KNHS: Following the departure of the national show jumping coach, the organization has also ended its collaboration with the junior dressage coaches

Immediately after the World Championships in Aachen, the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) announced that the contract with the national show jumping coach (“Bondscoach”), Wout-Jan van der Schans, would not be renewed at the end of the year. The reason given was that the results at the 2025 European Championships, as well as at the Nations Cup Final and the World Championships in Aachen, did not meet expectations.

Youth Coach Resigns of His Own Accord

Unlike Wout Jan van der Schans, who held the position of national coach for just over a year, Vincent Voorn enjoyed five very successful years as coach of the young riders and the riders in the EEF League. Among other achievements, the Netherlands’ U21 team won gold at this year’s European Championships. He terminated his contract with the KNHS of his own accord because the role of national team coach was no longer compatible with his commitments to his own business.

Two Dressage Coach Positions Open

No appointments have yet been announced for the two positions in show jumping that have become or will become vacant. Now two more positions are open: those of junior dressage coaches. For the past ten years, Monique Peutz has served as a youth coach for the Dutch elite in dressage, initially working with pony riders, then with Children, and most recently with Juniors, Young Riders, and U25 riders. During this time, the Netherlands has won numerous medals at European Junior Championships. Marten Luiten, whom Peutz coached, was likely the most prolific medal winner among them. This year, he became European champion in the U25 freestyle event.

Her contract expires at the end of the year and will not be renewed, as the KNHS announced today. The same applies to the contract of Loes Corsel, who was responsible for coaching the pony riders and the Children’s team and led the Children’s team to gold at the 2025 European Championships, while the pony riders won silver.

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Statement

: The association acknowledges that success cannot be taken for granted. At the same time, however, they also recognize that elite sports are constantly evolving. For this reason, the youth development programs are to be restructured starting in 2027 “with the aim of consolidating existing successes and—where possible—further expanding them.”

Laurens van Lieren, Technical Director of Sports, commented: “With a reoriented approach to the national team coaching positions in the coming years, we aim to continue shaping the future of the sport. In doing so, we are placing a stronger focus on talent development, a smooth transition between the various age groups, and thorough preparation for the next generation of elite athletes.”

The decision in Monique Peutz’s case came from the association. The trainer and judge makes no secret of this. She will continue to work as a trainer—in addition to her job as a judge. Among other things, she was on duty at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses during the seven-year-old final, when Tessa Kole, whom she trained, won gold.

Loes Corsel, on the other hand, hints that she herself wanted to end her role: “In close consultation with the KNHS, we have decided not to continue our collaboration. A new professional opportunity abroad, as well as the KNHS’s evolving vision regarding the promotion of young dressage riders, led to this decision.”