Nel grew up in Stramproy (Middle Limburg, the Netherlands) and has been affected with the horse virus from her childhood onwards. During her pony period, she rode the ponies Muppie and Danny at Z level, both in dressage and jumping. After her marriage to Jan, she moved to the more southern town of Oirsbeek and started to focus only on dressage and she trains with both Bert Rutten and Jan. For her, horseback riding was a hobby, as she had a job as a pharmaceutical assistant.

Her horse Fleetwood (Planeet x Doruto, °1987) was sold as a 6 year old to America and was trained up to Grand Prix level by Jennifer Huber. Joplin (Clavecimbel x Jagermeester, °1991) was schooled by Nel herself and she showed him at Grand Prix level before he got sold to Dressuurstal Nyssen in Belgium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocky (Royal Dance x Doruto, °2001) and Amador (Casantos x Ulft, °2005) were bought as a foal. As a 7 year old, Amador got sold to Finland and has been trained at Grand Prix level by Henri Ruoste.  Nel competed Rocky at Grand Prix level till 2018. Currently Nel is competing at Grand Prix level with Dodi (Zidane x Concorde).

 

In 2011, Nel quit her job to focus completely on the stable management of Dressage Stable Tristan.

 

In 2015, she took the initiative of the Dutch Quadrille of Limburg Grand Prix riders, which have done shows at ‘Jumping Indoor Maastricht’ and the KWPN stallion show. On July 9th 2016, there was a sensational performance at the famous "Pferd und Sinfonie", a part of the CHIO Aachen. The music and singing was live (Aachens Symfonic Orchestra and Choir). The theme was the music from the movie 1492, Conquest of Paradise. On 18 July 2017 the quadrille even took part at the opening ceremony from the CHIO Aachen which was held for a sold out Stadium with more than 40.000 spectators. Also the WDR reported this show live. Specially for this performance the quadrille wore orange dressage coats. The reason was that the Netherlands were partner country in 2017 and the Dutch national colour is orange.

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Have a look at the following video's, where you will see the shows of the quadrille at the 2016 KWPN stallion show and from "Pferd und Sinfonie"