2010: the Year of the Dutch

September 02, 2010

After winning the Youth World Games, the Netherlands takes the Nations Cup

Kreuth, Germany--Thursday night exhibitors took a break from the European Paint Horse Championships to join in a little friendly team competition--the Nations Cup. Following in the footsteps of their youth team at the APHA Summer World Show this summer, the Dutch Paint Horse Club came out victorious, beating six other nations in their quest for the cup.

This year, teams from Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden competed in the event. In a mix of national pride, comic relief and a bit of competitive spirit, they competed in five events: trail, Western pleasure, Western horsemanship, hunter under saddle and reining.

Following a festive parade of teams and warm welcome from APHA Director of European Affairs Markus Rensing, APHA President Linda Vance and Paint Horse Club Germany President Monika Hagen, one exhibitor from each team was sent to tackle the trail course. The Netherlands quickly set the pace, with Saskia Moeskops and Sherwins Little Bandit taking first place.

In the Western pleasure, exhibitors cut loose, riding with tail extension “wigs,” their country’s flags or traditional costumes. After the second class, Austria was in the lead, with Italy and the Netherlands tied for second place.

Austria was still in the lead after the third and fourth classes--Western horsemanship and hunter under saddle. Then the Netherlands won the reining, turning the run for the Cup into a three-way tie between the Austrians, the Dutch and the Germans.

In anticipation for the awards ceremony, the teams returned to the arena. While waiting for the results to be calculated, Markus Rensing made a special presentation, presenting plaques to Lex Smurthwaite and Butch Carse from all of the clubs, recognizing the significant contributions they made resulting in the tremendous growth of the breed in Europe.

In the end, reining was the tie-breaker class, based on the placings by judge Bonnie Miller. After winning the Youth Team Tournament in Texas last June, the Netherlands defended their reputation as a European powerhouse by claiming the Nations Cup. The silver medal went to team Germany and the bronze to team Austria. Fourth place went to France. Italy finished fifth. Sweden was sixth and Denmark seventh.

Riding for the Netherlands was Saskia Moeskops and Sherwins Little Bandit, Sara de Wessel and BP Intimidativeolegal, Cora Breederland and Red Rainbow Rebel, Suzan Haarland and My Zippers Good, Jan Pieter Koopeman and Play Crow, and Ellen Welten and Sweetly Chocolate Dun. During a moving awards ceremony, team members received award buckles made by Gist Silversmiths, donated by the APHA.

“Going into the Cup, we were hoping to place in the top three,” said Paul deJong, DPHC co-president. I know we had some good riders, but two were competing for the first time. It was difficult to find the right classes for the right horse. We had a team on paper, and when I came here, I saw the team I had in my head was not possible because one of the horses was lame. We must also wait for a horse to arrive today.”

“We heard that there was a three-way tie, and the tie-breaker judge had a decision to make,” said Martin Laleese, DPHC co-president. “When Austria was third, Karl-Heinz Schmidt, the German coach, came to us and made a bet--the winner buys a drink for the losing team coach. We said, ‘okay.’ And I said to Paul, ‘I love to win.’ We had a lucky year this year.”

Irene Stamatelakys

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