This year marks the 30th edition of the Pavo Cup, where the best young dressage horses in the Netherlands compete for highly coveted titles. Over the past three decades, the Pavo Cup has become a springboard for top talent—not only for horses, but also for riders who have made their breakthrough at this prestigious event. One of these Pavo Cup Pearls is Nicolette van Leeuwen.

Nicolette van Leeuwen won the Pavo Cup in 2000 with the KWPN stallion Osmium, and repeated that success two years later with the now-preferent Rousseau. “Those are still wonderful memories,” she reflects. “I started out as an eventing rider before switching to dressage. That transition really put me on the map in the dressage world. The win with Osmium was completely unexpected. I already felt he had a lot of talent, but it was a real surprise to win the Pavo Cup. With Rousseau, I had higher expectations because I had experienced it before, but it’s still very special when it actually happens.”

Awareness and Development
Although Nicolette’s roots lie in eventing, she is now internationally recognized as a dressage rider and trainer. “My background in eventing taught me to listen to my horses. That really helped me with those stallions, and I’m still grateful for that foundation. I still believe it’s important to observe your horse and give it time. The Pavo Cup should fit within a horse’s development. Compared to the past, more people now understand that, and that awareness is a good thing. Some horses are natural talents, but that doesn’t mean every horse should be treated as one.”

Teaching and Coaching
Until the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicolette worked full-time in the equestrian world. She taught many students, including her daughter Dana van Lierop, who won numerous European Championship medals under her guidance. “When Dana was twelve and started competing internationally, I stepped back from my own competitive career. I focused more on teaching, and that worked out really well. During the pandemic, I had to look for something else and started working two days a week as a truck driver. My partner owns a dairy transport company, so I still help out there regularly. Teaching remains my passion, but I enjoy the variety. I love developing horse-and-rider combinations—not just focusing on the horse, but also on the rider. It’s very rewarding to guide both together.”

MvE for KWPN
Photo Osmium: Jacob Melissen