HOY Nominee: Chuck Marienshof Z

Longines EEF Series Newsroom

Report: Eleanore Kelly
Images: Krisztina Hajdu

Chuck Marienshof Z is just nine years old but has made waves in the Longines EEF Series this season with another young talent, his rider, 24-year-old Lars Kersten. They were part of the winning Dutch team in Mannheim, Peelbergen and Budapest, showing class and an aptitude for clear rounds. The grey gelding is by Colestus and his dam is Mamzelle Vh Marieshof by Emerald. He was bred by his owner Sandra Ecker of Stal Marienshof who couldn’t be prouder of the progress Chuck and Lars have made this season.

“We are very proud owners and breeders of Chuck. What is extra special is that we also bred his dam and his grand dam” she explained.  

Lars has a number of Stal Marienshof horses in his stables, and the partnership with Chuck is a relatively new one

“I started with him a year and a half ago when he had just turned eight. I did a couple of shows and actually I had quite a few horses, so my brother Niels rode him for a while because he had a bit more time to produce him slowly.

From the beginning I knew that the horse had a lot of potential and a lot of talent. With young horses I think they have to be able to make a fault here and there and they will learn from it. We really tried to develop the horse carefully and when I took him back from my brother about six months ago, he was really ready to make that next step and really be competitive in the bigger sport and the Grand Prix . My brother has done a fantastic job on him and given him some great rounds and experience           and made him a bit stronger.”

The approach is clear to see, as Chuck has approached the Longines EEF Series with seeming experience beyond his years, showing his scope and stamina to keep his consistency across the two rounds. In Mannheim they produced a clear/4, knocked just a pole in each round in Peelbergen, before recording the perfect double-clear in Budapest to help book the Dutch teams spot at the Finals in Warsaw.  

“When you see him jump you can see he really loves to do the job. You can just feel when you go in the ring with him that he is super excited. That’s an amazing feeling for a rider when you go in the arena and the horses is really happy to do the job and wants to go for the clear round” added Lars.

“He is still only nine, but he has done some incredible things this year. I have been lucky enough to ride some really nice horses but for sure he is in that group where you feel he is going to be a top horse. I have done a few 1m50s and I am looking to step him up to do some 1m55s now. I think for his age he is right on track and in my opinion, he is one of the best in his age group.”

His owner Sandra has followed his development closely, having seen his potential right from his early days.

“Chuck was a very smart and handsome foal. We sent him to France to grow up and he came back as a three-year-old and after the winter we started groundwork. He was a gorgeous type with that extra cute looks, we were really in love with him. We jumped him loose only three times but what he showed was abnormal. He had so much quality. We started to break him in at four and noticed a very strong character, which was very challenging at first, but the good ones are often the difficult ones in their younger years. He had so much energy, he was very electric with a strong mentality which was quite difficult to manage as a youngster.”

“This year he has started to settle at the bigger shows. Apart from the first day where he is always still fresh. He knows when it has to happen- he has a great mind, and nothing is too difficult for him, and he is so careful. He has been part of the winning team three times in Mannheim, Peelberg and Budapest. He always wants to give his all and he loves to win. We are really looking forward to his future.”

Chuck is looked after by Lars’ groom Giuseppe Ciardulli and is a pleasure for all to work with. “As a personality, he loves attention and would like to have that all day. He’s just lovely to work with and that’s when he is the happiest he is, when he can go out there. He just loves to work.”