Eventing rider Kristy Snepvangers goes international showjumping: "I have a different trainer for each discipline"

Eventing rider Kristy Snepvangers goes international showjumping: "I have a different trainer for each discipline"

Kristy Snepvangers is a young Dutch talent who has proven her skills in eventing on several occasions. Besides that the rider can be seen more and more at jumping competitions. In January she took part in the international show in Lier.

She jumped several top-placings and showed her best side in 1.40m classes. A jack-of-all-trades, you might say. Time to get to know her a little better!

You are normally an eventing rider, but we have seen you perform excellently at jumping competitions now. Is it your plan to go more in that direction?

"Not really," Kristy starts. "I'm an eventing rider and I still want to focus on that. I still think that is the coolest thing because of the kick you get. It's going so well now that I really want to continue to grow in that field."

"It is true that my grandfather breeds horses. That's why we have some nice show jumpers, which has made me want to go to show jumping competitions more often. Now that that's going better and better, I think that's super cool. I will continue to work hard in that discipline, but eventing remains the main goal."

You had two horses in Lier, Lucifer and Inspiration. Will they eventually be used in eventing, or will you continue to work with them in show jumping?

"No, Lucifer and Inspiration are really jumping horses. They are bred that way. Sometimes there are jumpers, that my grandfather bred, that have more blood or more guts. These are then trained as eventing horses."

Can you tell a bit more about Inspiration and Lucifer?

"Inspiration is a nine-year-old son of Etoulon. We have really trained him from the very beginning until now the 1.35/1.40m in Lier. It was also the first time for me to compete at that level. So it's great that we have grown together in this."

"Lucifer is still a bit younger but it is a horse of which I know he can become very good. In the beginning I wasn't sure if I would keep riding him or if we would sell him, but he is so much fun that I am fanatical about him. I think he will stay here for a while!"

As an eventing rider you obviously have to be good at all disciplines. Do you have different trainers?

"Yes, that's right! For dressage I am trained by Brecht D'Hoore, for show jumping by Leon Kuijpers and Marcelle de Kam trains me for eventing. So it's really a different trainer for each discipline."

Which riders do you look up to within our sport?

"In show jumping I look up to Harrie Smolders. I love to see him in action and I think he's great with all these different horses. In eventing I prefer Michael Jung."

What are your goals yet?

"My biggest goal at the moment is an EC medal and I would also like to ride Military Boekelo one day. Finally, if I can really dream, I would of course also like to be at the Olympics one day."

Source: Equnews