Convincing performance by Hans Peter Minderhoud and Gerco Schröder

The traditional tournament Indoor Brabant at ’s-Hertogenbosch in The Netherlands has always been a fixture in the annual event calendar for GLOCK riders Hans Peter Minderhoud, Edward Gal and Gerco Schröder (NED). This year too, the GLOCK trio, successful in both dressage and show-jumping, had planned to contest in ‘Den Bosch’. Due to Edward’s accident in training, in which he injured his wrist and back slightly, the trio turned out to be a duo. A shame of course, but still, the balance of success was not compromised.

Hans Peter rocks the dressage course
GLOCK Rider Hans Peter Minderhoud had taken no fewer than three horses to the dressage events for various different classes in Den Bosch. Nine-year-old GLOCK’s Casper (of Westpoint) was able to prove himself in the national Intermediate I Freestyle and gave a convincing performance with 74.792 % leading to third place. In the CDI4* test Hans Peter started with the beautiful grey stallion Zanardi (of Rubels x Avignon). The twelve-year-old horse remained, however, quite unsettled by the impressive atmosphere at Brabant. Nevertheless, in the Grand Prix he came sixth with 67.120 % and, in the freestyle, he came fifth with 71.425 %.

For the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage, the current team European champion once again trusted in the powers of his expressive GLOCK’s Flirt. The fifteen-year-old chestnut of Florestan I shone in the Grand Prix on Friday with 76.480 % for first place. In the freestyle on Saturday, the jury even assigned a generous 81.775 % and thus victory was secured for Hans Peter and ‘Flirty’ in both tests. Now, in the overall ranking for the World Cup, Hans Peter ranks second and goes to the World Cup Finals to Gothenburg (March 24th -28th, 2016) with great odds.

Gerco gives magnificent performances on the five-star course
"She was simply fantastic this weekend. I am very happy with her”, said a beaming GLOCK Rider Gerco Schröder, talking about the performances of only eight-year-old GLOCK’s Debalia. This weekend, the talented Numero Uno daughter drew attention to herself because she remained easily penalty-free in both the two-phase show-jumping competition on Friday (1.40 m) and the standard show-jumping over 1.40 m on Saturday, coming seventh here. Also twelve-year-old KWPN stallion GLOCK’s Zaranza showed once more a convincing performance. A penalty-free round in the test over 1.55 m on Friday was even topped by an ingenious and again penalty-free ride in the Rolex Grand Prix on Sunday (1.60 m), and Gerco was certainly more than happy with his protégé.

Super Flirty! Hans Peter Minderhoud took victory in both the World Cup Grand Prix and the Freestyle with GLOCK’s Flirt. © Arnd Bronkhorst

Dream team: Hans Peter and GLOCK’s Flirt shining in Den Bosch. © Arnd Bronkhorst

Applause from the "GHPC fan club" for Hans Peter and ‘Flirty’. © Arnd Bronkhorst

Wonderful Zanardi under the saddle of GLOCK Rider Hans Peter Minderhoud. © Arnd Bronkhorst

This is what winners look like: after the victory in the World Cup Freestyle, GLOCK’s Flirt looks just as proud as GLOCK Rider Hans Peter Minderhoud. © Arnd Bronkhorst

GLOCK’s Debalia gave extraordinary performances in Den Bosch and, after her job was done, enjoyed some sunshine. © GHPC

Champions too need to recover: GLOCK’s Zaranza having a power nap in his box. © GHPC

GLOCK’s Zaranza and GLOCK Rider Gerco Schröder delivered fantastic rides in Den Bosch. © Arnd Bronkhorst