Wednesday, 21 August 2013 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

The first team competition and training with the back tigers

It’s good when there’s time for a leisurely breakfast, especially when things get hectic later. Fritsie and Voice had a training day today – as always under the watchful eye of GLOCK trainer Nicole Werner. They were not however alone: many insiders also gathered round the training arena, which is outside the public area, to see what the competition is doing.

Edward is completely engrossed riding Fritsie with Nicole’s comments in his ear. GLOCK’s Undercover wants to work and is concentrating hard. His ears reveal quite a lot – how he listens to his rider and responds to minimal aids. Every now and again loud neighing can be heard. GLOCK’s Voice is calling for his friend Fritsie. He loves having the black tiger around him. ‘Noisy’, laughs Vanessa, who doesn’t let Fritsie and Edward out of her sight for a second. Both of them were good and as a reward Edward gets a jacket and GLOCK’s Undercover a lump of sugar. “He absolutely adores sugar,” says Vanessa, patting Frits on the neck, “but he doesn’t get it often.”

GLOCK’s Voice is waiting in the stables for his Frits and Edward to return. He cheekily pushes his nose through the bars to see Sugar lying in her pink basket below. When saddled, he changes into a horse that concentrates and works hard and wants to perform. “He’s great,” says Edward pleased, “he always wants to move forward. That’s a good thing.” Carl Hester is also training and a lot of bantering goes on between the two of them. 

In the afternoon, it’s down to business for Hans Peter Minderhoud and GLOCK’s Romanov. The first team event means the first important points for the European Championships. Barriers have been erected between the warm-up arenas open to public view and the spectator area and it is full of people wanting to see how the others are training. Hans Peter is concentrating just as hard as his impressive stallion. He doesn’t even notice the curious eyes on him, the cameras or his team mates who are there to support him.

The Grand Prix goes well but a few errors have crept in, as can be seen from looks on the faces of Edward, Nicole, Anna and Vanessa before the score lights up on screen. “I’m a bit disappointed,” says Hans Peter Minderhoud later, taking off GLOCK’s Romanov’s bridle and giving him an apple. “Although I made some mistakes, he was good and I thought the score would be a bit higher.” 

Vanessa has now got the ‘beds’ ready for Voice and Frits. “They love their thick, soft straw beds,” she says, which you can well believe as they nuzzle deep into the golden yellow straw that the GLOCK team has brought along and smells so deliciously of home.

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