Pinacolada, Offield van Schijndel and N’Abalia SMH win Stal Hendrix competition

28 June 2024

After five selection rounds, the top thirty combinations per age group competed today in the final of the Stal Hendrix competition, producing excellent sport under ideal conditions at the Peelbergen Equestrian Centre. The stallion Pinacolada van Seldsum, ridden by Joy Lammers, triumphed in the four-year-old category, while N’Abalia SMH from the same breeders, Minne and Esther Hovenga, won in the six-year-old class. In the five-year-old category, no one could surpass Offield van Schijndel.

In the four-year-olds class, it was a neck-and-neck race between the KWPN approved stallions Pinacolada van Seldsum (s.Dominator Z) ridden by Joy Lammers and Pagani of the Paddocks (s.Catoki) ridden by Pietro Lazzaro. Judges René Tebbel and Henk van den Broek were very impressed with both, awarding them 9.5 and 9.2 respectively for jumping abilities, and both received a 9 for rideability.

Close finish
Thus, Pinacolada van Seldsum (ds.Namelus R, breeders Minne and Esther Hovenga) and Pagani of the Paddocks (ds.Corofino I, breeder Anthony Mornie) ended up first and second in the final standings, followed by Platina Gold VP (Stakkato Gold x Heartbreaker, breeder Marcel Verhallen) ridden by co-breeder Boy Peels. “We saw some very good four-year-old horses. The top six horses have a lot of quality”, René Tebbel enthusiastically stated. “It was a close finish between the two stallions, both of whom have a lot of potential. They could have both won in my opinion! Their rideability is extremely well. Pinacolada stands out with his looseness in the body, especially for a stallion, and has a lot of scope and carefulness. Pagani is very stylish, jumps with excellent technique, and is also very careful. He made a big impression today! Platina Gold, who finished third, is a typical Stakkato Gold offspring: she jumps well with the withers up, is quick and careful. I saw some really good horses and it wasn’t an easy task here in the large arena.” For Joy Lammers, it marked a fourth victory for her stallion Pinacolada van Seldsum. “He always makes it very easy for me. Pinacolada is super rideable, attentive, and jumps consistently. He is truly a wonderful horse and we have high expectations for him. It’s great that the breeders have confidence in him and I will continue to train him calmly. He doesn’t need to learn how to jump; he does everything I ask, so it’s mainly a matter of staying calm and keeping him healthy. Every ride is a joy!”

Diamant de Semilly’s offspring
A clear round in the final meant that Piet Raijmakers Jr. and Offield van Schijndel (Diamant de Semilly x Baloubet du Rouet, breeder Van Schijndel Promotion) could convert their substantial lead in the overall standings into a win in the five-year-old competition. It’s very nice to win here and he really deserved it. Offield is a very composed horse and almost always jumps clear. I rode his dam at 1.45m level myself, and we also have a full sister of Offield from her, which also looks promising. Offield is a competitive horse, inheriting that from his mother, and he seems to have gotten his father’s scope, which is a great combination!”, the winner responded. Emile Tacken jumped to second place with another Diamant de Semilly offspring, Davina (ds.Cornet Obolensky, breeder W. Lenssen), remaining double clear in the final in a brisk time. The day’s competition was won by Micky van den Oetelaar with KMS Ballygriffin Max (s.Tyson). The careful Jacadello daughter Olivia HX (ds.Andiamo) ridden by Rob Heijligers finished third in the overall standings.

Great sport
The six-year-old final was also impressive. Kristian Houwen secured the overall victory with the well-jumping Edinburgh daughter N’Abalia SMH (ds.Zirocco Blue VDL) owned by Marco Zeekaf, who was in top form. In this competition, they won in Kessel, were placed third in Sevenum and Meerlo, and took fourth in Koningsbosch. Like Pinacolada van Seldsum, this Stal Hendrix competition winner was also bred by the late Minne Hovenga and his wife Esther Hovenga, a significant success for the breeders! Joël Siersema jumped to second place overall with Nakometo Keizersberg (Comfortuna VDL x Verdi), bred by employer Stal Keizersberg, thanks to a good clear round in the jump-off, something only achieved by day winner Stephanie Whitworth with Nadia HX (s.Valmy de la Lande). Also on the podium was Alicia Bocken with the Diamant de Semilly mare Delicious Diana Z, a daughter of Henrik von Eckermann’s top jumping horse Iliana (s.Cardento), who clearly inherited her jumping talent. Overall, it was a great conclusion to the Stal Hendrix competition today, showcasing a promising group of young horses from Limburg and the surrounding area.