Show jumping, harness and dressage; our versatile ambassador Dinja van Liere looks ahead to Indoor Friesland 2025

She has been the queen of Dutch dressage for years. Born in Goes, Zeeland, she began her career at Stal Hexagon, also in Zeeland. Since August 2020, she has been working with Reesink Horses in Uden, Brabant. Many noble horses, especially stallions, have already achieved brilliant results under her saddle. She is versatile and up for anything. Since the beginning of Indoor Friesland 2.0, she has been the ambassador for the dressage weekend of our competition, along with Marten Luiten, and we are proud of that. This year, she will be present every day again, contributing wherever she can. Of course, we also look ahead to Indoor Friesland 2025 with Dinja van Liere. 

Her days are full and long, but that's no problem for her. Horses are her life. She also enjoys socializing, vacations in sunny climes, and is a bon vivant, as evidenced by her many, sometimes envious, social media posts. The top horses in her stable are rapidly following one another, and we're once again curious to see what the future holds for her with the current stable staff. She's bringing no fewer than three (future) talents to the WTC Expo in Leeuwarden.

Position of honor  

Dinja: "I'm looking forward to it again. Indoor Friesland is a great competition where everything is perfectly organized. Moreover, it's a perfect competition to kick off the indoor season. So, I'm an ambassador and enjoy contributing to the organization, both in the preparation and during the event itself. I actually consider myself in an honorary position, because it's truly a fantastic competition. We're aiming for ever-larger audiences and better participation, so it's important that we do a lot of promotional work, which I'm also happy to be involved in."

Imposantos, McLaren, Red Viper 

I'll be bringing three horses this year, three colts: Imposantos for the Grand Prix, McLaren for the Small Tour, and Red Viper for the ZII of the Team Challenge. I work at a stud farm and therefore mainly ride stallions, but that's fine with me. Most of them are incredibly sweet, and I don't need much extra care. McLaren has covered a lot and hasn't competed since Jumping Amsterdam in January of this year; he's coming along for the first time again.

Five-star allure 

Regarding the rest of the participants, it needs to grow. We're hoping for more and more big names, and that seems to be working out quite well. People need to realize how enjoyable and how good a competition is. Like I said, Indoor Friesland is simply excellent and has many extras. The stables, for example, the hotel, and the way everything is organized and set up. It's a three-star event with five-star allure.

Team Challenge 

That's why I'm bringing Red Viper, for example. It's good for a young horse to gain experience in such an environment. When he's finally competing at the Small Tour level, he'll have seen it all before and it won't be stressful. Classes like this are good for your horse's future and development. I also think the class is well-structured. Because you're not just riding for yourself, but have to achieve a result together with two others, it adds an extra dimension to your start. You watch and encourage each other. I prefer three classes that combine for a single result to three individual classes at three different levels.

Large, but cozy 

I think Indoor Friesland is more beautiful and better than many other competitions. It's well-organized, and everything looks fantastic. The atmosphere is also very good. It's large, but feels cozy. The organizers try to improve points every year, and they've always succeeded. It's simply a very versatile competition with something for everyone. Regarding my horse in the Grand Tour this year, I'd like to compete in some World Cup competitions with Imposantos, and this is an ideal event to kick off the indoor season.

Only highlights 

Indoor Friesland has only been around for three years, this is the fourth, but I've already made many wonderful memories with various horses. (laughing) I've achieved several great results with several horses. Vaderland, Hermès, Vitaatje, McLaren—they all did fantastically. As an ambassador, I've also done many fun, special things. I've done some jumping and driving. Looking back, Indoor Friesland has only had highlights for me. This year will add another highlight. I'll be judging the Epplejeck Four-Piece Competition, along with my fellow ambassador Marten Luiten and judge Monique Peutz. Officially, I'm not a judge, but I really enjoy it. I don't know who I'll have in the ring; I don't know anyone, so I'm going in with a completely new perspective. Everyone gets an equal chance.

Atmospheric, top sport, unique 

Indoor Friesland in three words? Atmosphere, top-level sport, and unique. Incidentally, I have something in mind that could make it even more fun. On a show night, I'd like to organize activities and competitions with the riders without their sport horses. For example, with dogs, ring-tilting, with farm animals—you know what I mean? That would really suit a competition like this, and it would give the public a different perspective on us.

Finally, I'd like to say the following. The crowds always go wild during the show jumping weekend, but more people should get in their cars for the dressage weekend. Indoor Friesland is a fantastic experience. Come cheer on my colleagues and me. My trainer, Rieky Young, is also coming up north especially to help me. I don't know exactly what I'll be doing yet, but I do know that I'll do everything I can to make Indoor Friesland 2025 a success.

Photos: Digishots

Text: Marjan de Wildt