- Campus
- 28/04/2025
Sports spotlight | Concorde’s favorite number is 160
TU/e boasts a total of 38 student sports associations. And every one of them offers its own unique experience: from slamming aces to skimming across the water. At student sports center SSC, you get a wide range of options to choose from: gaming, jumping, running, cycling, rowing, flying, shooting, hanging, playing chess, surfing, punching and pushing. Cursor wants to put every one of these associations in the spotlight. The first question is “What is your favorite number?”
Warming up
The Eindhoven student riding association Concorde wants to get rid of the image that its members are just a bunch of “horse girls.” Their favorite number, 160, probably has something to do with that. “On average, you use 160 different muscles when you ride a horse,” says board member Amber Boersma. “It’s a full-body workout that puts your arms, back, core, calves, and thighs to work.”
Their horses are stabled at the Sonniushof riding school in Son. The association is named after a jumping horse born there in 1984, Olympic Concorde. “This stallion was named horse of the year in 2003. He has passed away, but his offspring can still be seen among the world’s top-tier horses,” says Boersma proudly.
There are a lot of horse-related activities to try, including jumping, dancing, vaulting, polo, racing, and Western events (such as cow roping). Dressage lessons are mandatory at Concorde. “They form the basis of proper horseback riding. So, this isn’t just about making horses “dance” prettily, but about truly understanding how the cues you give with your hands and legs influence the horse.”
Scores
- The Sonniushof riding school has 80-90 horses and ponies that are used for lessons.
- There are 30 members, 10 of whom regularly participate in social activities.
- An average dressage test lasts 7 minutes. It takes months of preparation.
- You receive 4 penalty points if you knock off a rail while jumping.
- In exchange for sponsorship, Concorde members work at Longines Tops International Arena 4 or 5 weekends a year. What the Zandvoort circuit is to motorsports, that arena in Valkenswaard is to show jumping.
- On November 3, 2025, Concorde will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
- A (non-luxurious) riding outfit costs 350 euros.
- Lessons are 82 euros a month.
- There are 12 student riding associations in the Netherlands.
- A riding animal with a withers height of 157 cm or more is considered a horse; smaller ones are called ponies.
Analyses
Horseback riding is an expensive sport. “Hay is also very expensive at the moment,” says Boersma. “And the VAT on animal feed has gone up too. That means lessons prices have increased. We currently pay 82 euros a month. A helmet, riding breeches and boots will set you back 350 euros.” Traditionally, horseback riding has been considered an elitist sport. “I believe that is also what attracts many TU/e students born in Asia to join Concorde.”
Concord members never run out of things to say when it comes to horses and enjoy doing horse-related activities. Think beach rides, trying out a robotic horse or archery from a horse. The latter activity is great preparation for one of Concorde’s big dreams. “We’d like to organize a pentathlon with other SSCE associations. In addition to horseback riding, the teams would also have to swim, fence, run and do archery.” Board members of Nyade, Hoc Habet, Asterix, and Da Vinci are hereby invited to email Concorde about this.
The main photo shows jumping horse Bowie, with Concorde chairman Joël Hochstenbach competing.
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