Exloo: Zantana and Marieke van der Putten top, Dinja van Liere and Mauro Turfhorst make their debut in Grand Prix Special

Exloo: Zantana RS2 and Marieke van der Putten consolidate their position on the Dutch dressage scene

Dressage 02.05.2026

from Jan Tönjes

Zantana RS2 and Marieke van der Putten are on their way to the Dutch championship team at the WEG in Aachen in August 2026. Photo: Madu Shots

It was a Zonik festival at the CDI in Exloo in the Netherlands. The two top horses were descended from the Dane Zonik. Just like Justin Verboomen's number two in the current world rankings, Zonik Plus. And the two siblings have a good chance of competing against their half-brother at the WEG in Aachen in August 2026. Dorothee Schneider was the only German participant in the Grand Prix competitions.

The Grand Prix in Exloo had already clearly gone to Marieke van der Putten with Zantana RS2. In the Grand Prix Special, the pair once again set an exclamation mark and achieved a personal best with 76.149 percent. However, not everything went according to plan. The first halt and cantering out of the passage cost points. However, the lively mare was able to make up for this in the passage and strong canter. Zantana RS2, bred by Paul Schockemöhle’s Lewitz stud and “incidentally” a triple stallion dam via embryo transfer, including debutant PS, who is competing at advanced (S) level under Rose Oatley, was ranked high at the World Cup competitions in Amsterdam and ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Mauro Turfhorst and Dinja van Liere make their debut in the Grand Prix Special

With Mauro Turfhorst, Dinja van Liere has a horse that can build on the successes that the Dutch rider celebrated with the Dalera half-brother Hermès. The nine-year-old stallion scored 73.787 percent in his first international Grand Prix Special. Dinja van Liere and Mauro Turfhorst have already competed at Grand Prix level a few times this year. They had already received more than 75% in Grand Prix competitions at national level. The single changes between the pirouettes on the centerline failed, but otherwise the licensed stallion showed his best side, scoring points in trot reinforcement, passages and strong canter. A 9.0 was awarded for a pirouette – although a 6.0 was also awarded for the same exercise.

Dorothee Schneider fourth

Dorothee Schneider and Karlijn dropped points in the second pirouette and finished fourth (70.596). The Grand Prix Freestyle also went to Marieke van der Putten, this time with the ten-year-old Glamourdale son Kuvasz RS2 (76.253). Hans Peter Minderhoud, who is trying to build up new horses after the end of the Glock sponsorship, came second with My Toto (75.255).

Eline Anker (NED) now sits (and wins) in the saddle of Hermès, which Dinka van Liere used to ride to international podiums. Photo: Madu Shots

There was a reunion with Hermès, Dinja van Lieren’s Olympic horse and 2022 World Championship bronze medallist: the stallion competed in the U25 tour under Eline Anker, daughter of one of the world’s largest cheese producers. After a ride that the jury praised as “harmonious”, the young Dutch rider was able to pick up the winner’s ribbon (72.607).

The complete results from Exloo

Karlijn V.