Grand Prix premiere for Hans Peter Minderhoud's My Toto and Dinja van Liere's Mauro Turfhorst

Those who attended the national show in Lathum in the Netherlands last weekend witnessed the Grand Prix premieres of two interesting young horses: My Toto and Mauro Turfhorst.

Mauro Turfhorst – 2025 Aachen, now Grand Prix winner

Jan Greve, father of Willem Greve, is a vet, former team vet for the Dutch dressage riders and successful stallion owner. But above all, he is also a successful breeder, including of Olympic dressage horse Watermill Scandic (Patrik Kittel). In the Netherlands, he was awarded the title of “Breeder of the Year”, among others. He showed why when he chose Zonik as the first partner for his Negro Scandic daughter Hidaylia.

The foal from this mating was born in 2017, a stallion who was named Mauro and who left the Dutch licensing as reserve champion. He became the joint property of Reesink Horses and Turfhorst Stud via KWPN Select Sales. Since then he has been called Mauro Turfhorst.

Reesink’s stable rider Dinja van Liere got the smart black horse under the saddle when he was just four years old and accompanied him into the sport. As five, six and seven-year-olds, they made it to the finals of the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses, finishing fourth on each of the last two occasions.

The pair continued their success in the international small tour. Among other things, they won the Intermédiaire I in Aachen last year, leaving the eventual Burg Cup winner Life Time FRH with Charlott Schürmann behind.

Now Mauro Turfhorst rode his first Grand Prix at the weekend in Lathum and won it with 72.210 percent. “Yes, we did it,” Dinja van Liere wrote on her Instagram page. “A tremendous start and I know for sure that he will get even better.”

WM or LA?

Last December, Dinja van Liere gave an interview to the KWPN about her plans with the black stallion. When asked whether a start at the WEG in Aachen would be a goal, she said: “That remains to be seen. First we have to see how he copes under test conditions in the Grand Prix. If it goes like it does at home, I think it will be very good. He doesn’t need a lot of test routine to be able to give his all in the arena.”

Her original focus for Aachen is currently on Imposantos. There is no longer any talk of her 2022 World Championship bronze medallist, Hermès, who went to the European Championships last year. Mauro Turfhorst and her second Grand Prix hope for the future, McLaren, should be given more time.

“Ultimately, I want them to be good enough for the 2028 Olympic Games in LA. That takes priority over the World Championships.” But: “If Mauro goes through his first Grand Prix without any problems, we might ride the sightings. But if that doesn’t work out yet, we certainly won’t be rushing into anything.”

It is fair to say that van Liere’s own requirements for participation in the World Championships have been met.

My Toto – Former Grand Prix World Champion

The Netherlands’ second new Grand Prix horse is Hans Peter Minderhoud’s My Toto. The also nine-year-old Toto Jr. offspring from the direct mare family of champion horse Arlando (Diederik van Silfhout/Anna Zibrandtsen) still belongs to the breeders, the Both family. Accordingly, Minderhoud was able to keep him when arms dealer Glock withdrew all his horses from Minderhoud and Gal.

Three years ago, Minderhoud rode the then six-year-old My Toto to the title at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses. Last year they were victorious in the international small tour. Last weekend they came third in the short Grand Prix (U25) at Lathum with 69.746 percent. This means that they have at least qualified for the Dutch Championships.