Dutch Dressage News

Jan Peeter Launches Dutch Version of German Piaff Forderpreis

March 6, 2003

Often inspired by the progressive ideas of the German Equestrian Federation, the KNHS (Dutch Equestrian Federation) is playing with the idea to launch a special programme that will stimulate young riders to make the transition from Prix St Georges to Grand Prix. Directly influenced by the highly popular German Piaff Forderpreis, a show circuit in which 21 to 26 year old dressage riders compete by riding an especially designed Grand Prix test, Dutch O-judge Jan Peeters has started the discussion to create a similar circuit in The Netherlands.

Many young riders do not succeed in moving on from Prix St Georges to Grand Prix level. Added to the fact that Grand Prix trained horses are rarer and require more talent, money and time to train, the transition has proven to be awfully difficult for young riders and many talented riders get stuck in the small tour shows or quit riding after all. In Holland, team coaches Wim Ernes and Jurgen Koschel have put their finger on this week spot in top sport competition, but the Dutch Equestrian Federation never had the money to do something about it.

Current team coach Jan Peeters has taken new initiave to launch a Dutch Piaff Forderpreis circuit in The Netherlands. Former young riders such as Annemiek van der Vorm and Joyce Heutinck are two examples who have not dared to make the transition yet. Peeters wants to organize special training sessions and later on launch a show circuit in which these former young riders will ride a test specially designed for them. Peeters has already created this test which will include the passage, but not the piaffe. More news on this topic will appear soon.

Images copyrighted: Arnd Bronkhorst / Dirk Caremans

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