Also Municipality of Leeuwarden Prix for Jessie Wiefferink, Yoni van Santvoort second and third
The Friday of the Indoor Friesland 2025 show jumping weekend has begun. The one-star riders kicked things off, and the Frisian horses, the pride of the province, will conclude the day tonight along with the harness horses after what will undoubtedly be a thrilling Frisian evening. The WTC Expo was shaken to its foundations last night by the storm that raged across our country, and tonight the one and only Frisian Evening will be the cause. Yesterday, she also won a test, and today she added her second. Jessie Wiefferink and the nine-year-old gelding Lord Tender Tarpana (by VDL Bubalu) finished the Gemeente Leeuwarden Prix, clearing a height of 1.35m in 55.54 seconds.
Forty-three combinations competed, and the five highest-placed riders were all Dutch. The saying "the early bird catches the worm" certainly applied this morning to seventeen-year-old Yoni van Santvoort, a resident of the province of North Brabant. She won both second and third prizes. She finished second with the nine-year-old mare La Pleasure (by For Pleasure) in a time of 56.73 seconds. Third place went to her with the eight-year-old gelding Majeur S (by Bamako de Muze). Her time with this horse was 57.38 seconds.
The Pleasure in Major S
Yoni: "I'm not a morning person, but I am at competitions. In a week, we're going to Spain with the horses, and this is a great competition to prepare for. I rode Majeur in the 1.20m yesterday, and today I'm riding the 1.35m. La Pleasure is my European Championship horse, and I know her inside and out. She took to the field really well today, and everything went according to plan. Both horses finished third yesterday, so I'm very happy. La Pleasure will compete in the Grand Prix tomorrow. Majeur belongs to my grandfather, who even bred him himself. La Pleasure belongs to Sanne Thijssen and my parents. Never say never, but in principle, neither horse is for sale; they're my future horses. Both are incredibly sweet. Majeur loves attention; he loves to cuddle all day long. La Pleasure is also very sweet and loves attention, but she also loves food."
Sanne Thijssen at the stable
Horses are my life. Every Monday I still go to school; I study Marketing and Communications at the Johan Cruijff College in Roosendaal, and the rest of the week is for horses. I currently ride seven horses, aged eight to sixteen. We have a girl at the stable who rides the younger horses. Sanne Thijssen is also at our stable, which is really cool. It feels very normal now, but of course it isn't. It's always nice and friendly when she's here, and she is here now. She helps me whenever I ask, and I'm so happy about that. Regarding horses, my parents put me in a regular high school so I could have a life outside of horses. I'm grateful for that. I also have friends outside of horses with whom I do fun things. Going out to dinner, to the movies, shopping, that sort of thing.
I feel great
Anything special or funny about me? (laughing) Before I start riding, I always feel a bit tense. Someone suggested I sing to myself, "I feel great, I feel great." It really works. I do that every time now, and then I laugh and get on the bike feeling good.
Large audience is cool
This is my second time here at Indoor Friesland. I was there last year too. De Peelbergen is just around the corner from us, but you can go there almost every week. Indoor Friesland is unique. The atmosphere is fantastic, and I especially love the large crowds.
Photo: Digishots
Text: Media team Indoor Friesland
