Australian Olympian Simone Pearce has been named as a guest rider for the upcoming Dutch Young Horse Championships, known as the Pavo Cup Finals, scheduled for 2 August in Ermelo, the Netherlands.
EuroDressage reported last week that Simone was invited by the KWPN Studbook to partake in the Championships.
The Pavo Cup Final guest rider assesses the rideability, quality of gaits and potential of the top three ranked horses in the four, five, and six-year old age categories, and gives a score that will count towards the final result – much like our Australian Young Horse Championships, held at Dressage and Jumping with the Stars.
“I know that’s what takes me far in international sport…”
In a news release last week, the KWPN Studbook said Simone was looking forward to testing the best Dutch horses: “Dutch breeders have made great strides in breeding dressage horses for top-level sport. For me, this is a great opportunity to really feel the best young horses.
“Young horse competitions are, to me, fundamental building blocks in the development of young horses. Rideability and the way young horses respond to their riders are top priorities for me when judging a young horse. Because I know that’s what takes me far in international sport. Horses must be able to positively cope with what is asked of them.”
Simone said she has had great experiences with Dutch horses herself: “I’ve ridden quite a few, and all of my all-time favourites have KWPN blood. I currently have only one horse in my stables that does not have KWPN blood; everything else originates from the Netherlands. I’m definitely a big fan and can’t wait to test the best young horses from the Netherlands.”
Now based at Team Fuchs with fiancé and top show jumper Martin Fuchs, Simone has a winning Grand Prix horse under saddle and more rising stars coming through. You can read more in the July issue of Equestrian Life here.
No stranger to success with young horses, Simone has competed at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses on five occasions. Her best result was a silver medal in 2023 in the five-year-old class with No Limit, a Westfalen gelding by Geniaal (Vivaldi) out of Florina (Florestan I).
Aussies competing in Verden
This year, Australia will be represented at the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Verden, Germany by Dark Diamond and Tayla Desmet in the five-year-old division, and Exact ridden by Alexandra Vodermair in the six-year-old division. You can read more about these two combinations here. Fellow Aussie Alicia Ryan has been named for Sweden in the five-year-old class with stallion Morricello II VH (by Moricone x Floricello), and has also been named a reserve for the six-year-old class with Vilas Blarney (by Bon Coeur x Floricello).
