Dutch Masters: Marc and Sterrehof horses return at 5* level

During the Dutch Masters horse show, Sterrehof’s Dante N.O.P. and Sterrehof’s Edinus jumped at 5* level for the first time this year with Marc. The results gave us some mixed feelings. For example, Dante clinched a strong fourth place in Friday’s main class, the VDL Groep Prize, but finished the Grand Prix on Sunday without a good result. Marc says about it: ‘I really didn’t expect that. Dante jumped very well on Friday and I entered the arena with a good feeling. Unfortunately, she didn’t jump the way she can. After an early fault, I tried to win some time and still get a good result, but it didn’t work out, especially in the last line, which was technically very difficult. Nevertheless it is very positive that we could finally jump again at the highest level. That was really necessary.’

No public

Marc is also very positive about the organization that managed to realise a top event after two painful cancellations due to the corona and rhinovirus. The show was without an audience, but that perhaps wasn’t even missed in this phase of what is a strange season. Marc explains: ‘For us as riders, everything went very relaxed. There was no hectic at all. We were able to work very well with the horses. I didn’t directly miss the atmosphere during the classes, because we are all professionals and stay sufficiently focused on what needs to be done, but afterwards and during the award ceremonies the public was missed.’

‘Plan A’

Now this top event is over, the focus is on the continuation of the shortened outdoor season. Marc tells more about the schedule for the coming period: ‘Next week we will do the two-star in Opglabbeek and a week later the four-star in Valkenswaard. Then we have a break for a week and after that the first Global Tour in Madrid follows. Normally there is another week of rest and then we want to ride the first Nations Cup. That is plan A. At the moment I’m not thinking about the Olympic Games and I expect a lot of riders with me. Let’s get started first and after six weeks we can tell a bit more about it.’