An extra podium for Pascalle van de Watering
27/06/2026 – Though the dust has long settled in Rieden-Kreuth (GER) where the finals of the NRHA Germany Breeders Derby were scheduled for last weekend, some highlight are still fresh in our memories. We would like to offer one rider in particular an extra podium and that will be Dutch youth rider Pascalle van de Watering.
Pascalle entered the 10-year-old gelding Gonnashowya [Gunnatrashya x JK Vivs Show Tip] in the preliminaries of both the € 2.864 added L1-, € 6.168 added L2 Non Pro- and Youth division. 99 Combinations entered the L1, 147 the L2 and 26 the Youth division of which respectively 26- 25- and 20 combinations advanced to the finals.
Pascalle marked a 214,5 tying for 4th place in L1, 8th place in L2 and 3rd place in the Youth division. A good starting point for the finals. The combination did not disappoint at all. Posting a 213,0 the pair tied for 3rd place in L2, was crowned co-Champion in L1 and Reserve Champion in the Youth division.
What makes this achievement extra special is the fact that Pascalle up to 2 years ago competed with her Dressage pony in both the national- and international competition. The pony was sold and not replaced by a Dressage horse. The very same year her father and reining rider Arjan van de Watering bought Gonnashowya, aka Yolo. Also special is the fact that Yolo has been bred in the Netherlands by Leona Schellekens. As a 3-year-old he was purchased by Dutch Open rider Petra van Ede (NED) who not only taught him the basics, but also showed him successfully both national and international. Yolo was more like a family horse, shown by both father Arjen, mother Shirley and Pascalle, both national and international. One of the highlights with Pascalle holding the reins was the individual silver medal at the 2025 World Reining Championship Junior Riders in Givrins (SUI). Entering such a prestigious event as the NRHA Germany Breeders Derby was another challenge.
Pascalle: “Since I do not ride Dressage anymore, I focus on Reining. I had a good feeling about this competition. Yes, I am always a little nervous before entering, but once in the arena the nerves disappear. I know Yolo well and totally trust him. When we finished the pattern I was very satisfied about the performance, but I did not even imagine a possible title. In the end it was very exciting to access the arena with Yolo for the award ceremony. I am still going to enter Yolo at the NRHA European Affiliate Championship in Grathem (NED) scheduled for July and after that I hand over the reins to my mom again. Last year was a gap year in which I have been working for both Petra and Dutch Open rider Anne Grether. I would not only like to thank Petra for training Yolo and always being there for me, but most of all my parents who have made this all possible for me. After the summer holidays I am going to study in Rotterdam.”
©2026 WRS Nieuws
Photo: Pascalle van de Watering and Gonnashowya. Photo: MP Western Sport (GER)