Rebecca Hoffmann wins first selection Indoor Friesland Allspan Pony Cup

The qualifying competitions for the 2025 Indoor Friesland Allspan Pony Cup began a while ago. Eighteen-year-old Rebecca Hoffmann won the 1.00/1.10 category C/D/E class at the Heamiel Competition in Bolsward. Aboard her pony Mr. Lex, she took her first step toward the finals, which are scheduled for the late afternoon of Thursday, October 23rd, at the WTC Expo in Leeuwarden during Indoor Friesland.

Second place went to Sjoukje Klimstra. She rode the Wenums Veldzicht Petit Merci and received the red ribbon. Third place went to Alieke Hoekstra and Jarima.

Also eventing and combat sports 

Rebecca lives in a village just outside Wolvega and is one of a twin. Next year, she'll be taking a gap year after recently completing her pre-university education (VWO) diploma. However, she's not planning on sitting still; among other things, she's planning to study equine massage, a three-module program that lasts a year. After this year, she and her twin sister Marit want to try to get accepted into the Veterinary Medicine program in Utrecht. Rebecca is also very active in eventing and hopes to compete in the Z-level class in this discipline during her final pony year. However, few competitions offer this class, so she's still searching. The eighteen-year-old Frisian has also been practicing Jiu-jitsu for nine years. She's also ambitious in this field, hoping to earn her black belt this year.

Cannon

Rebecca explains enthusiastically: “Lex is an eleven-year-old brown pony, of unknown pedigree. He's ours, and I've had him for five years. He lives at home with three other ponies and a horse. The older he gets, the more mischievous he becomes. He gives everything, but he's very impatient; he's a real little gun. This is my last year competing with ponies, and I think that's a shame. I really don't want to sell Lex. He's not very big, and I'm afraid he'll be sold every few years and I'll lose sight of him. I owe him so much, I really don't want that. I'll probably try to lease him.”

More selection matches 

In Bolsward, we had a classic with a jump-off on the program. Lex is always almost impossible to keep up with, so I try to let him do his thing. He really goes for it. I just have to put him in the lead, and he does the rest. In the jump-off, I had to start right at the beginning and was able to ride my round exactly how I envisioned it. I was already happy when we left the arena, and winning on top of that is, of course, extra special. I'll also be riding Franeker and the other qualifying competitions for the Indoor Friesland Allspan Pony Cup, because I really want to be back at the WTC Expo. I'd never been to the Heamiel Competition before, and I went there especially for Indoor Friesland. I thought it was a beautiful venue, and there was a great atmosphere.

Team Willem Greve 

I've already had the opportunity to ride at Indoor Friesland twice, and I thought it was fantastic. I'm still nervous at every competition, but once I'm in the arena, I love it. Of course, the atmosphere at your show is fantastic. Last year, the ponies were divided into teams, and we each had a professional rider as our trainer, in addition to our own. I was on Willem Greve's team, and he had a lovely chat with me and my parents. We even had our picture taken with him. I thought it was a fantastic experience. In my daily life, I train with Martin Sterk and Marjo Corporaal.

Adrenaline, fantastic and cool!

Indoor Friesland in three words? Adrenaline, fantastic, awesome. In previous years, I was busy with school and competed alone, but now that I have more time this year, I'll definitely be there as a spectator as well.

Text: Marjan de Wildt for Indoor Friesland

Photos: Private archive Rebecca Hoffmann