Kim Jacobi: Which team brings more spectators to the Wolvega Horse Clinic Team Challenge than us?

We're repeating ourselves, but it's a fact: Indoor Friesland is for everyone. Horses, ponies, show jumping, dressage, national and international level, breeding, driving, youth and adults—everyone gets the chance to ride into that beautiful arena at the WTC Expo. This coming Saturday is a perfect example of this, with the Wolvega Horse Clinic Team Challenge. Dressage teams with combinations in the ZII, ZZ Light, and ZZ Heavy classes will compete against each other. Wolvega Horse Clinic is enthusiastic about the format and is also fielding a team. We spoke with the driven and highly enthusiastic team captain Kim Jacobi, Wolvega Horse Clinic's Team Captain with a mission. 

Team Paardenkliniek Wolvega consists of three riders. Rommie Stegeman will compete with Otus in the ZII class. Irene van Brederode will start in the ZZ Licht class with Itopia. Sandra de Groot will compete with William in the ZZ Zwaar class. Besides being avid riders, the ladies all have in common that they are instructors and teach children.

Top left: Rommie Stegeman (photographer: Foto4U), top right: Irene van Brederode (photographer: Sarah Kroger) and bottom left: Sandra de Groot (own photo)

Dreams came true 

Kim: "I went to Indoor Friesland as a little girl and loved it. I knew from a young age that I wanted to ride there someday. I achieved that pretty quickly. There used to be a dressage competition for ponies, the final of which was at Indoor Friesland. The format is now the Allspan Pony Cup for show jumping. It was called the M/Z Competition. I managed to compete in that final. I also managed to compete internationally at the current Indoor Friesland in the Small Tour. I even got to compete in the freestyle final, which was fantastic. My dreams have come true."

Mission to inspire students 

I was asked to be team captain and put together a team by veterinarian Willem van Kampen of Paardenkliniek Wolvega. He, in turn, asked Joost Ydema, both my farrier and the clinic's. I had to think about it for a while, but then I realized this gave me an opportunity. I wanted to inspire children to pursue the same dream I had. I asked three women who didn't know each other, but all three have in common that they teach at a riding school in Friesland. Besides riding in the Team Challenge, they have to inspire as many young people as possible to pursue the same dream I once had: to ride at Indoor Friesland. What child gets the chance to see their teacher riding in an environment like the one at the WTC Expo? To see how powerful and refined their sport can be? Elite sport becomes tangible for these young people in this part of the program. Our team members want to show their students that they can follow this path too.

Already 55 fans 

We did it! No fewer than 55 children have already bought tickets to come and watch. This number will definitely grow, because parents are coming along, of course, and the female riders also have family and friends who are coming to watch. Wolvega Horse Clinic has arranged a goodie bag for all the children, and they will also get a stable tour. (laughing) The woman who arranges the goodie bags was shocked when I told her the number; she had clearly expected less.

Challenge 

"It's fantastic! My mission has already been accomplished. As a team, we feel supported by so many fans and will do our utmost to inspire the children. I have no idea if we'll win, but when it comes to fan numbers, we're definitely the biggest. Yes, I'm challenging the other teams with this. I estimate our team will ultimately bring around 75 spectators. Who will top that?"