CSI1* SenTower Sun Classic: Four Horses, New Partnerships and an Unexpected Surprise
Updated: Sep 5
Some show jumping weekends are about the results. Others are about the experiences, the lessons and the unexpected moments that make a show truly memorable.
From July 30 to August 2, I competed at the SenTower Sun Classic at SenTower Park in Belgium – and it was definitely one of those unforgettable weekends for me.
I competed with four horses – King, O’Brian van Rinsma State, Gasira and Quark de Preuilly Z – and each of them brought something completely different to the weekend. King and I were reunited in the ring after several months apart, O’Brian gave me plenty of excitement as a young horse, while Gasira and Quark were just starting to build their partnerships with me. Having joined our family only about a week before the show, both horses were still very new to me, so there was a lot to discover, learn and figure out together.
With four different horses and so much still to discover, this was always going to be an exciting weekend. And it certainly delivered: there were great rounds and placings, a few challenges along the way, familiar faces from South Africa and, completely unexpectedly, a new member of our family.
Back in the Arena with King
Some partnerships don’t need months of preparation to find their rhythm again.
After returning from South Africa, I was finally back in the ring with King. I hadn’t ridden him since April, and with only a few but very intense, training sessions together before the show, I really didn’t know what to expect when we stepped back into the ring together.
But sometimes, you just know.
From the moment we entered the arena, that familiar feeling was there again. The trust, the connection and the feeling of knowing each other seemed to come back almost immediately. King gave me such a good feeling throughout the weekend, and I couldn’t have been happier with how our rounds went.
We came away with a placing and consistent rounds, but for me, the results were only part of what made the weekend so special. Being back in the ring with King and feeling that our partnership was still there meant so much more.
It was the perfect reminder that some partnerships can pick up exactly where they left off.
O’Brian – Two Clear Rounds and a Little Rodeo
With my seven-year-old O’Brian van Rinsma State, the weekend was a completely different experience.
We finished with two clear rounds out of three, showing once again how much potential this young horse has.
Our 1.25 m Final started exactly as I had hoped. We had a great rhythm, a super canter and everything felt smooth and controlled. The round was flowing beautifully, and up to fence number seven I was really happy with how we were performing. Then O’Brian decided to add a little extra excitement. After fence seven, my seven-year-old gelding suddenly found his inner rodeo horse and managed to unseat me.
Of course, it was frustrating, especially because the round had been going so well until that point. But producing a young horse also means accepting that not every round will go exactly according to plan.
There will be great moments, difficult moments and plenty of lessons along the way. What matters most to me is the progress we are making together. O’Brian is talented, athletic and exciting to ride – and he certainly keeps me on my toes. Sometimes you simply have to laugh, learn and come back stronger.
A Flying Start for Two Very New Partnerships
While King and O’Brian already had some history with me, Gasira and Quark de Preuilly Z were a completely different story. Both horses had only joined our family about a week before the SenTower Sun Classic. So stepping into an international competition together so soon was definitely a challenge.
We were still getting to know each other, learning how the other thinks and finding our rhythm together. But both horses gave me an incredibly encouraging start.
With Gasira, I jumped two clear rounds out of three and secured a placing in the 1.10 m class on day 1.
Quark de Preuilly Z was equally impressive. We also finished with two clear rounds out of three, with placings in the 1.10 m classes on days one and two. Our result on day two was particularly exciting – a Top 10 finish.
For horses that had only been with us for around a week, I could not have asked for a more promising first international experience together. But these results are only the beginning. The most exciting part is knowing that we still have so much to learn about each other. Every round gives me a little more insight into their personalities, their strengths and how I can ride them at their best. I’m really excited to see where these two new partnerships can take us.
A Special South African Connection
One of the highlights of the weekend was definitely meeting Charlie Bays, Ronnie Healy and Tamara Rueda.
It was so special to see fellow South African riders competing at SenTower Park and to have the chance to meet and spend some time with them. When you are competing internationally, seeing familiar faces from home always makes an event feel a little more special.
And this meeting was particularly exciting because just a few days later, all three would make their FEI World Championship debut in Aachen. They will ride their very first World Championship round – a huge milestone in their careers and a proud moment for South African show jumping.
But the South African connection at SenTower Park went beyond meeting fellow riders. My South African coach, Damian Stevens, also travelled all the way from Cape Town to Belgium especially for the show. It was a great opportunity not only for him to support me at the competition, but also to meet my Spanish coach, Pau Canals, in person and exchange ideas about my training and development. Having both coaches together and making sure they are aligned is really important for me, especially as I spend parts of the year training in both South Africa and Spain.
Meeting Charlie, Ronnie and Tamara just before they headed to Aachen made the weekend even more memorable. It was inspiring to see riders who were about to take on such a huge international stage – and particularly special to know that Damian had also coached Tamara in the past. Having my own South African coach there to support me, while reconnecting with one of his former riders, added another special dimension to the weekend.
This kind of South African connection means a lot to me, especially while competing in Europe. It made SenTower Park feel like a little piece of home, even though I was competing thousands of kilometres away.
An Unexpected Evening at the Flanders Foal Auction
And then there was one final surprise – one that had absolutely nothing to do with my competition rounds.
On Saturday evening, the Flanders Foal Auction took place at SenTower Park. As the auction was taking place late in the evening, I was watching online from home while my parents were there at the venue. Luckily, they had some great support on site, with Tamara Rueda, Charlie Bays, my South African coach Damian Stevens and his wife Susan, my Spanish coach Pau Canals and my groom Clara Saez de Ibarra supporting us with advice throughout the auction.
I was simply excited to see the foals being offered and follow the auction. I certainly did not expect to become part of the story myself.
And then it happened – my parents placed a bid from the auction floor. The very last bid – and it was enough.
I was sitting in front of my screen, completely overwhelmed and honestly couldn‘t believe what I was watching.
Suddenly, we had a new family member.
Welcome, En Garde Axelhoeve Z
Meet En Garde Axelhoeve Z, a colt by Ermitage Kalone x Heartbreaker, with an exceptional dam line featuring proven 1.55 m and 1.60 m performers, including Mom’s Geena van ’t Roosakker and Babbe van ’t Roosakker.
His pedigree is certainly impressive, but En Garde is still just a young colt at the very beginning of his story. What matters most right now is that he is part of our family, and that we get to watch his story unfold. We have no idea yet where his journey will take him. For now, I’m simply excited to watch him grow, develop and discover the world around him.
What started as an evening watching an auction online suddenly turned into the beginning of a completely unexpected and very exciting new chapter. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this little guy.
Another Step Forward
Looking back, the SenTower Sun Classic was so much more than just another competition.
Four horses, several good rounds and four placings made it a very positive weekend. But what I’m taking away from Belgium goes far beyond the results.
I’m taking home the feeling of finding my rhythm with King again, valuable lessons with O’Brian and the first exciting experiences with two brand-new partnerships. I also got to meet fellow South African riders on the European circuit – and somehow came home with a new four-legged family member I never expected to find there.
Every competition teaches you something. Sometimes it’s about getting the result you wanted. Sometimes it’s about learning from a difficult round. And sometimes, it’s simply about being open to whatever the weekend brings.
For me, SenTower Park was a little bit of all three.
Now it’s time to take all those experiences into the next shows in Spain. Every competition is another opportunity to learn, improve and become a better rider.
Thank you, SenTower Park, for an unforgettable weekend!
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