SFN Zenith N.O.P. to Compete With Jeroen Dubbeldam This Week at CSI3* Odense

Jeroen Dubbeldam and SFN Zenith N.O.P. compete in the individual final of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

During an ongoing period of uncertainty, Jeroen Dubbeldam will appear with S.F.N. Zenith NOP in competition this weekend at the CSI3* Odense Horse Show in Denmark, the pair’s first appearance together since the unsuccessful SFN Auction on September 21 failed to see the World and European Champion sold to a new owner.

The Dutch website NOS quoted SFN Director Jacob Melissen as saying, “We have agreed with Jeroen Dubbeldam that he can continue to ride Zenith. In the meantime we do our utmost to find a buyer. The optimum is about communication.”

During the SFN Auction, of which Zenith was the top item among six horses auctioned, the highest bid received for the 12-year-old KWPN gelding was €800,000, a price well below what was expected. In light of the low price, SFN placed the final bid of €850,000 to buy Zenith back, and has taken up a private search for a buyer who would purchase the horse for a more commanding price.

In the meantime, Zenith has remained in Dubbeldam’s stable and SFN has given Dubbeldam the right to continue riding the horse. Zenith has not competed since the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where he and Dubbeldam placed 7th in Individual competition. This weekend, Dubbeldam’s students, the American young riders Lucas and Wilton Porter will accompany him to CSI3* Odense. According to sources who prefer to remain anonymous, the Porter family was the top bidder for Zenith during the SFN auction, making it their bid that was thwarted by SFN.

Startlist and live results for CSI3* Odense can be found at this link.