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2003
European Pony Championships
Marrigje van Baalen and Power and Paint, Ungrateful
Fourth
August 2, 2003
 Finishing
in an unlucky fourth position were Marrigje van Baalen
and her Rhinelander breeding stallion Power and Paint.
Dutch team member Marrigje, niece to Dutch Olympic team
rider Coby van Baalen, started the competition as an
individual medal hopeful, but unfortunately, the 15-year
old Van Baalen succumbed to the stress in the final
phase of the competition. Her preliminary test was strong
and confident. With 71.48% they finished third. In the
team championship test, Van Baalen and Power and Paint
held their third position with a 73.00%, being the anchor
for winning the silver team medal with the Dutch team.
However, in the individual finals too much pressure
rested on Van Baalen's shoulders as she wanted to live
up to the dream of winning an individual medal. Although
she held a firm grip on the bronze medal, Marrigje van
Baalen rode a solid test which earned her 73.22%. Yet,
this score placed her fourth overall and her dream was
shattered. Although many tears flooded from her eyes,
Marrigje van Baalen can still look back on a wonderful
2003 European Pony Championships.
Marrigje van Baalen has been riding horses from early
age. In 2001, at age 13, she was meant to ride horses
but the offer came to ride the delightful pony stallion
Power and Paint (by Power Boy x Dancer). Through the
liaisons of her aunt Coby van Baalen and Johan Hinnemann,
Power and Paint's owner Renate Pasch from Krefeld, Germany,
put the buckskin pony stallion at Van Baalen's disposal.
"He knew more than I. I learnt everything from
him" Marrigje said.
 Living
in Utrecht with her mother Marianne Dorresteijn, also
a famous Dutch Grand Prix rider, Marrigje travels to
Coby's place in Brakel, The Netherlands, five times
a week to train her pony. Marrigje is extremely happy
about her pony Power and Paint. "Everything is
great about him, his character, riding him, to go to
shows with him."
Marrigje is not certain if she will be riding the FEI
pony tests next year. "Maybe I'll show Power next
year, otherwise I'll move to the junior riders' division.
Normally there are good horses for me ready at Coby's
stable. I'm in a fortunate position, I get so much support.
On your own, you got nowhere," Marrigje stated.
Image copyrighted: Paul
van Oers
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