Amazon: Janika Sprunger

1. What makes Bonne Chance so special to you?
“Bonne Chance is very special to me. She is a super sensitive horse and certainly not the easiest, but she is a real fighter in the ring and is not afraid of anything. She never gives up and has so much quality! We developed a special bond and I adore her!”

2. How is Bonne Chance to get along?
“Bonnie, as I call her, is a real princess. She is very picky. Bonnie likes attention, but only from her groom or from me. She doesn't like brushing and girthing and if she doesn't know your hair, sometimes you'd better stay away from her. She can be very relaxed, but is also crazy at times. She likes to be outside, both in training and in competition. The bigger the ring is, the more she likes it. She hates indoor courts with a lot of noise.”

3. How long have you had her and how is she to ride?
“I've been riding her since she was six. In the beginning she was not easy to drive. She didn't accept my leg and hand. But I persevered and when she was nine she suddenly accepted me. That year everything accelerated. Our first big success was winning the Grand Prix during the Sunshine Tour in Vejer de La Frontera, then at the age of nine she already participated in the European Championships in Aachen, resulting in team bronze and that year we also won the Grand Prix of Falsterbo!”

4. What's the best thing you've had with Bonne Chance so far?
“The European Championships in Aachen where we won team bronze, winning the Grand Prix in Falsterbo and our participation in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.”

5. What are your future plans with Bonne Chance?
“I hope we can qualify for the World Equestrian Games in Tyron (USA) next year. †

6. Have you ever bought a foal at an auction yourself? Or do you prefer a three or four year old?
“I myself have never bought a foal, but my partner does have foals. For my sponsors, it is better for me as a rider to buy older horses, because I can get into the sport with them sooner.”

Read HERE the interview with breeder Harry van Loon.

Read HERE the interview with buyer Chris van Dam.

1. What makes Alicante so special to you?
“Alicante is a very complete horse. He is very nice to ride and is a very good stallion for breeding. Alicante is careful, agile and also very handsome. He has everything! †

2. How does Alicante get along? How is he to drive?
“He has a very nice character and is easy to drive. He is very flexible in his body and jumps very carefully. My dressage instructor also loves it. In the stable, the Casall son sometimes shows that he is a stallion, but as soon as I ride him, he listens and I can pass mares without any problems, etc.”

3. How is Alicante stabled?
“Ali, that's what we call him in the stable, has a real personality and likes to get a lot of attention. That's why we sometimes call him Prince Ali. He has a special box in the corner where he can look both in and out. If you walk past him and you don't look at him, he knocks on the door.”

4. What is the best experience you have experienced with Alicante so far?
“Our victory in the Sires of the World in Lanaken was very special. Our win in Chantilly's Global Champions Tour was also fantastic. We were close to victory in Monaco too!”

5. What is your planning with Alicante?
“For the next month and a half, the focus will be on covering. Then we will prepare for some Global Champions Tour matches. I hope I can get a place in the top three there. Alicante is one of my top horses, maybe we can win a place in the Belgian team at the European Championships this summer.”

6. Do you advise people to buy a foal at the auction? Or do you advise a three- or four-year-old?
“At an auction you know that the foals have quality and are well-bred. It just takes a long time for a foal to be ready for competitions, so as a rider I prefer to buy a three or four year old. However, my wife likes to buy foals at auction. In other words, we do indeed buy foals at auctions!

read HERE the interview with breeders Ronald and Els Nowee

read HERE the interview with buyers Jan and Egbert Schep