Nikolas Kroncke and Larso
 

Youngest combination and "shooting star" among the German Junior Riders is 16 year old Nikolas Kroncke. His younger sister Kira Kroncke, who became double gold medallist at the 1999 European Pony Championships, inspired him to take up riding. In 1992 Nikolas received his first pony Black Boy as a gift, even though he more enjoyed playing tennis. His sister constantly assisted him in the barn of the Kroncke family and eventually he learnt that riding was more fun than tennis. Ponies Aventino, Edwin and Konrad quickly followed career-starter Black Boy. In 1997 Nikolas was the undefeated champion in pony dressage with the lovely chestnut gelding Konrad: winner of the Preis der Besten in Warendorf, double gold medallist at the European Pony Championships and German Pony Champion. In 1998 he became German Junior Rider Champion with Mont Royal. 

Trained by Jonny Hilberath, Nikolas is again excelling in the Preis der Besten-qualifiers, but this time with the Holsteiner stallion Larso. At the last JR selection show in Bad Honnef, Kroncke and Larso only had to make way for Von Platen and Mocca, but still scored 66.78% and 67.16%.
 

Related Link: German Equestrian Federation

Image copyrighted Mary Phelps - http://horsesdaily.com