Journey OK, vet check OK, practice OK – all set!
Everybody has arrived safely, everybody is fit and in a great mood! These are the positive news from the championship stables of the Dutch show-jumpers, where GLOCK's London N.O.P. has now moved into his box too. After getting used to the grounds first of all, today was the vet check followed by the first practice.
GLOCK groom Lulu has spruced up GLOCK's London N.O.P. nicely and takes him for a short walk. Then all team riders arrive and, shortly after 9 am is the vet check for the Dutch team. Numerous photographers came to shoot the first official appearance of the 181 horses from 53 nations.
Gerco takes the 12-year old chestnut stallion, adjusts the bridle and gently strokes that mighty neck. Everything ok. Off they go. One after the other, like orange pearls on a string, the Dutch team walks off with their chef d'equipe Rob Ehrens.
At the flower-decorated vet check area, the horses are presented first in walk and then in trot and all of them are given the "fit to compete", required for their participation.
Lulu gets "her London” back. At the stables some treats and then he is saddled. Time for the first training on the world championship grounds. GLOCK's London N.O.P. works with great concentration under Gerco. The two understand each other blindly, they’re a perfectly matched team and even just watching the relaxed practice brings joy to the beholder. "He was great”, says Gerco in his always calm manner patting the stallion’s neck, “the championships can start.”