The ClipMyHorse.TV Medium Tour has just fallen to Hessel Hoekstra and his eight-year-old mare Madonna. The Dutch rider raced through the four-star 1.45m course at lightning speed, leaving the competition behind.
Afterward, Hessel Hoekstra was overjoyed with his mare’s performance:
„That was a fast round! Madonna jumped really fantastically and kept a great pace. My plan was to ride a quick, smooth round, and that worked perfectly with her. I didn’t have to do anything crazy, because she’s naturally fast,“ he said. „Madonna is a very sweet horse with a lot of blood. You wouldn’t always think so, but in the ring, she’s really switched on. She works super well with me and always gives her best. We’ve had her for almost a year now, and she’s gained a lot of experience already. This is truly a horse for the future—I hope we can win much more together.“
Belgian Riders on Form
The Belgian delegation also made their presence felt: Frederic Vernaet took second place with Okina van de Bien, followed by compatriot Niels Bruynseels aboard the nine-year-old Devidanga SW Z. Dutch rider Elize van de Mheen claimed fourth with Fides du Mas Garnier, while American rider Lucas Porter and Kimba 171 completed the top five—missing fourth place by just two hundredths of a second.
View the full program and results here.
Photos by Digishots
