Laurens, Katrin, Juliane – names that leave a lasting impression at the Hetzel Spring Masters

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It could turn into quite a run for the young Belgian Laurens Houben at this weekend’s Hetzel Spring Masters. First, he claimed victory in the Bundeschampionat qualification in Goch with Harley EP, then went on to win the classic S*-show jumping class, the Prize of MPU West, with Hot Stuff EP—also securing third place in the same competition. However, things are unlikely to get any easier for the young professional, who works as a trainer at the renowned facility in Goch. The competition certainly isn’t sleeping.

Among them is Katrin Eckermann (Kranenburg), who once completed her training in Goch and is a familiar face at the Hetzel Spring Masters as well as the Young Horse Masters in July, often competing with several horses. Right behind Houben and Hot Stuff EP, the German rider secured second place with a world champion: Iron Dames Cascajall NRW, who claimed the title in Lanaken three years ago. The Westphalian gelding is now nine years old.nThird place once again went to Laurens Houben, this time with Flaubert du Busson. The horse belongs to Houben’s employer, the Holger Hetzel GmbH.

A good two hours earlier, the courses at the current edition of the Hetzel Spring Masters reached a new level—higher, wider, and more demanding. The first S* class, held as a two-phase competition for seven- and eight-year-old horses, also featured a former World Champion in Katrin Eckermann. Riding Iron Dames Sascinora NRW—who followed in Cascajall’s footsteps as World Champion in 2024—she finished fourth in Goch. Her stablemate Chacoona Cat ultimately took top honors. In between, Cash vd Berghoeve Z and Dominelli Z, both presented by Kai Terhoeven-Urselmans, secured their places. If there were a ranking for the most successful rider at the Hetzel Spring Masters, the name Juliane Rölfing would certainly be among the contenders. The trainer from Raesfeld/Borken confidently claimed victory in both M-level classes on Thursday.

Unmistakable: the 30-year-old Juliane Rölfing clearly has little patience for “wasting time.” Riding Come and Love O, she took a full second off Laurens Houben and Brilliant Balou S in the two-star class. Her advantage was even more striking in the opening competition of the show, where she finished around four seconds ahead. Her partner in success was a mare with an illustrious pedigree: United’s Feeling O is a daughter of European Champion Richard Vogel’s superstar United Touch S. There are plenty more exceptional horses and remarkable riders to come at the Hetzel Spring Masters—right through to Sunday.