10-year-old Cyro van Dijk wins his first Trophy saddle

07/09/2026 – Last week the DRHA (Dutch Reining Horse Association) hosted the Battle of the Green finals, scheduled during the DRHA Reining Fever in Grathem (NED). To advance to this final Green as Grass riders must qualify at the DRHA On Tour shows. 17 Combinations had qualified and a beautiful Trophy saddle would be the award for the winner. Posting a 210,5 10-year-old Cyro van Dijk aboard of the 17-year-old gelding Royal Big Sep BB [Wimpys Little Step] claimed the title. This was the 2nd official NRHA show Cyro entered and the result was surprising. To finish the combination tied for 2nd place in the Rookie L1 class posting a 71,0. A great start that arouses curiosity. Here’s the story.
Cyro is the son of Roel van Dijk and Rhea Roelofsen, both well known in de Dutch and Belgian reining circuit. Horse riding is in his blood. Cyro ”I don’t know any better. As a baby and a little child already in the saddle with daddy. I loved the lope. Then followed my own Shetlander Bounty and later the Welsh pony Tommy. Since April this year I started focusing on Reining with ‘Stepper’. Previous daddy, mom and grandmom have always been my teachers, but since I choose for Reining I ride a lot with daddy. He teaches me a lot. I have had a few lessons from Bernard Fonck and at the DRHA Youth camp Jody Fonck and Petra van Ede were the instructors. We own Stepper almost 2 years now. In the beginning mom was riding him a lot, but that has changed now. Since April daddy is also active again as a Non-Pro rider and we visit the shows together. I like that. I like shows anyway. Just observing what happens in the warm-up arena and help grooming. The Battle was exciting because I could win a saddle. In the Youth class I faced my first 0, a silly mistake. I was a bit bummed, but that does not matter. I have to learn that. And then I was happy again tying for 2nd place in the Rookie class. I very anxious to improve myself, because I really like it.”
The future belongs to the youth.

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Foto: CD Fotografie, NED