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Future So Bright: Jeunesse van’t Paradijs

Tuesday, 24 April 2018
Future So Bright

Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.
Lorenzo de Luca with Jeunesse van't Paradijs in Aachen, where they won the final for the young horses. Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.

She impressed during the entire 2017-season, going from strength to strength – even winning the final for the young horses in Aachen. Her dad is the famous Emerald, her mother Elegance van’t Paradijs by Heartbreaker – a combination that has delivered the feisty mare Jeunesse van’t Paradijs. “The blood she has comes from the mother side, from Heartbreaker. The technique is definitely from Emerald,” reveals her rider Lorenzo De Luca when speaking to World of Showjumping about this special 9-year-old that he has high hopes for.

”Stephan (Conter) bought half of Jeunesse when she was six. Back then she was ridden by her breeder Astrid Rooms. She rode her up to the 7-year-olds, and then in the summer of 2016 she came to Stephex. It was quite late in the afternoon, and a few riders were missing so it was me trying the horse – luckily,” Lorenzo laughs. “Jeunesse is a mare with a lot of blood, and I really like that – she is just my type of horse. Back then she was still a bit rough, and needed a bit more education – but I liked her straight away.”

"Then, ten days later we brought her straight to Lanaken to the World Championships for Young Horses. I did not know her at all then, so for me it was a bit of a surprise what would happen especially as the 7-year-old championship is quite big to jump. However, she qualified for the final where she had two down at the end of the course – she just got a little bit too hot. I have to say, at that point it was a bit hard to feel her scope because of all her blood – but I could feel she really wanted to do a good job,” Lorenzo continues.

“After Lanaken, I step by step began building her up my way. First she had a month in the field, and then I started to work from the beginning to create a partnership with her. I tried to go slow in every class I jumped, because she was always rushing. After four-five months she completely changed and started to come on my side, and the scope started to show,” Lorenzo tells.  

Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.
“Jeunesse is a mare with a lot of blood, and I really like that – she is just my type of horse," Lorenzo says. Photo (c) Jenny Abrahamsson.

“Jeunesse’s brain is unbelievable, she always wants to do a good job – she is super careful and brave – so I tried to learn her as much as possible during last year. I took her to a bit difficult rings, and she already came with as a third horse to some of the five-star shows – that is already something for a horse that age. She always tried her best and wanted to do a good job. For her, it does not seem to matter where she is – she can jump in any ring. From there on, I realized I had a new super star in the stable. Last summer, when she was eight, she also won the young horse final in Aachen. To bring her to a ring like that was super, and brought her even more forwards. I was full speed in the jump-off, she was so brave – but she likes to go fast. After that, I again took it a bit quiet with her,” the Italian rider explains.

“In November and December last year, I did a few jump-offs with her at the five-star shows in Geneva and Mechelen. I went quite fast there, but she really managed to stay focused – also after she was finished. That was a click I was waiting for with her for a long time.”

“This year in Den Bosch, she jumped the bigger classes and again showed herself,” Lorenzo says. “I don’t want to rush her this year though, she really needs time. I will aim her as a second horse during the season, I don’t want to do her in the biggest Grand Prix classes yet. Then I am quite sure that I have a super horse for next year.”

“What is amazing with Jeunesse is that she is really smart and intelligent. Even if she does a mistake in the flat work, and I correct her, she will not do it again. She is a pleasure to work with!” Lorenzo smiles. 

 


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