Janneke Boonzaaijer shows her horses and plans for 2020 at home at Equestrian Centre De Schalm in Renswoude. She has learned a lot from last year, she says. “My first year in the ACSI Eventing team was a year of highs and lows.”
“From the lows I learned to follow my own feeling, sense and heart more,” Janneke continues. “My horse always comes first and I have to trust what I feel. And then to convey this feeling to my supporting team around. This way I aim for more highlights in 2020!”.
Eager
It’s a psychological story. National coach Bettina Overesch teached Janneke a lot of riding technique last year as a trainer, Janneke emphasizes. “But as a coach Bettina didn’t suit me very well. I like it when someone is straightforward, like her. But someone who really knows me, like my father, knows that I am already hard on myself and extremely eager. Saying that I could easily finish within the time in Dunakeszi in Hungary appeals to my eagerness. Frankly said too much. I forgot to feel and listen to my horse and had a fall. ACSI Campbelle did not deserve that. I think that with the current national coach Andrew Heffernan there is going to be more peace and quiet.”
ACSI Eventing team
Janneke is used to professional facilities at home with her parents Gert and Ria, sister Henrieke and their beautiful training centre De Schalm in Renswoude. She has been a member of the KNHS Talent Team for three years in a row. But Janneke Boonzaaijer now belongs for the first time in her life to a relatively new elite eventing team: the ACSI Eventing team. “I think that’s great”, says Janneke, “the great thing is: it’s ‘together without obligations’. You like to know each other’s news, sometimes compete together, discuss details together, also do things alone and in private. Looking back on the past year, I admit that the ACSI team gave me some pressure at first. But now I’m especially proud to be part of it.”
Goal 2020: feeling and focus
A highlight of 2019 was of course Janneke’s first start in Boekelo.
For 2020, Janneke Boonzaaijer is determined to get the most out of every show. “I’m completely done with half work”, she says, “be up and doing and going full steam ahead to reach the maximum with that specific horse at that show, that’s my style. Including feeling and focus on the horse.”
This year Janneke will compete her 5-year-old horses Keara Utopia van het Buitenland (Harald x Vaillant) from René van der Leest and the Boonzaaijer family, Krek-Morra and Kanjer in the B-class in Maarsbergen.
Her 7 year old Indy (Ustinov x Corland) will show at L-level in Alphen Chaam. After that she’ll outline the next shows of the calendar.
And what about ACSI Campbelle WS and ACSI Champ de Tailleur?
Janneke: “I would prefer to do the long 3* Luhmühlen and 4* Sopot. Secretly I also keep Aachen on my list…. In Haras du Pin next year the European Championships will be held, a very nice show. However Haras coincides with Kronenberg. So we’ll have to wait and see. Of course Boekelo is again on my bucket list. I am really looking forward to the season 2020. We’ll definitely go for it!”.
Visit the eventing calendar 2020