Centipede Wesley Mulder feels at home in Friesland

Many people are very busy at Indoor Friesland, and many sleep very little. Dozens of people have multiple responsibilities. Wesley Mulder is one of them. He rides, he presents, he plays games. He's active in the ring, in the media square, and in the press center. Indoor Friesland doesn't feel bad about it, because he's just as busy in his daily life. I could talk to him, but between his horses, starting, and presenting duties.

Wesley is 37 years old and lives in Albergen. His horses are kept by Conny Viscaal. He rides twelve to thirteen horses a day. He's known to the event's audience as a show jumper and presenter, but he also teaches, participates in the KNHS College Tour, regularly contributes to the equestrian magazine De Hoefslag, and last but certainly not least, he's a singer. Together with his father, Wesley forms the Havenzangers 2.0.

Talking about the atmosphere
We start our conversation by asking if Wesley has time to sleep during Indoor Friesland. Wesley: “Yes, I do. Here in the fantastic hotel. My room is so beautiful, it's a shame I spend so little time there. I slept in at home, which I usually do before a weekend, since I often have to perform then. Regarding the lack of sleep, when you're busy all day, you really want to chat in the hotel bar. It's mainly about the atmosphere. Nowhere else does the crowd cheer as loudly as here for the riders, and that gives me so much energy. Just like the people behind the scenes. From the media team to the judges, everyone is giving it their all and everyone is equally enthusiastic.”

No time to change
Ultimately, I enjoy riding the most; I'd love to do it all day long. In recent years, I didn't have the right horses for this level, and not quite yet, but it's coming. My best horses are currently seven and eight years old. Here at Indoor Friesland, I'm a competitor, but I also do all sorts of other things, and I enjoy that variety. I don't even have time to change for extra chores, but that makes it even more fun, and people don't mind. That's the down-to-earth Frisian way of life. Whether I'm wearing a jacket or not, whether I'm wearing boots or shoes, it's all good.

Working seven days a week
I work Monday through Sunday and, in addition to all my horse activities, I also have an average of two gigs a week. From Belgium to Friesland, which also means a lot of travel time. Why do I do all this? Because I enjoy it, because I can't say no, and because I need the money. Six years ago, I decided to primarily ride my own horses so I could make my own decisions. This gives me a lot less pressure, but also means a lot more money. Caring for horses is expensive and time-consuming, which in turn costs a lot of money.

Physiotherapist
What do I do to take care of myself? I go to the physiotherapist every two weeks for maintenance. It's funny to remember that a while ago my physiotherapist said to me: "It's good that you come every two weeks, but a full week's vacation would be the best therapy for your body."

First time 1.50m
Speaking of those horses, yesterday I rode a 1.50m here for the first time with Lyon. I was walking the course and thought for a moment that this was going to be a really tough test. To be honest, I even thought it wouldn't work out. However, I decided to make a plan, and it worked. After fences one, two, and three, things actually went quite smoothly, and that's when I started to believe in it. On the last line, I got a little too close to one fence; I was a bit out of energy, and that resulted in a mistake. I forgave him and was super happy. I won't be riding the Grand Prix; it's fine as it is.

Lyon
Lyon is eight years old and owned by Conny Viscaal. His sire is the stallion London, Gerco Schröder's champion horse. Lyon is a horse with a very pleasant, good, cooperative temperament and a lot of scope. He's my horse for the future, but he doesn't have much experience yet, and I've only been riding him since November of last year. He's at Conny's house, and I ride several of her horses. She loves having horses at home. My own horses have also been with her for a year and a half.

Annelies Vorsselmans and Ernst Hofschroer
I take lessons with Annelies Vorsselmans, and she really helps me with finer aids. I'm a big guy, so I always tense up without even realizing it. My aids need to be more refined. I always think I'm doing nothing, but I always do more than I think. Besides Annelies, Ernst Hofschröer also helps me; I ride more dressage with him, and we also train on the double lunge.

Increasingly more diversity
Back to Indoor Friesland. This event is fantastic. The horses, the arena, and the straw village all under one roof are fantastic, and the atmosphere among the riders and organizers is unique. There are so many enthusiastic spectators, and the award ceremonies are nowhere more enthusiastic. Finally, the diversity is also improving, and I think that adds an extra dimension. This is my third year active here at the WTC Expo, both as a rider and as a presenter, and if I say so myself, I'm already quite... Thús yn Fryslan!

Text: Media team Indoor Friesland
Photos: Digishots, Equiglim, Renate Brandsma Photography