In this article we interview Vincent Voorn: previously a soccer player, Olympic show jumper (Olympics in Hong Kong 2008) and trainer. Since three years he runs his own barn together with Jonna Sundblad in Weert, called GDS Training. Vincent came by the Dutch Sport Horse Sales by coincidence and ended up buying a horse and ever since he and his customers attend the auction. Last year one of his students, the Swedish rider Elina Peterson, bought the most expensive horse ever sold during the Dutch Sport Horse Sales: Fame VDL (Cardento x Ahorn). Another talent, Brighton Bay (by Ultimo - previously called Fulltime Fortuna), was bought in 2014 by his student Emma Augier de Moussac.

Vincent and Jonna run GDS Training successfully. We asked him about this success: “Our barn is based on the education of young riders. We focus on growth and development, and a good atmosphere is of great importance. Our team is very close and we enjoy what we do. Isn’t fun the most important factor in life? To run a successful stable good horses are necessary.

The first buy at the auction got us hooked: DSHS only offer high quality horses. I want my customers to be satisfied, and the Dutch Sport Horse Sales has never let me down. Top quality sells, that point is proven”, says Vincent Voorn. One of the horses stabled at Vincent’s barn is Fame DVL, ridden by the Swedish rider Elina Peterson. “The young duo performed very well during CSI Valkenswaard and also recently at CSI Hasselt. Elina and Fame DVL are learning rapidly and they really seem to have a promising future ahead of them! In my opinion it is important that riders know how to build up and educate a horse. That is not always easy, but nevertheless necessary if you want to become one of the best. Besides talent, a good mentality is one of the most important characteristics of a top jumper. I always say that a good show jumper has to have a good mind. They have to be intelligent and cooperative. Take Brighton Bay for example, he is a very smart horse! He is one of the most promising young horses of the barn and he is also a true winner.”

At the moment you are very active as a trainer, do you also have ambitions in the sport? “Competing is what I love to do the most. Together with a small group of owners we have invested in a few of high quality young horses that we want to bring up to the highest level of our sport. At the same time as I educate these horses I have many students under my guidance. So for me it is very important to find the right balance between training them and competing myself.”

Will Vincent attend this year’s auction? “Yes, of course. One of the main reasons why I purchase horses during the Dutch Sport Horse Sales is that when I buy a horse there I feel good about it. I can trust Yves, Emile and Paul’s opinion and expertise, so I never have a doubt about the quality of the horses. After discussing with them what my clients and me are looking for they always advise me in a good way. When I am out competing I often come across horses that were sold during the auction and they perform well all around the world. And when the auction is approaching, the new collection is always a hot topic between the riders.”

Text and photo provided by DSHS