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With Galdal Me (Zambesi TN x Chin Chin), 25-year-old Tani Joosten has impressed this season –jumping double clear for the Dutch team in the CSIO5* Agria Nations Cup at Falsterbo Horse Show in Sweden.

This was Joosten’s second five-star Nations Cup performance for the Dutch team; in February this year, she competed at the CSIO5* Longines League of Nations season-opener in Abu Dhabi (UAE) – performing steadily with only a rail down aboard the 13-year-old gelding. “I was really excited for the opportunity to go there,” Joosten tells World of Showjumping. “It felt really cool to be in that scene next to all the good riders from the Dutch team. I am happy with our performance there; I felt like we were ready to be at that level. It was also the first time for us to be flying anywhere to compete, and organizing everything was stressful. However, we made it and I am very proud that everything worked out; it was a great experience.”

For the last three years, Joosten has worked for Hans Hendriks’ Hendriks Sporthorses in Loo, The Netherlands. “I do half days at Hendriks and for the rest of the day I work at home, where I have my own stable. Hendriks Sporthorses has about fifteen sport horses – including Galdal Me – and I ride five when I am there. At home, I have six more horses, both our own as well as from different owners. When I got the offer from Hendriks to work for him, I was still going to school, and I didn't know if dropping out would be a good decision. However, I decided to go for it and give it a shot, because I thought that I can always go back to school. Now, I don’t regret my decision! I enjoy every day; it is not only about the riding for me, it is a lifestyle – I love being around the horses.”

“At home, my mum helps me a lot, also with my dressage work,” Joosten continues. “She also comes with me to the shows as my groom whenever she can. I learn a lot from her every day, also in terms of horsemanship; she is my biggest support. At Hendriks, we have a good team of grooms and we have another rider there too who rides the horses and shows them as well.”

Joosten got the ride on the 13-year-old gelding Galdal Me three years ago, when she started to work for Hendriks Sporthorses and the two have taken their time to build their relationship. “At first, I jumped him in the 1.10m-1.20m classes,” Joosten explains. “We started really slow; he had only done a few 1.35m classes before I started to ride him. We gave him a lot of time and that has worked out really well in the end. He is a very big, sensible and intelligent horse with a lot of scope. I always think he can jump anything.”

“At the moment I don’t really have another horse for the bigger classes,” Joosten continues. “However, that is something that I am working on for the future; to have more horses coming up to this level as well. I am really happy though because I never thought that I would be competing at the highest level of the sport; it just happened.

“I have to say that now, my goal is simply to stay here. I really want to compete at the top of the sport, but I know it is not easy because you have to have the right horses. Long-term, I hope to expand my own stable but right now I am just trying to enjoy the moment because you never know how long it is going to last. In life – and especially with horses – everything can change so quickly.”

Being part of the Dutch senior team has been a huge learning experience for the 25-year-old. “With all these good riders next to you, it feels really special to be there,” Joosten tells about her feelings when wearing the orange jacket of the Dutch team. “The team spirit while riding a Nations Cup is amazing, and every time I get to be there, I try to learn as much as I can from the others. I cannot say that I have one idol; I look up to everyone doing our sport on the top level and I try to learn from everyone. However, I really like to watch Steve Guerdat. I know how he is with his horses and his mindset is something I really admire.”

Since January, Joosten has been training with Vincent Voorn. “Before, I didn’t really have a trainer,” she explains. “I did a lot by myself and sometimes I went to Henk Frederiks. My mum helped me with the flat-work as well, but I felt like I needed help in getting a step further – and I think Vincent has pushed me through to another level.”

“The important thing is to trust yourself and to trust your horse,” Joosten says about her own mindset while taking further steps on her career path. “And also, have patience. I think good results come naturally if you just stay quiet, work patiently and try to be a better rider every day.”

16.9.2024 No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.