Title: Dutch Youth Riders Shine at 2025 Championships in Exloo

Pony rider Esmae Niessen, Children rider Floor Kulik, junior rider Dominique van Dalsen, young rider Yasmin Westerink, and Under 25 rider Kris de Vries became the winners of the 2025 Dutch Youth Riders Championships, which were held for the first time during the CDI Exloo on 29 May – 1 June 2025.

The Dutch equestrian federation made a change this year to separate the Dutch Youth Championships from the senior championships in Ermelo. The Dutch Pony championships were always the odd one out and held at a totally different event, so for the first time all youth divisions were brought under the "roof." The CDI competition in Exloo served as the national Championships as well as a team selection trial for this summer’s European Youth Championships.

Pony Riders: Esmae Niessen
In a tight duel with Britt Kikkert-van der Linde, the 15-year-old Esmae Niessen captured the Dutch Pony Champion’s title thanks to the lead she built up by winning the team championship test in the first round. Aboard the 11-year-old Danish bred Strandgaards Do It My Way (by Dr. Doolittle x Bonansa), she won the first round with 72.000%, placed second in the individual test with 72.207%, and was fourth in the Kur with 74.142%. Her overall totals were the highest for gold.

Niessen is familiar with the highest step of the podium. In 2023, she won the Dutch Children Championship on Dadona Diva. Last year she was a bronze medalist at the 2024 Dutch Pony Championships aboard Le Formidable (by Champion de Luxe x Manfred), who is now showing under Annabel de Bock. Esmae has been competing Do It My Way since 2023. She took over the ride from Danish Smila Seneca Raahede.

The silver went to Britt Kikkert-van der Linde aboard the 18-year-old German Riding pony Nur Für Dich (by Nagano x Via Mala). She was third in round 1 (71.095%), fourth in round 2 (70.630%), and won the Kur (76.150%). Britt’s pony moved to The Netherlands after he had been posted for sale on Eurodressage’s Equimarket.

Esmae’s elder sister Feline Niessen is in her last year on ponies and landed the bronze medal after taking silver last year. Aboard the 12-year-old German pony Diamond Blue (by FS Daddy Cool x FS Golden Moonlight), she scored 69.762%, 72.433%, and 74.208%. Last year’s champion, Isabella Karajkovic on First Hummer, was fourth this time.

Children: Floor Kulik
Floor Kulik, the bronze medal winner of the 2024 Dutch Children Championship on Dutch Dandy DJ, scored the gold medal this year aboard a new horse, Bella Rosa, a 20-year-old Hanoverian mare by Belissimo M x Hohenstein. The experienced mare was previously shown at international Under 25 level in 2014 by former Dutch young rider team member Robin Beekink, who quit international competition sport after May 2014. Kulik and Bella Rosa won the preliminary test with 80.697%, were second in the team test with 80.800%, and won the individual test with 81.852% for the National title.

"Wow wow wow, so proud of Bella," Kulik commented. "She went mega well all days. Dutch champion, I can’t believe it."

Bo Leijten and the 14-year-old Dutch mare Gentle van Wittenstein (by Wittenstein x Krack C) went from an 8th place in 2024 to silver this weekend. She was second twice and won the individual test with scores of 80.036%, 81.500%, and 80.551%. Kate van Lee and the 12-year-old Hanoverian Fernandell MS (by For Compliment x Londonderry) got bronze with 74.982%, 72.150%, and 73.023%.

Junior Riders: Dominique van Dalsen
At junior level, Dominique van Dalsen went on repeat and reclaimed her Dutch Junior Champion’s title of 2024. Aboard the 11-year-old KWPN gelding Just Johnson (by Johnson x Florencio), she won all three rounds with 72.879%, 72.353%, and 75.508%. Dominique is trained by Mark van de Donk.

"Truly can’t believe what happened the last few days. Is it even real?" said the two-time Dutch junior champion. "So incredibly proud of Johnny who always tries his heart out for me."

Britt Kikkert-van der Linde picked up her second medal of the weekend, riding the 11-year-old Jerenzo Texel (by Enzo Ferrari x Jazz) to silver with 71.162%, 67.059%, and 73.067%. Britt won the Dutch Children Championship on Jerenzo Texel last year.

Jessica Nesselaar and the 10-year-old KWPN bred Kiekeboe Odette B (by Feel Good x Ferro) were third in the team and individual test with 70.353% and 69.412%, but dropped to sixth place in the freestyle (70.700%). Her overall total was still good for bronze, a wonderful improvement from her 7th place at the 2024 Nationals.

Young Riders: Yasmin Westerink
In her first year at Young Riders level, Yasmin Westerink and the 13-year-old Oldenburg Amphitryon (by Ampere x Rosario) have been etching her place as the leading Dutch YR lady, winning the Championships with a 3% point advantage. They were second in the team test with 71.863% and in the individual test with 71.863%, but won the Kur on Sunday with 74.658% for gold. Westerink trains with Adelinde Cornelissen. Her horse Amphitryon was trained and competed up to small tour level by Dutch team rider Marieke van der Putten before selling to the Westerink family.

"Thank you Alfie," said Yasmin. "Can’t put in words of how proud I am of him. Never thought we would achieve this in our first season as a young rider."

Young professional Tessa Kole put the heat on with her two horses, Hexagon’s King Robert (by Capri Sonne Jr x Ri-ubiquil) as well as on the just 7-year-old Nachtwacht (by Everdale x Gribaldi), but dropped a stitch in the freestyle to lose gold for silver. With King Robert, she was third in the team test (71.324%), won the individual test (73.480%), but slid down the leaderboard to seventh place in the Kur (71.158%).

Micky Schelstraete and Carol Hweijan Lee’s 9-year-old Oldenburg mare Venicia OLD (by Vivaldi x Don Frederico) got the bronze with increasing scores each day of the competition. They posted 68.824% in the team test (5th), 70.539% in the individual (4th), and 72.192% in the Kur (6th).

Under 25: Kris de Vries
Eleven combinations contested the Under 25 division and 24-year-old Kris de Vries topped the overall leaderboard in a tough battle with Kim Noordijk.

De Vries and her 11-year-old KWPN gelding Jillz La Grande (by Charmeur x Come On) were third in the first round with 70.490%, fourth in the Short Grand Prix with 67.821%, but aced the freestyle with 76.630%, which put them first in the total ranking. Kris, who is a professional rider on her own and for her trainers Anky van Grunsven and Sjef Janssen, rode to Anky’s Tango music.

“I really came to Exloo without any expectations. Of course, I wanted to ride as well as possible, but I didn’t even expect a medal, let alone this. My horse was already going very well at home and we were really on the rise, but I never expected to win,” says De Vries who trains with Anky van Grunsven and Sjef Janssen. “Jillz is a really great horse. He always does his best and goes the extra mile in the test. He belongs to my uncle and aunt and I rode him as a young horse for a while and have been in a combination with him again since September. I am going to enjoy this now. I really came without expectations and therefore do not have a whole plan for what now, but I hope that I can ride in Rotterdam at the next observation competition. This is the first and also the last year that I will ride in the U25.”

Silver went to Kim Noordijk aboard the 11-year-old Joep (by Desperado x Ferro). She won the Inter II with a personal best of 70.931%, was second in the short Grand Prix with 68.761%. She went into the last round as the provisional leader, but her second place in the freestyle with 74.690% put her in the silver position. The bronze medal was for Quinty Vossers about the 12-year-old Inferno (by Everdale x Trento B). They posted 70.833%, 68.547%, and 72.210%.

Lara van Nek and double Olympic horse All at Once (by Ampere x Gribaldi) did not have the hoped-for Championship. After winning at the CDIO Compiegne, they launched themselves as hot favorites. However, in Exloo, they started out with a 5th place and personal best in the Inter II (69.265%), but they were eliminated from the short Grand Prix.

Results – 2025 Dutch Young Riders Championships – Exloo

Pony Riders

1. Esmae Niessen – Strandgaards Do it my way – 72.000% – 72.207% – 74.142% — 218.349
2. Britt Kikkert-van der Linde – Nur Fuer Dich – 71.095% – 70.630% – 76.150% — 217.875
3. Feline Niessen – Diamond Blue – 69.762% – 72.433% – 74.208% — 216.403
4. Isabella Karajkovic – First Hummer – 70.238 – 68.739% – 74.125% — 213.102
5. Fabiënne Raijmakers – Wrong Is Right – 69.762% – 68.108% – 74.175% — 212.045
6. Nika Verbeek – Brasil – 69.095% – 69.505% – 72.875% — 211.475
7. Vanity Hus – Goldwinshoeve Vuego – 68.286% – 68.694% – 71.125% — 208.105
8. Felyne Boschloo-Karsijns – Shakira – 68.428% – 68.198% – 70.842% — 207.468
9. Annabell de Bock – Glückspilz WF – 66.619% – 70.135% – 69.900% — 206.654
10. Jolien Duijts – Den Östrik’s Sjors – 66.667% – 69.279% – 70.658% — 206.604
11. Bo Leijten – Heitholms Li Lou – 67.809% – 66.937% – 71.633% — 206.379
12. Levi Heusinkveld – Tjiesto – 68.381% – 67.342% – 68.600% — 204.323
13. Jaylee Mom – Showman – 64.953% – 68.018% – 68.342% — 201.313
14. Jayda Vermeer – Rex – 64.857% – 63.468% – 68.258% — 196.583
15. Ellen van Pinxteren – Duc De D’Arbanville – 61.286% – 66.306% – 67.008% — 194.600
16. Annabell de Boc – Le Formidable – 69.238% – 69.414% – 0 — 138.652
17. Sophie Ter Haar – Londen – 67.000% – 64.865% – 0 — 131.865

Children

1. Floor Kulik – Bella Rosa – 80.697 – 80.800 – 81.825 — 243.349
2. Bo Leijten – Gentle van Wittenstein V – 80.036 – 81.500 – 80.551 — 242.087
3. Kate van Lee – Fernandell MS – 74.982 – 72.150 – 73.023 — 220.155
4. Marin de Baat – Ladykiller Taonga – 69.197 – 78.050 – 70.556 — 217.803
5. Annabel Conijn – Veldzicht Kenzo – 69.482 – 67.375 – 72.500 — 209.357
6. Annelivia Kuijpers – Giorgio – 68.375 – 66.925 – 65.375 — 200.67
7. Isa Sipkens – Jolly dolly GV – 64.982 – 66.300 – 68.898 — 200.180
8. Megan van Vliet – Be Special – 63.643 – 69.625% – 62.477 — 195.745
9. Kate van Lee – Happy Feet – 75.268 – 78.275 – 0 — 153.543
10. Jolie Soijer – Orano – 66.590 – 65.950 – 0 — 132.540
11. Veronique Philippus Ibiburga – 67.875 – 64.375 – 0 — 132.250
12. Annelivia Kuijpers Jason – 64.197 – 64.550 – 0 —- 128.747

Junior Riders

1. Dominique Van Dalsen – Just Johnson – 72.879% – 72.353% – 75.508% — 220.740
2. Britt Kikkert-van der Linde – Jerenzo Texel – 71.162% – 67.059% – 73.067% — 211.288
3. Jessica Nesselaar – Kiekeboe Odette B – 70.353% – 69.412% – 70.700% — 210.465
4. Sofie Van Rooij – Juan Tango B – 68.485% – 69.265% – 72.617% — 210.367
5. Mirthe Willig – Just Biantoes – 70.202% – 68.235% – 70.642% — 209.079
6. Sterre De Boer – Key-West Texel – 66.818% – 68.137% – 70.617% — 205.572
7. Lynne Van Erp – Lafanory – 68.586% – 69.804% – 66.475% — 204.865
8. Roos Blaas – Hexagons Kaygo – 65.460% – 68.088% – 71.217% — 204.765
9. Renske Boekhoud – Lord Lexington – 67.323% – 65.294% – 71.458% — 204.075
10. Sanne Glissenaa – Turmalin – 64.949% – 65.147% – 67.817% — 197.913
11. Jilles Timmers – Grease-Tosha – 63.232% – 64.559% – 69.367% — 197.158
12. Sabrin Bouhtala – King STH – 65.354% – 62.304% – 67.108% — 194.766
13. Jessica Nesselaar – Indigo – 68.131% – 68.529% – 0 — 136.660
14. Lynne Van Erp – Montrachet – 67.020% – 65.686% – 0 — 132.706
15. Sterre De Boer – Marava – 66.566% – 65.490% – 0 — 132.056

Young Riders

1. Yasmin Westerink – Amphitryon OLD – 71.863% – 71.863% – 74.658% — 218.384
2. Tessa Kole – Hexagon’s King Robert – 71.324% – 73.480% – 71.158% — 215.962
3. Micky Schelstraete – Venicia OLD – 68.824% – 70.539% – 72.192% — 211.555
4. Anniek van Dulst – My First Choice Dutopia – 68.333% – 69.559% – 72.917% — 210.809
5. Esmee Boers – Montreux – 69.362% – 68.922% – 72.267% — 210.551
6. Lara van Nek – Darabel – 65.637% – 69.902% – 72.283% — 207.822
7. Morgan Walraven – Benecia – 65.147% – 68.627% – 72.900% — 206.674
8. Sanne van der Pols – Sommerwolke J.M. – 68.333% – 66.765% – 70.100% — 205.198
9. Mick Van der Kort – Mambo – 66.667% – 66.226% – 64.658% — 197.551
10. Chantal Verdonk – Gregwaard – 63.284% – 65.098% – 68.950% — 197.332
11. Tessa Kole – Nachtwacht – 73.137% – 71.127% – 0 — 144.264
12. Micky Schelstraete – Manila Grace van de Osseweide – 67.255% – 67.843% – 0 — 135.098

Under 25

1. Kris De Vries – Jillz La Grande – 70.490% – 67.821% – 76.630% — 214.941
2. Kim Noordijk – Joep – 70.931% – 68.761% – 74.690% — 214.382
3. Quinty Vossers – Inferno – 70.833% – 68.547% – 72.210% — 211.590
4. Thalia Rockx – Golden Dancer de la Fazenda – 67.794% – 68.803% – 74.085% — 210.682
5. Milou Dees – Francesco – 66.029% – 67.137% – 72.585% — 205.751
6. Daphne van Peperstraten – Cupido – 67.500% – 67.180% – 69.270% — 203.950
7. Lauren Neville – George – 66.324% – 66.752% – 65.855% — 198.931
8. Thalia Rockx – Koko JR de la Fazenda – 69.902% – 64.872% — 134.774
9. Eline Anker – Hey you – 64.069% – 64.658% — 128.727
10. Daphne van Peperstraten – Hotmail V – 60.941% – 66.538% — 127.479
11. Lara van Nek – All at Once – 69.265% – ELI — 69.265