Fifteen-year-old Amber Kiewiet wins the Horses2fly 1m10 final for the second year in a row

Finally, the time has come. After many preliminary rounds, countless starts, and a great deal of calculation, the Horses2fly finals are being held today. Naturally, in the magnificent WTC Expo in Leeuwarden. The riders in the 1.10m class were the first to compete, thus opening the show jumping weekend of Indoor Friesland 2025. Forty combinations started in this class, and no fewer than half were eligible to return for the jump-off. Just like last year, the winner in this class was the just fifteen-year-old Amber Kiewiet. In the saddle of the ten-year-old mare Glow of Fire van 't Vhij (by Latour VDM), she crossed the finish line in 30.99 seconds. 

The future belongs to the young, as evidenced once again by the fact that the second and third-place finishers are still young. Runner-up was exactly half a second faster than the winner. Sixteen-year-old Jayden Woering received the red ribbon. Jayden rode the eleven-year-old gelding Juventus (by Glasgow vh Merelnest) to the finish line in 31.44 seconds. Third place went to Anna Couperus, who managed to stay ahead of her mother, Nella Bijlsma, in the jump-off. Anna, fourteen years old, rode the fourteen-year-old gelding Charmer des Terdix Z (by Chamberlain Z) and finished in 31.60 seconds.

Glow of Fire from 't Vhij
Amber is only fifteen years old, and her role model is Eric ten Cate. Amber: “My horse is a special story. She had a reputation for being difficult, and through friends of ours, I started riding her for sale. However, we got along so well that we bought her ourselves. Later, my sponsor adopted her, hence the suffix. She can be very sweet, but only when it suits her. She's not exactly a cuddly horse. She's scared of everything, except in the arena. Actually, she loves jumping alone; that's her thing, and she never gets bored. I've been riding her for two years now.”

Future in horses 

Besides Glow of Fire, I have three other horses to ride. Two at 1.30m level and one at 1.35m level. Hopefully, I'll pass my exam this year and then I want to focus entirely on the horses. I'd like to compete at the highest level possible and eventually turn my hobby into my career.

Proud sponsor 

Alex Nijboer, the proud sponsor of the Horses2fly finals, is also present at the meeting. Alex: “This is the fourth year of the Horses2fly competition, and it just keeps getting better and better; it's truly the ultimate. The competition is incredibly lively, starting right from the selection stage. I'm especially thrilled that so many young riders are participating and reaching the finals here at Indoor Friesland. This provides us with a springboard to the bigger sport, and I find that exciting and enjoyable.”

Photo: Digishots and Renate Brandsma Photography

Text: Media team Indoor Friesland