Successful finish to the Sunshine Tour for our team

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With the past weekend, our team’s participation at the Sunshine Tour came to an end. After a week without competition, all of our horses returned to the ring fresh, motivated and in excellent form. Highlights of the final weekend included Jet and Laura placing in the CSI4* Grand Prix (1.55m), as well as Metropolitan and Laurens winning a 1.40m class in his final start of the tour.

Overall, the Sunshine Tour proved to be an extremely valuable experience for our team. In particular, our young horses developed very well and gained important experience competing on both sand and grass arenas. At the same time, the more experienced horses showed with Laura and Laurens that they are well prepared for the upcoming outdoor season.

Our students also benefited greatly from the four weeks in Spain. They were able to learn a lot, gain valuable experience and now head into the upcoming season with increased confidence.

 

  • Capoen Blue (7-year-old by Conthargos) delivered two clear rounds in the international classes for seven-year-old horses and was rewarded with two placings.
  • Chaletto Cool (8-year-old by Chacoon Blue) and Laura attracted plenty of attention during the final week of the tour: three clear rounds and three top-four (!) placings in the highly competitive classes for eight-year-old horses with large and strong fields of starters, including a second and a third place in 1.40m classes.
  • Emerite de Kergoet Z (9-year-old by Emerald) jumped clear in a 1.40m CSI4* class and produced a beautiful round to place tenth in a 1.45m class.
  • Emidor Z (9-year-old by Emerald van’t Ruytershof) finished second in a 1.30m class and placed eighth in a 1.35m class of the CSI4* tour.
  • Harley EP (6-year-old by Harley VDL) once again proved his consistency: just like the week before, he remained clear in all three starts and finished the classes for six-year-old horses with Laurens in sixth, seventh and seventh place.

 

 

  • Hot Stuff EP (10-year-old by Hickstead White) finished fifth in a 1.40m CSI4* class.
  • Jet (12-year-old by Tangelo van de Zuuthoeve) and Laura impressed in the CSI4* Big Tour, earning a placing in a 1.50m class. In the Grand Prix – a truly demanding 1.55m world ranking class, the pair produced a textbook round to finish in tenth place.
  • Metropolitan (9-year-old by Bacardi) once again demonstrated his reliability and quality. After finishing seventh in a 1.35m class and fourth in a 1.40m class, the gelding crowned his final start of the tour under the Spanish sun with Laurens by winning a 1.40m class.
  • Nabelesta GE (8-year-old by Grand Slam) delivered very confident and relaxed clear rounds in the 1.30m classes.

 

  • Ronnie Healy delivered strong performances as well: with Cornet’s Mandarino he jumped a clear round in a 1.50m CSI4* class, and with Capital Magic Boy he also finished clear in a 1.45m class.
  • Jenna Gilchrist once again made great progress with Negroni (Auction Horse 2025), earning a placing in a 1.30m class.
  • Our young student Johanna Hell produced two excellent clear rounds with Higgi in CSI* classes. In the saddle of Design du Mas Garnier, she also jumped clear in a 1.40m CSI4* class, and with Most Wanted she secured a placing in a 1.35m class.

 

The trip proved worthwhile in every respect, and we are very grateful for these successful weeks, many wonderful moments and the great development of our horses and riders. A huge thank you goes to our fantastic team, both in Spain and at home, who absolutely made these weeks possible and worked incredibly hard throughout the tour. Without them, a trip like this simply wouldn’t be possible. We would also like to thank our owners for their continued trust and for the outstanding horses they entrust to us.

Now the team faces a three-day journey home, and we look forward to having all horses safely back home soon.