together with her partner Nick Skelton, sitting front row at the<br />
Dutch Sport Horse Sales. “We bought quite a few horses in this<br />
auction. For example, the Harley VDL offspring Constable II<br />
was a very good horse. He was five years old and we bought him<br />
without trying. We only saw the videos and followed Emile’s<br />
advice, since I wasn’t able to come to the auction myself. I was<br />
at a show and because Emile has so much trust in the horse, we<br />
bought him by phone. Unfortunately Constable II eventually got<br />
injured in the paddock, that kept him from being an absolute<br />
a familiar face<br />
' We bought quite a few horses<br />
in this auction. For example,<br />
the Harley VDL offspring<br />
Constable II was a<br />
very good horse.'<br />
superstar. Another horse that we bought in the Dutch Sport<br />
Horse Sales is Viper Vrombautshoeve Z, in 2013. He is a very<br />
good horse, we sold him to Emma Heise and she has won many<br />
classes with him.” What kind of qualities is a top rider like Laura<br />
looking for in a horse? “Probably the same as every other top<br />
level rider. We want them to be careful, have blood and good<br />
rideability. The level is very high and it’s nearly impossible to win<br />
on a normal horse. We also buy horses for our students and not<br />
everyone wants the same amount of blood, so that’s another<br />
good thing of Stal Hendrix and the auction. They always offer a<br />
variety of horses.”<br />
Based in Limburg<br />
In 2021 Laura’s student Brian Moggre was able to purchase<br />
Kallisto and in last year’s edition Laura also tried her best to add<br />
a young talent to her string of horses. “Khaleesi was my favorite<br />
and he ended up as the top seller, unfortunately we did not have<br />
the last bid. We were so determined to buy him that for sure we<br />
missed out on others. But luckily we can count on the Hendrix<br />
family throughout the whole year, as they are my ‘go-to’ when it<br />
comes to finding the right horse. Emile and Paul share the same<br />
passion and vision as me, and they feel like family to me.” It’s no<br />
coincidence that the seasoned international rider is based in the<br />
Netherlands since April 2021. “My horses found their home at<br />
Travers Horse Facility. It’s an amazing facility and we really enjoy<br />
to be this close to the Hendrix family and other hotspots.”<br />
21<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
21
TRADING<br />
STALLIONS<br />
BREEDING<br />
EVENTS<br />
Stal Hendrix Baarlo<br />
Napoleonsbaan Zuid 32<br />
5991 ND Baarlo<br />
The Netherlands<br />
baarlo@stalhendrix.nl<br />
HX Breeding<br />
Rijksweg 45<br />
5995 NT Kessel<br />
The Netherlands<br />
info@stalhendrix.nl<br />
Stal Hendrix Kessel<br />
Rijksweg 45<br />
5995 NT Kessel<br />
The Netherlands<br />
kessel@stalhendrix.nl<br />
22 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
www.stalhendrix.nl<br />
DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
dshs awards<br />
And the <strong>DSHS</strong> Horse of the year title goes to…<br />
ICI Douglas x Lux<br />
During the Dutch Sport Horse Sales a very special reference has been awarded the title ‘Horse of the Year’. The Douglas offspring<br />
Ici, who was sold four years ago through this auction, made a promising 5* Grand Prix debut under top rider Ben Maher last<br />
summer. After a successful period in the young horse classes and CSI2*/3* competitions, the gelding of the Manton Grange<br />
Stables has now reached the highest level.<br />
In 2018, the Douglas son Ici was sold in the Dutch Sport Horse<br />
Sales. Five years earlier this horse bred by the Laumans family<br />
was purchased by Stal Hendrix in the Limburg Foal Auction,<br />
after which he has been carefully reared and trained. After the<br />
sale in the Dutch Sport Horse Sales, Manton Grange rider Tom<br />
Slattery took place in the saddle, with whom Ici jumped his first<br />
international classes in 2019. The Douglas offspring achieved<br />
his first winning results under Jack O'Donohue and then he<br />
moved to Shane O’Meara’s string of horses. With this rider Ici<br />
was performed up to 1.45m level.<br />
Top level<br />
Since last summer, the <strong>DSHS</strong> ambassador forms a promising<br />
combination with top rider Ben Maher. At the CSI5*-GCT<br />
Valkenswaard they already remained clear in the 1.55m class<br />
and they made their 1.60m debut at the same competition. The<br />
nine-year-old gelding seems to have a great future ahead. “Back<br />
in 2018, we were already very happy that we could offer such a<br />
good horse in our auction and that Ici has now ended up with<br />
Ben Maher is a great confirmation of the trust we have always<br />
had in him”, tells Timothy hendrix. “He has now completed his<br />
first Global Champions Tour competitions and we expect to hear<br />
a lot more from him in the future.” Ici was honored as Horse of<br />
the Year during the 18th edition of the Dutch Sport Horse Sales.<br />
During the auction, an award made by the Limburg artist Jos<br />
Dirix was presented to the buyer of Ici, Frederick Goltz of the<br />
Manton Grange Stables, and Ici’s former rider Shane O'Meara<br />
was also involved in the ceremony. Meanwhile, Ici continues<br />
his career with a number of clear rounds and several placings<br />
in Oliva.<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
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24 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
<strong>DSHS</strong> awards<br />
From top seller at the <strong>DSHS</strong> in 2021 to Youngster of the Year<br />
VIPER Z Vigo d'Arsouilles x Grannus<br />
In 2021, the Vigo d'Arsouilles son Viper Z made history at the Dutch Sport Horse Sales by being the most expensive horse ever sold<br />
in this auction. He was purchased for top rider Martin Fuchs, who made a promising start with the now eight-year-old gelding.<br />
Their first victories are added to the track record of Viper Z and his great potential brought him<br />
the title ‘<strong>DSHS</strong> Youngster of the Year’.<br />
The horse bred by Guido Sperveslage was discovered at the<br />
beginning of last year by the team of the Dutch Sport Horse<br />
Sales and after a few competitions under Oda Charlotte<br />
Lyngvaer, Viper Z was included in the auction collection as a<br />
promising 1.40m level showjumper.<br />
Perfect scenario<br />
During the 2021 auction, the Vigo d'Arsouilles son was sold<br />
to Luigi Baleri after an exciting bidding duel. With this deal,<br />
Martin Fuchs became his new rider. “Last year we were already<br />
very happy to be able to offer Viper Z in our auction. You don't<br />
come across a horse with those qualities every day. That he<br />
subsequently ended up with Martin Fuchs is a perfect scenario<br />
for everyone involved. They have already achieved good results<br />
together and we hope that Viper Z will develop into a horse for<br />
the highest level”, says Timothy Hendrix. “We had great trust in<br />
Viper Z from the start and he definitely deserves the youngster<br />
of the year title.” In Gorla Minore, Martin and Viper Z claimed<br />
the victory in the Youngster Tour two months after the auction.<br />
This year they started off well with a second place in the<br />
1.40m class during the Sunshine Tour, in April another victory<br />
followed -this time in the 1.40m class of CSI3* Linz-Ebelsberg-,<br />
and at CSI5* Aachen they were placed twice in the Youngster<br />
Tour up to 1.45/1.50m level.<br />
Ceremony<br />
Viper Z has a bright future ahead and follows in the footsteps<br />
of former Youngster of the Year-horses like Naomi van het<br />
Keizershof, Istinov, Chica B Z and Iberlina. At the ceremony<br />
during the Dutch Sport Horse Sales, an award made by Jos<br />
Dirix was presented to buyer Luigi Baleri and Thomas Fuchs,<br />
the father of Martin.<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
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AT HOME WITH<br />
VINCENT VOORN<br />
Text: Jenneke Smit | Photography: Remco Veurink<br />
26 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
At home with<br />
Almost ten years ago, Vincent Voorn and Jonna Sundblad settled in Weert, located in the western part of<br />
the province of Limburg. Step by step they have managed to improve and upgrade their domain into a fully<br />
equipped equestrian complex. It’s about time for an 'at home tour' with this successful duo that focuses<br />
on training. Their GDS Training company accommodates several top level riders, who are intensively<br />
supervised by Vincent and his partners.<br />
Vincent Voorn has a worldwide reputation as a trainer and rider.<br />
From an early age he has successfully focused on showjumping.<br />
That has resulted in participation in several European<br />
Championships, including in Mannheim where he contributed<br />
to the senior team gold with Alpapillon Armani, as well as the<br />
Olympic Games in Hong Kong in 2008. With these achievements<br />
he follows the footsteps of his father, Olympic medalist Albert<br />
Voorn, but it has been far from a road without ups and downs.<br />
Friend request<br />
But 'what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger' and all the experiences<br />
over the past two decades have made Vincent into the person he is<br />
today. As a rider he was part of the Dutch team many times and as<br />
a trainer he contributes to the success of a series of riders. Over the<br />
years, the now 38-years-old Vincent has focused more and more<br />
on training. His own experience forms an important ingredient<br />
in this, because he knows what it’s all about in the sport and<br />
what participating in global and national championships entails.<br />
Together with his wife Jonna Sundblad, he built up an impressive<br />
company. “In 2010 I met Vincent at the international competition<br />
in Lummen. I competed in a few international competitions per<br />
year and he immediately caught<br />
my attention when I saw him.<br />
After I sent him a friend request<br />
via Facebook on the spot, we got in<br />
touch”, Jonna looks back. “We first<br />
had a long-distance relationship<br />
and then I came to the Netherlands<br />
for the summer to work for Malin<br />
Parmler.” She never returned to Sweden, Jonna decided to work<br />
at Eric Berkhof’s Margaretha Hoeve, to accompany Vincent. “I<br />
initially focused on riding the young horses there, but at a certain<br />
point I became a full stable manager. That lasted for a year and a<br />
half and that laid the foundation for all the work that I now do here<br />
at our own stables,” tells Jonna.<br />
'We have invested again<br />
and again and most wishes<br />
have now been fulfilled.'<br />
Perfect location<br />
After more than eight years of employment, Vincent started<br />
his own business in January 2013 together with Jonna. “At Audi<br />
I have had a fantastic career and actually achieved everything<br />
I could have dreamed of. In 2013 I felt like it was time for the<br />
next step. First we rented 25 stables at the former location of<br />
Eric and Maikel van der Vleuten in Mierlo. I had three clients at<br />
that time and we wanted to build<br />
it up slowly. But after six months,<br />
that location turned out to be too<br />
small,” says Vincent Voorn. “This<br />
location in Weert was offered for<br />
quiet sale and Yves Houtackers<br />
tipped me about it. At the<br />
moment I went to see the place,<br />
I immediately knew that this was going to be it. It was partly<br />
outdated but the possibilities were endless. A big advantage was<br />
the separate apartment building which can accommodate eight<br />
riders and/or grooms, that had just been completed. It had all the<br />
possibilities that we could wish for.” In the years after moving<br />
to Weert, Vincent started to focus more and more on training<br />
students and this stable was ideal to accommodate several riders<br />
with a certain number of horses. “In the beginning Jonna and I<br />
had thirty horses under our care here, with only one groom. Those<br />
were very long days, but fortunately neither of us were ever afraid<br />
to work hard.” The accommodation could be expanded step by<br />
step and the stable now has forty boxes divided over several units,<br />
two large outdoor arenas, a covered horse walker, two racetracks<br />
and a number of fields and paddocks. GDS Training is the home<br />
of riders like Emma Augier de Moussac and Ida Selin.<br />
Own design<br />
With a great eye for detail and horse welfare, Vincent and Jonna<br />
have expanded their seven-hectare domain into a fully equipped<br />
accommodation. “We have invested again and again and most<br />
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27
'When we settled here,<br />
my focus was on riding.<br />
Performing in top sport was<br />
my plan A, and training<br />
others was plan B.'<br />
wishes have now been fulfilled. In the future we will completely<br />
renovate the main building, which will also enlarge the indoor<br />
arena, and in the short term an additional building will be<br />
converted into an office and fitness room.” Jonna in particular<br />
has promoted for the latter, because fortunately the riders are<br />
paying more and more attention to being fit. In addition to their<br />
own use, the riders who train at GDS Training can also use it. “In<br />
recent years we have been constantly refining the location. Since<br />
last summer we now live at this place ourselves and that is a big<br />
advantage. We used to have an apartment in the city of Weert,<br />
but at some point you get tired of that small balcony,” laughs<br />
Vincent. Jonna has contributed to the design of the house which<br />
has a Swedish touch and the layout is ideal for their situation.<br />
For example, the house has a large guestroom, which is perfect<br />
for when Jonna’s family or other guests come to visit. "That was<br />
really a wish of mine and although we had to sacrifice some of<br />
our own space in the house, we only see benefits from it. Besides<br />
that, the house has a large garden, which is really enjoyable for<br />
our children”, compliments Jonna.<br />
Collaboration<br />
In addition to the enormous space, peaceful surroundings and<br />
all desirable facilities, the accommodation of GDS Training<br />
is centrally located. Weert is home to other horsemen such as<br />
former national coach Rob Ehrens and international trainer and<br />
rider Yves Houtackers. “We were looking for something in this<br />
area because it is centrally located and many riders are based<br />
here.” But that’s definitely not the main reason that riders from<br />
abroad especially, know how to find GDS Training so well. “When<br />
we settled here, my focus was on riding. Performing in top sport<br />
was my plan A, and training others was plan B. But that has<br />
gradually changed and my plan B has become plan A. It is difficult<br />
to combine competing at a high level and optimally supervising<br />
your students. If you want to train your clients well, that is a fulltime<br />
job. I want to be available for the students who are based at<br />
our facility every day. I take care of the training together with my<br />
good friends Tom Martens, who is here for a few hours every day,<br />
and full-time Spencer Roe. Because there are three of us, there is<br />
always someone who can help the students at the international<br />
shows. If necessary, we can cover three different shows in the<br />
same weekend. We all work in the same system and the client<br />
can choose with whom he or she wants to do the daily training.<br />
It works perfectly and we are selective in who we allow to train<br />
here, because the student’s motivation has to suit ours. We give<br />
our full commitment, so we expect it in return. That underlines<br />
the success. Our collaboration also includes the occasional sale<br />
of a horse, although trading is not a main goal for us.”<br />
Total concept<br />
The students are optimally supervised by Vincent and his partners<br />
at the international competitions. This total concept does require a<br />
lot of organization and that is what Jonna mainly focuses on. “I try to<br />
28 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
At home with<br />
take care of the management of the stable,<br />
the bookkeeping and the organization for<br />
the competitions as good as possible. For<br />
example, if we go to the Sunshine Tour,<br />
I make an overview with all the starting<br />
times for everyone in the team. Then<br />
each student knows who can accompany<br />
him or her and everyone knows where<br />
the others are at that moment. It works<br />
perfectly and that is quite necessary if<br />
we go there with about 30 horses.” Both<br />
Vincent and Jonna can be found way less<br />
in the saddle than before. For Vincent, his<br />
last official competition was about two<br />
years ago. “If you don’t focus on competing<br />
on top level, it won’t happen. Of course I<br />
still dream of riding in the orange jacket,<br />
but at the moment I’m too busy with other<br />
things. I do ride horses at home to get to<br />
know them better to help the student’s<br />
progress, or when the students are away.<br />
Somethings I ride five horses per day,<br />
sometimes none for two weeks in a row.”<br />
Chef d'equipe<br />
Besides training GDS’s own clients,<br />
Vincent was appointed as national coach<br />
of the Dutch Young Riders in January<br />
<strong>2022</strong>. Besides that, he assists chef d’equipe<br />
Jos Lansink. “For me, this position is a<br />
very nice challenge and I consider it an<br />
honor that I was asked for it. The focus in<br />
our company is to make horses and riders<br />
better. We help the people who train with<br />
us to achieve their goals. That takes time<br />
and is a longer-term plan, in sport you<br />
have highs but also lows, you have to<br />
go through that together. I concentrate<br />
on training the Dutch Young Riders<br />
and also on the EEF Series. I see those<br />
Nations Cups as a good opportunity for<br />
combinations to gain experience and thus<br />
promote the development from youth<br />
to seniors. That includes a long-term<br />
plan and that way of working suits me.”<br />
Vincent himself became 2005 European<br />
champion with the Young Riders. All in<br />
all, Vincent and Jonna are continuing<br />
to expand their GDS, which stands for<br />
'Golden Dream Stables', company. “When<br />
I walk around here, I definitely am a very<br />
happy person. That we have been able to<br />
build this together and that we were able<br />
to maintain this standard, I wouldn’t have<br />
wanted it any other way. Fortunately, our<br />
sons Spencer and Nicola are also starting<br />
to show interest in the ponies. It would be<br />
great if they could continue our passion<br />
one day.”<br />
'When I walk around here,<br />
I definitely am a very happy person.'<br />
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29
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
31
Jack Verstappen:<br />
“The Limburg Foal Auction is an annual highlight”<br />
Breeder Jack Verstappen has been a regular contributor to the Limburg Foal Auction for years. He<br />
has built up a successful damline with the Grand Prix mare Especiale and his foals are always in<br />
great demand. During this year’s edition, foals from the passionate Limburg breeder were sold for<br />
good prices and the Limburg Foal Auction has developed into an annual highlight for Jack and his<br />
wife Lilian over the years.<br />
Text: Jenneke Smit<br />
During the 22nd edition of the Limburg<br />
Foal Auction, the majority of the breeders<br />
returned home with a good feeling as the<br />
unprecedented number of 81 jumping<br />
foals has achieved an average price of more<br />
than €10,600. The top price of €33,500 was<br />
achieved by the Tokyo du Soleil colt Soleil<br />
Especiale, one of four well paid foals out<br />
of the breeding of Jack Verstappen and his<br />
wife Lilian Walenbergh.<br />
Gratification<br />
It was not the first time for Jack and Lilian<br />
to have bred the top seller at the Limburg<br />
Foal Auction. Three years ago, they had<br />
a very successful night when the Zirocco<br />
Blue VDL daughter Online Especiale left<br />
for the United States for €36,000. “We have<br />
been breeding about three to five foals in<br />
recent years. Since 2009 we sell some foals<br />
through auctions and except for two foals,<br />
all the others have been sold in the Limburg<br />
Foal Auction. The formula of this auction<br />
suits us well and the foals often end up with<br />
people where they will have opportunities<br />
in the sport. That is very important to us<br />
as breeders and that’s why we only offer<br />
foals in this auction nowadays,” tells Jack<br />
Verstappen, who started breeding in the<br />
early 1990s. “The Limburg Foal Auction is<br />
an annual highlight for us, which we work<br />
towards every year. It starts<br />
with the choice for the right<br />
stallion and then we try to<br />
do everything we can to<br />
present the foals in optimal<br />
condition at the auction. It<br />
involves quite a bit of work,<br />
but fortunately also gives a<br />
lot of satisfaction. Especially<br />
with the results of recent<br />
years”, his wife Lilian adds.<br />
“We feel at home at the<br />
Limburg Foal Auction and<br />
especially from the moment<br />
that the auction has made<br />
the decision to continue with jumping<br />
foals only, very good prices and sales<br />
percentages are achieved.”<br />
Grand Prix mares<br />
The foundation for Verstappen’s breeding<br />
was laid with two mares, who both<br />
performed at the highest level with Eric<br />
32 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
van der Vleuten. By not cashing in on the<br />
mares but keeping them for breeding, Jack<br />
has not made an easy but -in retrospect- a<br />
very valuable investment. One mare, the<br />
Lector daughter Expo Graphic, is listed<br />
as the granddam of the most successful<br />
showjumper out of their breeding:<br />
the Grand Prix stallion Peppermill<br />
(s.Burggraaf), with whom John Whitaker<br />
won several Grand Prixs and medals at<br />
major championships. The other mare, the<br />
Voltaire daughter Especiale, won Grand<br />
Prix and World Cup qualifiers herself.<br />
After a very successful sports career in<br />
the 1990s under Eric van der Vleuten,<br />
she returned home in Swalmen to serve<br />
breeding. Jack and Lilian are now taking<br />
full advantage of this decision. “Especiale<br />
has brought us several daughters after<br />
her sports career and we have therefore<br />
been able to build up this damline. We<br />
had to invest a lot and because we got<br />
too many horses at one point, we started<br />
selling foals since 2009.” Jack and Lilian<br />
have already bred the international 1.50m<br />
showjumpers Extra Special (s.Andiamo),<br />
which was sold through the Limburg Foal<br />
Auction in 2009, Be Special (s.Chacco-<br />
Blue), Especiale Too (s.Ustinov) and Also<br />
Especial (s.Argentinus). Several foals<br />
from the last-mentioned mare have been<br />
sold at the Limburg Foal Auction. Until<br />
a few years ago, Jack ran the breeding<br />
business together with his sister Christien<br />
Delissen, who -just like him- was an<br />
avid horse enthusiast. Brother Jo has his<br />
own breeding lines and has already had<br />
successes with his foals at the Limburg<br />
Foal Auction as well.<br />
Breeding goals<br />
For next year Jack expects foals from,<br />
among others, Casallco, Emerald van 't<br />
Ruytershof and Cape Coral RBF Z. “Emile<br />
Hendrix has advised us to use Casallco<br />
and for the rest we always trust on our<br />
own feeling. We do not only opt for the<br />
big names, but also dare to use young<br />
stallions. The Especiale damline has<br />
proven itself over the years, and that’s<br />
why it’s easier to give a young stallion<br />
a chance. Although the sale of foals at<br />
the auctions is an annual goal for us, we<br />
are not guided by commercialism in our<br />
breeding choices. Our goal is to breed<br />
a good showjumper, but breeding real<br />
top jumping horses is only possible for<br />
few breeders. We have experienced great<br />
success with Peppermill and of course we<br />
hope to experience it again, but for that we<br />
depend on where our breeding products<br />
end up. Fortunately, a lot of our horses<br />
have ended up with good riders through<br />
the Limburg Foal Auction in recent years,<br />
so we are looking forward to the future.”<br />
Sport<br />
and breeding<br />
Jack Verstappen can be found at national<br />
and international competitions almost<br />
every weekend and that provides him<br />
with valuable insights for breeding. “You<br />
still see that many breeders don’t follow<br />
the sport closely. I am definitely not saying<br />
that I know how it works in breeding,<br />
but at least I try to breed horses<br />
that the sport asks for. At the<br />
competitions you see many<br />
horses, offspring of certain<br />
stallions and the stallions<br />
themselves. Besides that,<br />
it is very nice to see home<br />
bred horses at the shows<br />
and that also provides valuable<br />
information for our breeding.”<br />
Nowadays, Chacco-Blue is one of the<br />
most popular progenitors and it’s not<br />
a coincidence that Jack and Lilian<br />
have already used this stallion<br />
nine times years ago. Three<br />
of them now serve as<br />
breeding mares:<br />
Go On Especiale,<br />
It's Especiale and<br />
Limburg Foal Auction<br />
' We feel at home at the<br />
Limburg Foal Auction.'<br />
their personal favorite Double-Speciale.<br />
They are all in foal for 2023. “We already<br />
covered with Chacco-Blue in 2005 and<br />
I really followed my own feeling. Now<br />
years later, we are really happy with that<br />
decision. In breeding you have to have a<br />
lot of patience and take a lot of setbacks.<br />
It is our great passion but it involves also<br />
a lot of hard work. Actually, a human life<br />
is too short to build a good damline and<br />
we regret that we have no successors. But<br />
that's why we now enjoy the highlights to<br />
the fullest”. Whether the breeders will be<br />
there again next year at the Limburg Foal<br />
Auction? “That's definitely our goal!”<br />
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33
DUTCH SPORT HORSE SALEs<br />
AMBASSADORS<br />
We continue from page 12 -13 with another<br />
collection of ambassadors. Sold at the Dutch<br />
Sport Horse Sales between 2019 - <strong>2022</strong>.<br />
Some of these horses are all still relatively<br />
young, but they are all jumping from strength<br />
to strength.<br />
13. Naomi van het Keizershof<br />
Cardento x For Pleasure<br />
Jessica Springsteen (USA)<br />
Successful at CSI 5* 1.45m level<br />
14. Jean Couture<br />
Arezzo VDL x Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve<br />
Donald Whitaker (GBR)<br />
Successful at CSI 2* 1.45m level<br />
15. Isabella HX<br />
Diamant de Semilly x Libero H<br />
Sanna Backlund (FIN)<br />
Successful at CSI 2* 1.45m level<br />
16. Katokyboy HDH<br />
Arezzo VDL x Cream on Top<br />
Rachel Fields (USA)<br />
Successful in International Young Horse Classes<br />
17. Jykarlos<br />
Warrant x Holland<br />
Fredrik Spetz (SWE)<br />
Successful at CSI 3* 1.45m level<br />
18. Iberlina<br />
Vittorio x N-Aldato<br />
Edoardo Alain Dubois (ITA)<br />
Successful at CSI 2* 1.40m level<br />
34 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
AMBASSADORS<br />
19. Kallistos<br />
El Salvador x Quality Time TN<br />
Brian Moggre (USA)<br />
Successful in International Young Horse Classes<br />
20. Kolivar<br />
Colestus x Plot Blue<br />
Victor Mariano Luminatti (BRA)<br />
Successful in International Young Horse Classes<br />
21. Viper Z<br />
Vigo d'Arsouilles x Grannus<br />
Martin Fuchs (SUI)<br />
Successful at CSI 4* 1.45m level<br />
22. Baracuda's Boni<br />
Baracuda x Cardino<br />
Anastasia Nielsen (MON)<br />
Successful at CSI 3* 1.35m Level<br />
23. Konita HX<br />
Vingino x Ustinov<br />
Eline Goethals (BEL)<br />
Succesful in International Young Horse Classes<br />
24. Limited Edition HX<br />
Cape Coral RBF Z x Cumano<br />
Yves Houtackers (NED)<br />
Successful in International Young Horse Classes<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
35
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auctions.<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM <strong>DSHS</strong> | The 2021 edition 1
the next generation<br />
Janou<br />
Hendrix<br />
talks taking over the reins<br />
Being in the spotlight is usually something Janou Hendrix shies away from. But with her nephew<br />
Timothy and her brother Michel featuring in previous editions of this magazine, there really was<br />
no way around taking the stage in this Next Generation feature. Even though the work Janou<br />
handles for the family business is largely behind the scenes, it is impressive to say the least. “Working<br />
together with my family is something I am very proud of. Sure, it also comes with its challenges, but<br />
I love a good challenge”, Janou begins to tell with a smile.<br />
Growing up on the family yard Janou naturally starting<br />
riding at a young age. “I remember the pony shows we<br />
attended with great fondness. I was also quite competitive.<br />
But I never imagined myself being a professional rider. I did<br />
not really know what type of a career path would suit me<br />
when I was younger”, Janou looks back. “I just knew I loved<br />
going to and taking part in events and being part of the<br />
horse industry. In that sense my job now is still doing what<br />
I love. But I did not want to be part of the family business<br />
right from the start. It took me a while and I am grateful<br />
for the lessons I learned along the way.”<br />
Passion for sports<br />
Janou studied Sports Marketing and after gaining<br />
her bachelor’s degree she did a master’s in Business<br />
Communications. “I really enjoyed my studies, and I<br />
gained amazing work experience during internships at<br />
Carlsberg - though the Haelterman family of Haras de<br />
Laubry - and at football club Atlético Madrid. The latter<br />
really fired my passion for sports marketing and events.<br />
I intended to work abroad after my studies, but a job<br />
opportunity closer to home came up in the banking world.<br />
I figured it was an industry I did not know much about but<br />
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37
it might come in handy one day and so I accepted a position as an assistant<br />
account manager at ING Bank. I learned a lot and steadily grew within the<br />
company, eventually handling the accounts of major stake holders. I still<br />
value the corporate experience I gained, but after a few years it was evident<br />
I needed to broaden my horizon.”<br />
Rearing to go<br />
In her spare time Janou already helped out in the family business and<br />
initiated the organization of show Jumping Peel & Maas. “I was rearing to<br />
move on, but the jump to the family business was a big one.” After ING Bank<br />
I first started my own marketing and communications company. Handling<br />
projects for both equestrian and non-equestrian businesses to grow and<br />
improve their online presence. Next to that I began working parttime for<br />
'I get really inspired by big shows<br />
and the ideas I gain there.'<br />
Year-round there are multiple events organized by Stal<br />
Hendrix. Some are under the HX-umbrella and others have<br />
a separate identity. Since 2020 Janou has taken over the lead<br />
and now manages and coordinates the following events:<br />
• HX Auctions online<br />
• Stal Hendrix competition<br />
• Show Jumping Peel & Maas<br />
• Dutch Sport Horse Sales<br />
• Limburg Foal Auction<br />
Next to these events she coordinates the marketing and<br />
promotions for Stal Hendrix, HX Auctions, HX Stallions and<br />
HX Breeding at several big shows such as the KWPN Stallion<br />
Show and the World Championships for Young Horses in<br />
Lanaken. And all the online and offline web presence and<br />
social media management of the forementioned events<br />
and HX businesses. And in the meantime, she also started<br />
the online auction platform Barnbridge with family friend<br />
Erik Jerneld.<br />
“My yearly calendar really revolves around the events<br />
we organize or take part in. It starts in January with the<br />
promotion of the HX Stallions and ends in December with<br />
the making of this magazine. Organizing events has always<br />
been something I really enjoyed but having taken over<br />
that part of the business completely has given me a new<br />
appreciation of what it all entails. All the work behind the<br />
scenes is as challenging as the events themselves. Especially<br />
the two live auctions we organize in September. These are<br />
the perfect storm really. The run-up to the auctions, the<br />
event days and the aftermath are very intense but also a<br />
lot of fun. The sense of achievement once everything has<br />
been handled and our clients are happy, that makes it all<br />
worthwhile.”<br />
38 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
the next generation<br />
Stal Hendrix.” It took a leap of faith to completely take hold<br />
of the reins, but in 2020 Janou took the lead of HX Events and<br />
began managing all the marketing and communications for<br />
Stal Hendrix, HX Stallions, HX Breeding and HX Auctions.<br />
“I never shy away from challenge, but I also felt like I was<br />
taking on a big responsibility. I was fortunate to have the<br />
support of my family and some freelance professionals - but<br />
to be perfectly honest - also due to the corona pandemic I<br />
had a fairly smooth transition into the events because the<br />
ones that did take place were all online that year.”<br />
Inspiration<br />
“I did set one important condition before joining the family<br />
business. I wanted a broad spectrum of responsibilities.<br />
And both work from home but also at external events. I<br />
get really inspired by big shows and the ideas I gain there<br />
I translate into new opportunities for our own company.”<br />
Hence Janou also continues to provide her services at<br />
major events such as The Dutch Masters and Jumping<br />
Indoor Maastricht. “I also find the work of other ‘next<br />
generationers’ very inspiring. For example, Judy-Ann<br />
Melchior and Marta Ortega Pérez. These are both very<br />
successful and powerful women who both had huge shoes<br />
to fill. I am quite sure they also had some reservations but<br />
are now on the top of their game in continuing the empires<br />
of their families into a new era.”<br />
Respect<br />
“I believe the (positive) pressure to perform is something<br />
most entrepreneurs feel, but for the next generation of<br />
the Hendrix family is also means we have to build on<br />
40 years of experience. Paul and Emile have done things<br />
a certain way and trying to change or improve some of<br />
those things is a learning curve. The respect we have for<br />
them is unlimited, but times are changing and that does<br />
require strategic adjustments that need to be well thought<br />
through.”<br />
“I am the last person of our family to join in. Timothy has<br />
been at the helm of the Baarlo stable with Emile in an<br />
advisory role for a while now. While my brother Michel runs<br />
the new stable in Kessel - which functions as an extension<br />
to the original breeding stable - the management here is<br />
now slowly and gradually shared between me and Paul.<br />
I’ve been more involved in the personnel management for<br />
example, and we evaluate more and more together about<br />
the breeding program and the stallions.”<br />
Lessons learned<br />
“One thing I’ve taken away from my banking job and<br />
implemented here is weekly meetings. It sounds simple,<br />
but the impact has been very valuable. In the corporate<br />
world there might be too many meetings, but we did not<br />
really have a set moment for the whole family to meet and<br />
discuss ongoing matters. Now every Monday afternoon<br />
that moment is blocked in everyone’s calendar, and we all<br />
meet to strategize and decide on things together. That is<br />
really the best part of the family business, being able to<br />
continue and grow together. It is a shared effort, and we<br />
all complement each other. That does not mean we don’t<br />
bud heads sometimes, however in the end we all strive for<br />
a common goal.”<br />
'The respect we have<br />
for Paul and Emile is unlimited.'<br />
DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM<br />
<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
39
Mr. & Mrs. David Strain<br />
Family Hechme<br />
Family Lammers<br />
Mrs. Laura Gerst<br />
& Mr. Beaux Alexander<br />
Family Schalken<br />
Mr. & Mrs. Siyahi<br />
Team Hattel Horse<br />
'We look forward<br />
to it every year'<br />
40 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
The RED Carpet<br />
Mr. Vinny Duffy, Mr. Alex Gill & Mr. Tiernan Gill<br />
Mr. John<br />
& Mr. Nick Steeghs<br />
Mr. Piet Jr. & Mrs. Michelle Raijmakers<br />
and Mr. Inigo Lopez de la Osa<br />
Mr. Fergus Coburn & Mr. Olivier Philippaerts<br />
& Mr. Nicola Philippaerts<br />
Yves Houtackers and Brigitte Vanhalme<br />
Mrs. Suvi Al Dhahi & Mr. Faris Al Dhahi<br />
Team GDS Training<br />
Mrs. Claire Mckean & Mrs. Brian Moggre<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
41
Meet the locals<br />
VICTOR LUMINATTI<br />
SPORTHORSES<br />
Sporthorses all the way from Brazil to Limburg<br />
Victor Luminatti always knew his show jumping career would take him to Europe. But that his first own stable would be<br />
in the rural Limburg countryside, he definitely did not foresee. “This stable is everything I ever dreamed of, although I<br />
still find it a challenge to pronounce the name of the village it is located in. Egchel”, Victor says with a smile.<br />
“I think I was about five years old when I first sat on a horse. It<br />
feels like a lifetime ago”, Victor, who is just 30 years old, looks<br />
back. “In Brazil the equestrian sport, especially back then, was<br />
not nearly as developed as in Europe. So, when I was ten years<br />
old, my sister and I finally - after months of nagging our dad<br />
- got him to enrol us in lessons at the local riding school. But<br />
we skipped the whole pony phase. We were taught on horses,<br />
there simply weren’t any ponies. At 14 I rode my first national<br />
competition and as a 21-year-old I jumped the south american<br />
championship in Argentina at 1.45m level with the Young<br />
Riders.“<br />
Local guidance<br />
“I stayed at Thiago’s stables for quite some time, until he<br />
moved to another facility in 2020. I really enjoyed staying<br />
there, training together and such, but I did always want to start<br />
a stable of my own. I moved to Travers Horse Facility, next to<br />
Peelbergen, and stayed there until this place was finished. I<br />
visited several locations to build a stable, but they all needed<br />
big renovations or just did not feel right. Then I got talking to<br />
Massimo Antoniolli and see where that got me”, Victor explains<br />
with joy. Italian rider and businessman Antoniolli and his Dutch<br />
After his successfull debut representing Brazil in international<br />
shows, Victor was very motivated to continue his showjumping<br />
career but his parents insisted he needed to finish his Business<br />
Management studies at the University of Rio de Janeiro first.<br />
“In 2015 I graduated and could focuss on my showjumping<br />
career. Back then I was training and winning a couple of grand<br />
prix so I felt comfortable enough to go to the Wellington<br />
Equestrian Festival in 2016. After that I wanted to move to<br />
Europe to improve my riding and experience the showjumping<br />
circuit there. I trained with Christian Ahlmann for 6 months but<br />
after some back luck - health wise with my horses - I went back<br />
to Brazil.” After Victor’s horses were fit again, they were on the<br />
plane back and landed with fellow countryman Thiago Ribas<br />
da Costa in Limburg.<br />
42 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
wife Nadia are locals and had bought, renovated and sold<br />
equestrian properties before. “They already had the permits<br />
and design ready for the property in Egchel and I really felt this<br />
location had the wow-factor.”<br />
meet the locals<br />
'My favourite part of the stable<br />
is the racetrack, you can have<br />
a nice big canter there'<br />
“Massimo and Nadia have been a great help. The property<br />
had the main house, the outdoor arena and a few paddocks,<br />
but that was it. In total it took 1,5 to 2 years to build, and we<br />
were able to move in early April 2021. I would say it is now<br />
completely finished although there are always little things to<br />
tackle. I am very happy with the way it turned out, especially<br />
the big 30x50 indoor arena and the racetrack that takes you<br />
from the outdoor arena all the way round the grass arena. It is<br />
actually my favourite part of the stable. You can have a really<br />
nice canter on the track. I also like the way the stables are<br />
build. They are built in an oval with the boxes on the outside<br />
and the tack rooms and wash stalls in the middle. There are<br />
18 boxes per oval. On one side we keep the mares and on the<br />
other side the geldings and stallions. There are two identical<br />
ovals, both connected to the indoor arena. I have my horses in<br />
one oval and we currently rent one out to Denis Lynch, who has<br />
been a great help to me and my horses as well.”<br />
Family man<br />
Victor admits to being home sick a little sometimes. “I have<br />
a very close-knit family and they are far away. But the new<br />
stable it has allowed me to invite my sister and brother-in-law<br />
to stay and work with me. They help manage the yard and are<br />
working on expanding the breeding program. This area of the<br />
Netherlands is for me and my horses the best place to be. With<br />
so much experienced horse people and lots of shows in the<br />
vicinity I am very glad to have landed here. We could’ve ended<br />
up anywhere, Germany, Belgium, you name it. But we feel at<br />
home now in Holland. The Dutch are friendly, well-organised<br />
and almost everyone speaks English. I am fortunate to have<br />
found this place and to work here with my family every day.”<br />
'Kolivar caught my eye immediately'<br />
Well over two years ago Victor received the Dutch Sport Horse<br />
Sales catalogue. After browsing the pages, he marked then sixyear-old<br />
Kolivar as a favorite. Watching the video of this grey<br />
gelding by Colestus x Plot-Blue the Brazilian rider figured he<br />
would try his luck. “He caught my eye immediately and found<br />
his breeding and hence his potential interesting. He looked like<br />
he’d give a nice ride, so we first went to look at the presentation<br />
which is always the day before the auction. After seeing all<br />
the auction horses, I knew for sure I liked him most. The next<br />
morning, I tried him under the saddle and I was sold.”<br />
Kolivar jumped his first international YH-classes in the spring<br />
of this year. He gradually moved up to 1* and 2* level, winning a<br />
1.30m class last October in Morocco. “In the start of the New Year<br />
I want to slowly begin preparing him for the bigger classes and<br />
have him jump some ranking courses at the end of 2023. I look<br />
forward to developing him to the top level the coming years.”<br />
“His character stood out to me, besides his jumping technique,<br />
scope and easy ride. As a young horse he already had a real<br />
grown-up mentality. He is one of the most gentle horses I’ve<br />
come across in my career. He is easy to handle, brave and gives<br />
a nice ride. As a trader this is a real positive thing, should he<br />
not live up to his potential, he will be easy to sell because of his<br />
relaxed behaviour. Don’t get me wrong, he is still sharp and keeps<br />
an eye out on his surroundings, but I am confident everyone can<br />
ride him. Here at home my fiancée also enjoy riding him.”<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
43
44 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
Fun facts<br />
Fun facts<br />
Besides renowned breeders, fantastic horses and trainers, plus top equestrian facilities the province of Limburg also<br />
has lots of other things to offer. The Limburg people are a thrifty bunch and not only work hard at creating fantastic<br />
business and experiences in Limburg itself, also the export the province is good for is well-known worldwide.<br />
Not well-known but amongst themselves they speak in a dialect that can be quite confusing to the rest of the<br />
Netherlands. Think we are exaggerating? We dare you to pronounce the Limburg word for ‘tea towel’: Sjottelslet.<br />
MINI<br />
Small but grand! Since the reopening of<br />
VDL Nedcar in the Limburg town<br />
of Sittard in 2014 the factory has proudly<br />
produced four different MINI models<br />
for BMW Group.<br />
Sjottelslet<br />
Known in general Dutch as a<br />
tea towel, the Limburg version<br />
is not only a tongue twister to<br />
pronounce but could also be<br />
mistaken for a rather impolite<br />
swearword.<br />
Vlaai<br />
Sounds a little of putting,<br />
but vlaai is the sweetest<br />
treat the Limburg province is<br />
famous for. A typically baked<br />
( fruit) pie comes in many<br />
varieties and is so precious<br />
it is currently on the list for<br />
an EU protected status for<br />
regional products.<br />
Theme Park Toverland<br />
If you listen very<br />
closely when you are at<br />
Peelbergen Equestrian<br />
Centre you can heard<br />
the people on the roller<br />
coaster rides scream.<br />
Toverland is one of the<br />
youngest theme parks<br />
in the Netherlands but<br />
already has a magical<br />
reputation.<br />
Pinkpop<br />
If you like a good festival then you will have heard<br />
of this one: Pinkpop. This annual - three day - pop<br />
festival was founded in the Limburg village of<br />
Landgraaf in 1969. One of the most memorable<br />
headliners - Bruce Springsteen - is even rumored to<br />
have considered changing his ‘Born in the U.S.A.’<br />
to Born in Landgraaf :)<br />
Asperges<br />
Whilst the Irish claim to have gold pots<br />
at the end of rainbows, the Limburg<br />
people actually grow it. Asperges are<br />
commonly referred to as Limburg gold.<br />
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<strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition<br />
45
IN CASE YOU<br />
MISSED IT!<br />
<strong>2022</strong><br />
IT WAS A<br />
FANTASTIC<br />
EVENING!<br />
46 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
colophon<br />
18!<br />
e 2018<br />
Sales.<br />
your<br />
nt.<br />
, the<br />
will be<br />
ar, 109<br />
under<br />
leased<br />
g the<br />
ontact<br />
otices,<br />
il. Our<br />
ut the<br />
SAVE THE DATE!<br />
selection committee<br />
Timothy Hendrix<br />
Emile Hendrix<br />
Michel Hendrix<br />
Paul Hendrix<br />
Yves Houtackers<br />
SAVE<br />
THE<br />
DATES<br />
Presentation <strong>DSHS</strong><br />
Monday<br />
September<br />
25 th 2023<br />
Auction <strong>DSHS</strong><br />
Tuesday<br />
September<br />
26 th 2023<br />
Limburg Foal Auction<br />
Wednesday<br />
September<br />
27 th 2023<br />
2017<br />
<strong>DSHS</strong> Presentation<br />
Monday, October 1,<br />
2018<br />
Website<br />
You can find the latest news<br />
HON<br />
about the auction on our<br />
website. Visit the site regularly<br />
to stay up to date.<br />
www.dutchhorsesales.com<br />
Lay out & DTP<br />
Liz van de Vorstenbosch - Equine MERC<br />
Photography<br />
Cover: Meghan Bacso<br />
P1: Luc van Moorsel, Ridemagazine,<br />
Dick Holthuis, Digishots<br />
P2,3: Digishots<br />
P4,5: Luc van Moorsel, Digishots<br />
P6: You Adolfo will automatically Juri see our<br />
P9:<br />
news<br />
Luc van<br />
on your<br />
Moorsel<br />
timeline if you ‘like’<br />
P10,11: Noelle Floyd, Chronofhorse,<br />
Ridemagazine<br />
the Dutch Sport Horse Sales<br />
P12: Dick Holthuis Facebook page.<br />
P15: Interplast<br />
dutch<br />
Holland<br />
sport<br />
Foundation<br />
horse sales<br />
P16-19: Berny Zeekaf<br />
P21: Luc van Moorsel, Horse Service<br />
International<br />
P22,23: Digishots, Jack Mancini, Sportfot<br />
P25: Digishots<br />
P26,27: Luc van Moorsel<br />
P30,31: Dick Holthuis<br />
P32,33: Sportfot, Erin Gilmore, Clicphoto,<br />
Stefan Keturi, Jack Mancini, Ben Radvayni,<br />
Haley Kane Photography, S. McMiller, Digishots<br />
P34-37: Luc Follow van Moorsel us on Instagram!<br />
P32: Dick Holthuis<br />
Take a look at the gorgeous<br />
P34-37: Luc van Moorsel<br />
P38,39: pictures Luc van that Moorsel were taken during<br />
P41-43: Pexels, Shutterstock the auction.<br />
P45: Dick Holthuis<br />
#dutchsporthorsesales<br />
<strong>DSHS</strong> Auction<br />
Tuesday, October 2,<br />
2018<br />
Website<br />
EDITOR IN CHIEF<br />
Janou Hendrix<br />
CREATIVE EDITOR<br />
Eva van den Adel<br />
PUBLISHER<br />
You can find the latest Hendrix news Events B.V Several times a year we<br />
about the auction on our Rijksweg 45 send out a mailing via<br />
website: www.dutchhorsesales. 5995 NT Kessel<br />
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nor responsibility taken for errors or<br />
omissions in this magazine.<br />
Follow us on Instagram! Take<br />
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LIMBURG FOAL AUCTION<br />
Wednesday, October 3,<br />
2018<br />
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COLOPHON<br />
PHOTOGRAPHY<br />
As stated in the articles or:<br />
Cover: Remco Veurink<br />
P3: Arnd Bronkhorst<br />
P4-5: Digishots<br />
P12-13: Sportfot, 1clic, Sara Shier<br />
P14-15: Eva van den Adel, Emmers Equestrian<br />
P20: Annan Hepner<br />
P21: Sportfot<br />
P23-25: Sportfot, Digishots<br />
P32-33: Digishots<br />
P34-35: Falkenbergsfoto, Sportfot, 1clic,<br />
Sara Shier, Equisport photo<br />
P37-39: Eva van den Adel<br />
P40-41: Digishots<br />
P42-43: Eva van den Adel<br />
P45: Stock images<br />
P46-48: Digishots<br />
TEXT<br />
As stated in the articles or:<br />
Eva van den Adel<br />
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48 <strong>DSHS</strong> | The <strong>2022</strong> edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM
We We courteously invite invite you you to to the the next next<br />
edition of of the the Dutch Sport Sport Horse Sales.<br />
Please mark mark September 25 25 th and th and 26 26 th th<br />
in in your your calendar. It will It will be be our our pleasure<br />
to to welcome you you on on these these days. days.<br />
The The following day day on on September 27 27 th th<br />
the the Limburg Foal Foal Auction will will be be held held<br />
at at the the same same location.<br />
In In the the meantime, you you can can always<br />
contact us us by by e-mail should you you have have<br />
any any questions or or suggestions:<br />
info@dutchhorsesales.com<br />
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR AT AT<br />
THE 2023 EDITION
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