Van Grunsven Goes Western

Olympic gold medalist, Anky Van Grunsven, is looking to expand her riding horizons by taking up the western discipline of reining. Reports note that she hopes to attend the 2010 World Equestrian Games in both dressage and reining.

Apparently Van Grunsven received a western saddle as a gift after the Olympics and had begun taking reining lessons with friend and neighbour Rieky Young, in Vorstenbosch in the Netherlands.

“I don’t have my own reining horse,” she told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “I’m testing a few horses at Rieky’s. I first want to feel which horse fits me. The sliding and turning, which make the sport so spectacular, are easy to teach. The hard bit is the basis and that everything happens only with one hand. I notice that I think too much when I train with Rieky. The fun bit is that Rieky is not afraid to shut up. Besides Sjef, not many people dare to correct me when I’m riding a horse. Rieky is not bothered by that.”

Young was a member of The Netherlands 2006 WEG team with her AQHA stallion Burnt Starlight but was eliminated from the competition.

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