Kevin Holthuijsen brings Dutch style to American soil
A year ago, competing at the APHA World Championship Show wasn’t on the radar for Dutch rider Kevin Holthuijsen. Thanks to an international friendship and a generous offer to lease a horse, Kevin was able to make his U.S. debut at the 2025 World Show in Fort Worth, Texas.
But how exactly did he come to compete at the World Show?
“On an airplane,” Kevin laughed.
A Small World
Back in 2022, Kevin met Cody Dulin of Nampa, Idaho, at the European Paint Horse Championship in Kreuth, Germany. Both were competing at the Youth World Games, a biannual competition that fields country-based teams of exhibitors to compete in various equestrian events. Kevin and Cody were competing in ranch riding: Kevin for Team United (composed of members from Austria, Italy and the Netherlands) and Cody for Team USA. The two horsemen struck up an easy friendship. Last year, Cody’s grandmother, Earlynn Chase, attended the “EuroPaint” show, and she took the opportunity to introduce herself to Kevin and his family.
“We got to talking about showing, and she said, ‘If you want to come ride at the World Show, we have a horse for you,’ ” Kevin recalled. “Then at the APHA seminar in Denmark in January, she was also there, and I told her I’d like to take that opportunity.”
Helping Each Other
The wheels set into motion from either side of the Atlantic. Kevin planned his travel, and Earlynn prepped Good To Be A Cowboy, a 2015 bay roan overo gelding owned by her daughter, Megan Dulin of Nampa, Idaho. Kevin met his mount “Toby” for the first time in Fort Worth, just a few days before showing commenced.
“At first, I liked him because he fit my size. He’s a really sweet horse,” Kevin said. “As I get to know him and he gets to know me, we’re developing great confidence together.”
Kevin showed Toby in Novice Amateur and Amateur all-around events at the World Show.
“He hasn’t done a whole lot of English,” Earlynn said about Toby, “but I can trust the horse. It doesn’t matter who I put on him. He’s just that kind of horse.”
With soft hands and a quiet demeanor, Kevin piloted Toby around the World Show arena like a veteran. They earned a Top Five Intermediate and Top 10 awards in Amateur Trail—the event to which Kevin was most looking forward—and were finalists in Amateur Performance Halter Geldings.
Earlynn appreciates help from trainers like Roger Deromedi and Jando Guerra, who offered advice and assistance to Kevin throughout the show. That willingness to help others goes a long way in establishing meaningful connections, she says. The same, of course, could be said about her family, too.
“Contacts and friendships—that’s how we help each other out. It’s fun to win, but that’s not the only thing,” Earlynn said. “Stepping up and helping other people is really important. I think that’s what it’s all about.”
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association. Since it was founded in 1962, APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses. Learn more at apha.com.