In Oudkarspel, Easter not only means a nice breakfast and an egg hunt, but also the North Holland Horse Trials. The annual international event brings together nineteen different nationalities this year for the so-called eventing competition, also known as the triathlon among equestrian sports.
“We now have 236 starts,” says Wim Schrama of the North Holland Horse Trials against media partner Dijk and Waard Centraal. “That is limited by the number of stables. We can build 236 stables here.” That means that someone started every 3 minutes throughout the day.
Luxury trailer
Most participants do not take their horse to the North Holland Horse Trials in a simple trailer. Rider Tim Lips, who has competed in the Olympic Games three times, shows his transport. “The special thing about this truck is that we can all stay in it during the competitions,” he says. “It can hold six horses and three more on the trailer.” The truck also has sleeping places for seven people.
Lips drives the truck himself. “I love driving the truck.” And what does such a horse limousine cost? That remains mysterious. “It takes a very good horse,” says Lips with a laugh.