Where it started
While Talissa's mother was riding in Brabo, the horse virus struck Talissa. She was only 6 years old, but she knew for sure: horses would be her passion. It didn't took long before she bought her first pony, Casa Blanca, which was stabled at Hazebroek Stables. Talissa quickly realised that she needed to switch from ponies to horses to be successful in the sport. She made the switch at only eight years old, but still considered it a hobby until then. She got a second horse when she was ten years old and things took off from then...
As a 12-year-old, she got the taste of riding competitions. It didn't took long before she started at the Belgian Championships for Children among other shows. Many other regional and national titles soon followed. A few years later she evolved to the Junior classes and the international scene! Her first big successes were noted together with Wirnac U van de Molengeest: in addition to numerous victories at regional and national competitions, they also won the Gouden Laars and the final of Jumping Mechelen (at that time still in the Tour & Taxis). Also her other horses jumped well, so Talissa was already noting placings in the 1m40 classes at the age of 15! A year later, in 2007, she became Vice-Belgian Champion Lady Riders with Wirnac, while in 2009 she won the second round of the Junior Championships, over a height of 1m40. She switched effortlessly to the Young Riders classes in 2010. She regularly appeared in the spotlight and it didn't take long before she even took part in the Nations Cups for Belgium. Yet Talissa realized that she had to change her strategy to keep her successes as a senior...
Gradually she started to focus on young horses, paying a lot of attention to a good education. Thanks to her great international experience, she knows perfectly how to prepare young horses for top performances! This didn't go unnoticed by other riders: several horses that have received their training at Stal Witteboon have already been sold abroad. Talissa's long-term vision is clear! In addition to her own horses, she also applies this vision during her training. She discusses the long-term goals of her students and clients, so they can work constructively towards it and ensure a successful career!
