The MECC is ready to receive horses and riders. The floor has a large layer of special sand on which the horses can move well. And the stables are ready for the horses to enter. On Friday, November 8th, the employees of Jumping Indoor Maastricht will be ready to receive the first visitors for a long weekend of equestrian sports for young and old!
In addition to established top riders such as Maikel van der Vleuten, who won the Grand Prix last year, Harrie Smolders, Hans-Dieter Dreher, Roger Yves Bost and Pieter Devos, the younger generation is also making its mark. Mel Thijssen is only 23 years old, yet she finishes in front of the 'big boys' more than once. For example, two weeks ago she was first and fourth in two big classes at the World Cup competition in Helsinki. In Maastricht she will try to finish at the front again.
A horse with character
The descendant of the Thijssen jumping horse family from Sevenum is bringing two of her best horses with her. Firstly, Florida Balia NL, with whom she has been a combination for four years. “She is a real winner,” Mel praises her mare. “She rarely makes a mistake, she is also super fast and has a great character. It is a horse that always fights for me. Her attitude brought her the win in one of the main classes at Jumping Indoor Maastricht in 2022.”
Being lucky
The chestnut gelding Grieg S is also moving to the MECC for the weekend. “I trust him blindly; he is a thoroughly reliable horse with a lot of scope. With Grieg I hope to qualify for the Grand Prix on Sunday afternoon. Whether we win prizes... a bar just falls into the sand; you also have to have a bit of luck. But if I don't make mistakes, he won't either."
A-pony Sem
Her very first JIM was a while ago, but Mel can still remember it well. “That was when I was about seven or eight years old. You could qualify as a pony rider through regional competitions and I was there with my A-pony Sem. I didn't win, but it was quite an experience to be able to ride in the MECC!”
Enthusiastic and sporty audience
Last year Mel was not on the list of participants in Maastricht; this year she is happy to be there again. “JIM is of course a real Limburg show, you just want to participate in it! In addition to being a great show at a high level, it is also an incredibly fun competition, with a lot of atmosphere and an incredibly enthusiastic and sporty audience. You want to ride well not only for yourself, but also for the audience.”
Check the complete masterlist: Participants
Check the full program of CSI4* Jumping Indoor Maastricht: Program
Photo: Digishots
