Dinja van Liere: "Hartsuijker is truly a reliable asset"
Dinja van Liere is no stranger to horses from the KWPN Select Sale. In addition to Hartsuijker, with whom she has already achieved great results in the World Cup Dressage series this winter season, she also rides Mauro Turfhorst and cherishes fond memories of Capri Sonne Jr. “That is truly my once-in-a-lifetime horse.” We spoke with her about these horses, the KWPN Select Sale, and what she values in young dressage horses.
On January 30 and February 1, it will be time to auction the future top breeding and sport stallions during the KWPN Select Sale. This month, the Brabanthallen will be the stage for the largest live and online auction of the KWPN. It has already been proven many times that the KSS produces exceptional talents.
Hartsuijker (Johnson out of Balinda, ster preferent IBOP PROK by Scandic), bred by M. Wolfs-van den Berg/I.D. Wolfs, was purchased as a young horse by Jan Pieter Dalfsem together with Laurens van Lieren. When he was three years old, Dinja van Liere was asked to take the reins, and it turned out to be a great success.
“He always tries his very best”
The 13-year-old Johnson son Hartsuijker is now competing at the highest level under the saddle of Dinja van Liere, who especially highlights his fantastic character. “Hartsuijker has a beautiful presence, but his character is also one of his top qualities. He always tries his very best; he is just so sweet and always works well with you. He is an easy horse to ride and is not fazed by anything in the ring.” In addition to Hartsuijker, Dinja van Liere also has the fantastic Hermes, who impresses in the ring every time, but this does not overshadow Hartsuijker. “I am just very happy that I have two Grand Prix horses at the moment. Hartsuijker is truly a steady horse who always performs consistently. It’s always great fun to take him to these big competitions because you can always count on him to do really well,” says Dinja van Liere with great confidence about the KWPN Select Sale reference Hartsuijker, who secured a 3rd place finish at the World Cup competition in London at the end of last year.
Hartsuijker’s career
Dinja van Liere took over the reins of Hartsuijker when he was only three years old, and his career has been on a steady upward trajectory ever since. “Hartsuijker has pretty much participated in all the competitions there are. As a three-year-old, he competed in the VSN Trophy. After that, he participated in the Subli Cup as a four- and five-year-old, and also the Pavo Cup, where he did very well as a six-year-old. Additionally, Hartsuijker also competed in Z2 and ZZ-Zwaar championships, Light Tour championships, and now, of course, Grand Prix.” Hartsuijker is already delivering top performances at the highest level, but Dinja van Liere still enjoys seeing him continue to develop. “What I find most wonderful is that he keeps developing and is doing so well now in the Grand Prix. I think that’s truly amazing. When I look back at my first Grand Prix test and compare it to how he now goes through a Grand Prix, it’s truly a world of difference,” Dinja van Liere says proudly about Hartsuijker.
What does Dinja van Liere look for in young horses?
After the KWPN Select Sale, the horses are often backed and trained further to reach the highest possible level. Dinja van Liere has ridden many young horses and brought them to the top level, but what exactly does she look for in young horses? “I obviously look to see if they have good front and hind legs and already have a nice posture. I like to see a horse move beautifully, rhythmically, and with pure gaits, one that can carry itself well in balance, preferably with an upward tendency.” For Dinja van Liere, character is the most important thing. “What I find important in young horses is that they have a pleasant and workable character. The most important thing is simply that a horse is easy to work with.”
“Once-in-a-lifetime horse”
Dinja van Liere has not only been very successful with the KWPN Select Sale reference Hartsuijker. Mauro Turfhorst (Glock’s Zonik N.O.P. out of Hidaylia, ster by Negro, bred by J.W. Greve from Haaksbergen) and Capri Sonne Jr. (Rhodium out of Wendela, provisional keur preferent prestatie by San Remo, bred by R. van Steijn, Boijl) are also well-known names in the dressage world that Dinja van Liere rides or has ridden. These two stallions were also sold through the KWPN Select Sale and perform well in the dressage ring. “I ride Mauro Turfhorst for Reesink Horses and Stoeterij Turfhorst. Over the past three years, he has done very well at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, and now he is doing well in the Light Tour. He has a lot of talent, so this year we are working towards the Grand Prix with him, which I am sure he will do very well,” says Dinja van Liere about her promising plans with the eight-year-old stallion Mauro Turfhorst. The stallion Capri Sonne Jr. is the horse with which Dinja van Liere began her international dressage career and is very special to her. “A very famous stallion of mine from the KWPN Select Sale is Capri Sonne Jr. He is still my once-in-a-lifetime horse.”
Always great sport horses from the KWPN Select Sale
The KWPN Select Sale returns every year with a selection of high-quality young horses that often go on to excel in top-level sport. “I think it’s great that the KWPN Select Sale exists because many good horses are sold there that are also available to a broader audience. I have experienced that every time, very fine sport horses come out of it that you can really work with. It’s very important that these horses are also available to more people.”
Visit the KWPN Select Sale
Are you looking for a top sport horse or a future approved stallion? Then visit the KWPN Select Sale. On Thursday, January 30, the showjumping horses will be auctioned, followed by the dressage stallions on Saturday, February 1. In addition to live bidding, it is also possible to place bids online or by phone. If you have any questions about the auction, please contact 0341-2555-11 or email selectsale@kwpn.nl. The collection will be available online from January 14 at www.kwpn.auction.