My parents and the whole family are in motocross, I never knew any other way than to leave for the cross on Friday evening, until Sunday evening.

When I was 8, I came across "the ponies" while walking with our dogs at home.

After a lot of nagging at home, I was allowed to take care of a pony there, a New-Forest, which was heavily pregnant by a Fjord.

This immediately became my first everything, first birth, first permanent care pony, first mating, first pony that I trained from foal to jumping pony, first pony that I bought myself after a few years, my Cientje.

When I was 16, I ended up at an eventing stable, Het Pachthof in Wommelgem owned by Cuyvers Charles. There I had the honor of taking a ride on an old chestnut mare, Cita. The horse that Rigouts Marc had ridden at the Olympic Games. Afterwards I was allowed to ride and show her young half-brother at eventing competitions, a 6-year-old stallion, Olaf Van Het Pachthof. All this under the guidance of Marc.

Afterwards I was able to start internationally at CaptainS Stables, Karin Donckers, Marc and the remaining Olympic team often came over to train, where I learned many tips and tricks.

After a serious accident, I had to stop riding for a while, after which I only rode jumping, but due to permanent injuries I was reduced to only training horses at home for owners and grooming.

Until my current partner, Daniël, came my way. Fortunately, he also has a huge animal heart, just like his parents.

Bought our first real mini, Blue, as a companion for our Shetland geldings and for driving. She made me open my eyes and realize that the big show jumping horses were too much for me and I had much more relaxation and enjoyment from the mini ones.

With great pain in my heart I said goodbye to show jumping and big horses in general. We also said goodbye to our Cientje, who was by my side for 32 years.

And so our stables were filled with American miniature horses...