Thea Bech rode a fantastic freestyle to music this morning in the Lövsta Future Challenge International Tour with the 17-year-old KWPN gelding Dionisos (by Spielberg). The pair narrowly claimed victory with 78.100%. Sophia Ludvigsen and the 11-year-old Blue Hors Quintana (by Quantensprung) came very close to her compatriot Bech, finishing in second place with 78.060%. Daphne van Peperstraten was the best Dutch rider, placing third with a score of 75.695% on Greenpoint’s Cupido (by Johnson).

‘Everything just flowed today’

Bech was very satisfied with her freestyle performance. “The freestyle went really well, and Dionisos felt amazing. Everything just flowed today. The piaffe is definitely his strongest movement, and the pirouettes also went really well. I’m super happy. This is our third time competing at Jumping Amsterdam, and Dionisos thinks this is the most fantastic event of the year.”

‘I didn’t want to finish second again’

Yesterday, Thea placed second in the U25 Grand Prix, with the victory going to Sophia Ludvigsen. “I was very happy for my compatriot to win. We genuinely wish the best for each other. But today, I gave it my all because I didn’t want to finish second again.”

A challenging freestyle

Thea’s freestyle is set to Elton John’s Rocket Man. “My boyfriend put it together with the help of a composer, which makes it extra special. Dionisos performs so easily through the tests, so we created a very challenging freestyle. That’s how we earn a ten for degree of difficulty.”

‘He’s the horse of my dreams’

Thea has been partnered with the KWPN gelding for many years. “I’ve had Dionisos since he was eight, and he means everything to me. He is the horse of my dreams. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. We’ve grown together, from junior level to where we are now, winning many medals along the way. Dionisos is the one horse that will always stay with me. He’ll retire with me as well.”