Lara van Nek shines with homebred pair in Lier

After two victories for Robin Heiden in the Team Test and Individual Test, it was fellow Dutch athlete Lara van Nek who claimed the win in the U25 Freestyle. Riding the black KWPN stallion All At Once, she scored 74.725%.

It was not the first podium finish of the day for Van Nek, as she had already placed in the top three in the Young Riders class. There she finished third with Jatilinda, a daughter of All At Once. “Jatilinda went very well too, and All At Once was great today as well,” the rider smiled.

Better today
After producing strong performances in earlier competitions this season, including a victory at Jumping Amsterdam, the first U25 test in Lier did not go flawlessly for Van Nek and All At Once. “We had too many mistakes. The tempi changes and pirouettes did not go well, and neither did the extended trot. Yesterday in the Grand Prix 16–25 it was already better, but still not quite how I wanted it. Today everything felt completely right again.”

Enjoying homebred horses
What makes it even more special is that in Lier Van Nek rides two horses bred by her mother. Both Jatilinda and All At Once were born at home at Stal 104, just as her other top horse, Obsession Taonga. “It is one hundred percent enjoyment with horses like these. The fact that I am riding both father and daughter here makes it very special. They are both very sensitive, which is not always easy, but when everything comes together it feels amazing.” With these three horses, Van Nek is eagerly looking forward to the outdoor season. “My goal with All At Once is to be competitive in the U25 division. With Jatilinda and Obsession Taonga I want to do the same in the Young Riders. With all of them I plan to ride the European Championship selection trials, and then I hope things go well there.”

Jacobsen and Heiden
Second place in the U25 Freestyle went to Denmark’s Frederikke Gram Jacobsen with Ryvangs Zafina, scoring 73.025%. Robin Heiden and Hollywood, winners of the Intermediaire II and the Grand Prix 16-25, finished third today with 72.550%.

Results