Meet Team Dutch For 2014 AjPHA Youth World Games
Photo courtesy of APHA press release.
PHJ press release by: Megan Brincks
The Dutch Diamonds, hailing from The Netherlands, first competed in the Youth World Games in 2008 and won in 2010. This year, they’re excited to try to win it all again at the AjPHA Youth World Championship Show’s premier international competition.
To be selected for the team, each rider wrote an essay explaining why she should be on the team. Then the Dutch Paint Horse Club Youth Committee selected the team based on the essays and the Youths’ performances during shows and clinics. The team’s goals for the Youth World Games is to have fun with the other teams, perform at their best and learn from the horses and trainers.
Coached by Jan Pieter Koopman of St. Maartensdyk, and Aline De Jong of Bennekom, the Dutch Diamonds includes the following competitors:
Lisa Klaassen
Lisa, a 17-year-old from Hengelo, will represent the Dutch Diamonds in hunt-seat equitation. In the Netherlands, Lisa rides Go Cash Flow, a nine-time European gold and silver medal champion who is owned by her mother, Mirjam. Lisa has been riding since she was 6 years old.
Dineke Schildstra
Dineke will ride in the trail class at the Youth World Games. The 16-year-old from Rijs, Friesland, started riding at age 5. She is looking forward to not just riding in the Youth World Games, but also experiencing the whole Youth World Show.
Gwenda Linders
Gwenda, 17, will ride in the Western horsemanship class to represent the Dutch Diamonds. The Bergen, Limburg, native has been riding since she was 10, and she’s looking forward to meeting the other Youth World Games teams and learning new skills while at the Youth World Show.
Ivana Pallistar
Showmanship exhibitor Ivana, 14, has been riding and exhibiting horses her whole life. From Berg en Terblijt, Limburg, Ivana’s big goal for the year is to help the Dutch Diamonds win the Youth World Games, and she is thankful for the opportunity to compete.
Emma van Staveren
Emma, an 18-year-old from Emmeloord, will be the alternate for the Dutch Diamonds’ team.
Good luck to the Dutch Diamonds team and all of our Youth World Games participants. Check back every day this week to meet the teams from around the world.
