News
De Fancy Dress Meets Western Returns as a Family Edition
Bigger, Wilder and Even More Exciting!
It’s still a bit of a wait until Flanders Christmas Jumping, the ultimate year-end celebration for horse fans, kicks off, but tickets are already flying off the shelves. December 28 promises to be a full house in the Nekkerhal as, following rave reviews from last year’s edition, Fancy Dress Meets Western is making its return. A new barrel race, but this time with a twist. This year, Jumping Mechelen is making it even more exciting by adding more atmosphere and cowboys to the concept! Additionally, the participating pairs will be even more synchronized, as all teams consist of a parent-child combination: Barrel Racing Family Style!
Saddle up for barrel-race-spectacle on December 28 (10:45 PM)!
Jumping Mechelen is not only about top sport and Christmas spirit. It also offers plenty of spectacle. Every year, a crazy show event is part of the program, where well-known riders step completely out of their comfort zones to entertain the audience. Last year, this took the form of a barrel race for the first time. Jumping riders swapped their showjumping horses for western horses and raced through the Nekkerhal, making tight turns around barrels. The arena exploded with excitement, and the feedback afterward was incredibly positive. That’s why organizer Wendy Wauters decided to bring back the barrel race: “But doing the same thing twice is not my style. We have so many young talents in Belgium who learned the craft from their parents. So, we thought it would be great to have sons and daughters compete alongside their mothers or fathers. To make it even more exciting, we’re planning additional interactive dance shows and a Rescue Run, presented by real-life cowboys from the Gipsy Horses Ranch. All of this will bring even more entertainment and, of course, more cowboys!”
Preparation?
Barrel racing is an incredibly spectacular discipline. It’s not for the faint-hearted! But the same goes for jumping. So the participants will certainly have the courage and grit required. Now for the skills! Just like last year, the showjumpers must prepare well. They’ll form a combination with an experienced western horse and can count on expert guidance from William Junior Dougan and former European Champion barrel racer Maxine Michiels. Maxine will also kick off the event by singing the American national anthem a cappella to get the audience fully in the spirit.
The participants
This year, our top riders will be competing alongside their own flesh and blood for the win! But who are these unique pairs? One great team we can reveal is Wilm Vermeir and his daughter Robin Vermeir.
Jumping Mechelen is keeping the other participants under wraps for now… Curious to know who they are? Be sure to follow the event’s socials for the big reveal!
Robin Vermeir is looking forward to the Fancy Dress and is aiming for a spot in the final of the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy
“I’m completely obsessed with showjumping, so I never considered delving into western riding. But I’m really looking forward to it.”
Robin Vermeir, who has been performing exceptionally well in recent years among the young riders, is all set to try barrel racing: “I’m completely obsessed with showjumping, so I never considered delving into western riding. But I’m really looking forward to it. Last year, I was in the audience cheering on my stablemate Vic De Plecker. It was intense, for sure. It’s definitely something for me because fear is not in my vocabulary. The fact that I can experience this with my father makes it even more special.”
Robin shone last year at Jumping Mechelen in the final of the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy, the World Cup for pony riders. This year, she hopes to be back. “I’m incredibly eager to ride at Jumping Mechelen again and am currently maximizing my chances by competing in several qualifiers. I’m participating in the qualifiers for the FEI Jumping Ponies’ Trophy and have already won a selection competition in the 1.20m category of the JM Indoor Masters. And who knows, maybe the junior competition will also be an option. You’ll definitely find me in the Nekkerhal between Christmas and New Year.”
How it works
Last year, Gilles Thomas was crowned the best cowboy among the showjumpers. This year, a family duo will take home the victory. First, the parents will compete, followed by the younger riders showing off their skills. The times of both team members will be added together, and the two fastest teams will return for a nail-biting finale. Buckle up, because this family barrel race will be a thrill until the very last second!
