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Posted:
August 7, 2026, 07:02

Experienced Hendrik Jan Schuttert wins Horses2fly ticket 1.35m Dronten 

Four selection competitions have already taken place, with two more to come. After Harich, Mildam, and Eext, it was Dronten's turn this weekend. On Friday at Hippisch Centrum Flevodrome, the competition was held for those coveted tickets to the final on October 14 during Indoor Friesland at the WTC Expo in Leeuwarden. Once again, the entry lists were well-filled. The victory in the 1.35m class went to the very experienced Hendrik Jan Schuttert and the KWPN-approved ten-year-old stallion Lord of Farming HS (by Balou du Rouet). The duo crossed the finish line in a time of 34.03 seconds.  

Susan Benedictus finished second in the saddle of the sixteen-year-old gelding Flodder (by Tangelo vd Zuuthoeve). Their finishing time was 34.95 seconds. Third place also went to a female rider. Berber Dijkman and the ten-year-old mare Laquinta SW (by Aganix du Seigneur Z) recorded a time of 37.25 seconds.

Practice round

It is difficult to get hold of Hendrik Jan; he clearly isn't on summer vacation and is working hard as always. When we do speak to him, he is honest, just as we know him. Hendrik Jan: 'To be honest, I didn't know that the class I rode was a selection for the Horses2Fly final. For me, it was actually a warm-up round for Sunday's Grand Prix. I have been riding Lord of Farming at a higher level lately, and speed wasn't his strong point there. That is why I rode this class. It was a Two-Phase Special, and I wanted to try to step on the gas a bit in the second phase to practice speed. That worked out well. However, I started halfway through the class and hadn't expected my time to be the fastest.'

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Real horse people

So it was a coincidence that I won this ticket, and I won't be riding any other selection competitions. I hope my horses are in such good form that I can compete in the international three-star classes. I participated twice before, including last year, and I really enjoyed it. Indoor Friesland is a fantastic event. Real horse people attend, and I think the Grand Prix on Saturday evening is amazing. The stands are packed to the rafters then, and the atmosphere is superb. When an event returns to the calendar, it is always a matter of waiting to see what happens, but as far as I'm concerned, you are firmly back on the map. If my horses are in form in October, I would love to be there again. With Lord of Farming, among others. He combines stud duties with sport, belongs to my father, my brother, and me, and I have high hopes that he is a horse for the higher levels.

By: Marjan de Wildt