The Dutch Masters (13-16 March) is the last opportunity for international dressage riders to score points for the FEI Dressage World Cup final in April in Basel, Switzerland. With only three qualifiers, Neumünster, Gothenburg, and ‘s-Hertogenbosch, left, it will be exciting for some riders to collect enough points.

While Britain’s Charlotte Fry won the Freestyle with her 14-year-old stallion Glamourdale, the Netherlands’ Dinja van Liere finished in fifth place with her second horse, Hartsuijker. They rode a super test and scored 82.645%. She jumped from seventh to third place in the standings with this placing. As a result, she is almost certain of a place in the final. Dinja was proud of her 13-year-old KWPN gelding: “I enjoyed every minute of it. Hartsuijker is a real powerhouse. I love him dearly.” Dinja will surely also give everything to achieve a super result in front of her own audience in Brabanthallen.

Hans Peter Minderhoud also showed a world-class test with his new trump card, 10-year-old Glock’s Taminiau. Minderhout and the impressive and strong stallion were rewarded with a score of 81.885%. They are now in a shared 12th place in the standings and still have every chance of going to the final. Minderhout has chosen not to go to Neumünster and Gothenburg but rather to The Dutch Masters.

Taminiau is still young but has everything in him to become an absolute winner. “He has no weaknesses; he can do everything. He is a bit unrestrained, though,” Minderhout says with a smile. “He behaves tough but can be very spooky. Especially when he was very young, he found everything around him exciting. He needs some time to get used to the surroundings. That is so nice about The Dutch Masters; you get ample opportunity to train in the main arena before taking your test. That way, your horse can calmly get used to the entourage.”

Last weekend, Germany’s Isabell Werth took the lead in the standings with third place in the Freestyle at Jumping Amsterdam. In doing so, she relegated her compatriot, Carina Scholz, to second place. Werth rode the 15-year-old DSP Quantaz, whom she will also saddle up at the Brabanthallen in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.”Quantaz is a real macho, and I also let him believe he is but know how to steer him so that he does what I ask him,” Werth said. “At home, he is also special, and only one groom really gets along with him. The others he still wants to bite sometimes,” she laughs. Werth has loved coming to the Brabanthallen for years. ‘Super atmosphere and everything looks wonderful. The facilities are great.”