Saturday morning began with an exciting conclusion to the 1* 1.25m Small Tour Final. No fewer than nineteen combinations qualified for the jump-off, in which Belgian rider Helle-Marie Lehoucq and her fourteen-year-old mare Goanita set the fastest time. With a faultless and fluent round, she claimed the first final of the day.
Kristian Houwen recorded the second-fastest time with his seven-year-old N’Abalia SMH, followed by Pam Nieuwenhuis on the eight-year-old Myacintha O, giving the podium a Belgian-Dutch flavor.
Her Own Plan
Lehoucq was visibly pleased with her experienced mare’s performance afterward: “I’m definitely very happy. With a horse like this, everything becomes easy, so all the credit goes to her. We went for it, but I didn’t watch those who went before me. You always have to focus on your own plan—that’s what gets you the furthest,” she said. “For this horse, it’s better not to come in too big, so I chose to add an extra stride here and there. She adjusts beautifully and loves doing this. Our regular rounds often ride like a jump-off, so this felt great.”
It was a successful JIM debut for Helle-Marie Lehoucq: “It’s my first time at Jumping Indoor Maastricht, and it’s been fantastic. And now, of course, even more so with this victory. Hopefully, I’ll be back next year!”
Photos by Digishots
