Marieke van der Putten secures a trio of Grand Prix Horses: “This is truly special”

Dutch dressage rider Marieke van der Putten made her international Grand Prix debut yesterday, not with one, but two horses, and she did so in style. Both horses impressed with scores above 71%. With Zantana RS2 OLD, she claimed an excellent second place, while Kuvasz RS2 N.O.P. followed closely in third. “Both horses really performed fantastically,” said a proud Van der Putten after her test.

Alongside Torveslettens Titanium RS2, Van der Putten now has two more Grand Prix horses under her saddle. “This isn’t just something ordinary,” she said, referring to the rare privilege of having three Grand Prix horses. “I know how special this really is. I’ve worked incredibly hard for it, years of time and effort, and then it’s just so rewarding to see it all come together.”

A good feeling going in
“I already had both horses going really well at home, so I travelled to Lier with a good feeling. Still, I didn’t know how they’d react in a fully dressed-up arena. Especially with Zantana, I found it a bit nerve-wracking, she used to be quite spooky.”

“Just wait, he’s the one”
Van der Putten has been riding the ten-year-old Glamourdale gelding Kuvasz RS2 N.O.P. since he was three years old. “I’ve ridden Kuvasz since he was just saddle-broken. From day one, I believed he’d make it to Grand Prix, although not everyone agreed with me,” she says with a laugh. Her belief has now been proven right. “As a young horse he was a bit weak behind. But I always said, ‘Just wait, he’s the one.’ And now it’s finally starting to show.”
Their bond has grown deep over the years. “We’re really a team. He’s a horse that always gives 200 percent. He’d never let me down, and that gives me so much confidence. I used to have to lunge him at home all the time,otherwise, I’d be on the ground within ten seconds. At competitions, I still need to lunge him quickly, let him get a few bucks out, and then he’s ready to go. It’s just part of who he is, and honestly, I find it kind of funny.”

A true mare
Van der Putten only started riding Zantana RS2 OLD later on, but they’ve also developed into a solid combination. “It took a while for us to become a real team. She needed to gain confidence in the ring, but it’s so special to feel that she now fully trusts me. She’s such a hardworking mare. Yesterday in the ring, she was incredibly focused.”

Excited for today
Today, Van der Putten will ride Kuvasz RS2 N.O.P. in the Freestyle to Music, and she’s chosen Zantana RS2 for the Grand Prix Special. “I’m really curious to see how it goes, neither horse has ever done this before. Zantana is really strong in piaffe and passage, and I felt that might still be a bit too much for Kuvasz at this stage,” she explained.

A promising future
These two new Grand Prix horses are a very welcome addition to the Dutch dressage scene. What are her plans for the summer season? “Both horses are still very green at this level, but I’m going to try to ride the observation trials for the European Championships. We’ll see how far we get, but I really believe both of them are top horses for the future.”

Enjoying the moment
Van der Putten is clearly aware of how rare her current position is. “I really do feel privileged to have three Grand Prix horses. That hardly ever happens, so I’m very grateful. But we also know things can change in an instant, so for now, I’m just enjoying every minute.” She’s also full of praise for the event in Lier: “It’s a fantastic show, beautifully organized, calm, friendly and just really well done.”

All results and starting lists

Photos: Digishots