We think it’s time to turn the spotlight on those who are at the very heart of MD – you all! 🫶 In this article, Marijke, Freja, and Laura tell us their horse stories. Go on reading, we promise you will feel inspired in 3… 2… 1…

Marijke Rosier, 35, Netherlands

Marijke Rosier grew up on a farm and started riding horses at an early age. Today, she and her parents breed Royal Dutch Sport Horses (KWPN) for show jumping in Friesland, in the north of the Netherlands. In the picture, she is standing next to Lady Ella, an 8-year-old mare of their breeding. 

– Lady had her first offspring born this year, a filly. We’re very happy with her little foal, Marijke says.

She continues to tell us her best horse-related memory was when she competed with Lady Ella at CSI Exloo, Netherlands, in January 2023. They completed a clear round during the international 1.30m class.

– Lady’s jumping was great, and I was so, so proud of her! Unfortunately, we were not fast enough and had time penalties. But we did okay though. It’s my favorite memory of us.

Marijke currently competes 1.20-1.30m classes, but she’s working towards 1.40m.

– I’m living by the device ”dream big”! she says.

Could you describe the feeling of competing a horse you’ve brought up yourself?

– It’s wonderful to train a horse of your own breeding. It’s especially rewarding to bring it out, fulfilling the expectations by performing well. But what is more beautiful is that the horse is willing to go through fire for you – their determination and effort to jump flawlessly over high obstacles.

Marijke’s best tip to fellow riders is to be patient:

– Practice peace and patience – learn how to deal with disappointments. This sport is a game of trial and error.

Marijke’s favorite MD items are the Melanie Sport Hoodie, and the Admira Compression Breeches, without grip.

– After my first purchase with MD, I was sold! I really like the material of the clothes. I wear the hoodie a lot, and the fit of the breeches is great!

Freja Hammeken, 26, Denmark

Freja Hammeken from Denmark has always loved horses. What no one expected when she started riding as a kid, was that her dad would eventually follow in her footsteps.

– I started riding at a riding school when I was 6 years old. My mom has always been very afraid of horses, so my dad would join me in the stable, helping me groom the ponies. After half a year, he thought it was boring to only be able to groom and not ride. So, he started riding at the age of 37. He bought a horse a few years later, and today we share one, Freja tells us.

Their horse is called Coramis, and he’s a 15-year-old French/Belgian Warmblood. Him and Freja do some hunting together, and a little bit of eventing. But what Freja loves most is to ride full gallop over open fields in the summertime.

What is it like sharing a horse with your dad?

– It’s kind of awesome sharing a horse with your dad. We get along very well and we are really close. We talk several times a week to update each other on how Co’s doing and whether there is anything any of us should be aware of, Freja says and continues:

– We share him quite equally over the week. During weekends we often go to him together.

Do you have any tips for the MD Community?

– My best tip for the MD horse community is to have fun and do your best. When you go on social media, you see a lot of people who seemingly do everything perfectly, and everything seems easy. I think we should remember to enjoy the journey as well, and that nobody’s perfect. It’s okay to make mistakes, you learn from them and become even better. Don’t be too hard on yourself, Freja says.

Freja tells us she discovered Maya Delorez one afternoon when she was scrolling on Instagram, in 2021.

What MD item is your fav?

– I really like the Classic Breeches. They have that classical design, but deep pockets which allow you to keep your phone safe on your person during rides.

Laura Rantonen, 27, Sweden

Sales Coordinator and photographer Laura Rantonen started riding at age 9, and for the last 12 years she’s had her own horse, a Swedish Warmblood called Tony Soprano (Tony for short).

– We do a little bit of everything together – outdoor hacks, jumping, dressage, and some cross country, Laura says.

In 2019, Laura and Tony had an accident.

– We were out on a trail ride, and I was about to go into canter. Out of nowhere, I heard a loud bang – and Tony was lame. He must have tripped and hit himself. The veterinarian told me he had a tendon injury and inflammation. Tony was 18 at the time, and I feared the worst, Laura tells us and continues:

– The following period was tough, mentally. I could only take him out for a two-minute walk each day, and it wasn’t easy for either of us. Tony could barely contain his excitement, and I was afraid this was going to make the injury worse. After a few months, Tony started to become depressed. It felt like he had a hard time keeping his spirits up – this was the hardest part.

After almost a year of recovery treatment, Laura and Tony went to their last check-up with the vet.

– My vet Eva was so patient, and the recovery plan was solid. When she finally said that he was fully recovered – that was the best day. It’s my best memory of my time with Tony. Now he is stronger than ever and in his prime, at 23 years of age.

What would you say to someone who’s in a similar situation as you and Tony were during the recovery stage?

– Take one day at a time, and don’t stress the recovery. Have a close dialogue with your vet, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you have the possibility to ride other horses, do that. I had the privilege to have amazing friends in the stable whose horses I got to borrow for a ride from time to time. You need to boost yourself, and to keep riding was it for me. Also, work on your relationship with your horse from the ground with a lot of cuddles and little games! Try to activate the horse mentally instead of physically with little tasks. Find something that works for you – for us, it was a hay ball, massage, stretching, and learning small tricks.

Laura got her eyes up for Maya Delorez early on.

– It was back in 2018, when it all began! she says.

What are your fav MD items?

– I have many favs, I have almost every item of the MD clothing! My absolute favorite is the Performance Breeches. Fits like a glove and the quality is amazing.

Major thanks to everyone who shared their stories and horse pics with us! We read every one of them, and you guys truly are the reason we do what we do. 💪

Pls continue to share your content with us on our social media, tag @mayadelorez or #mayadelorez

Did you miss the previous article in the series? Read about Sukriti, Beata and Katie here.