Rien van der Schaft Signs Contract as Spanish Team Trainer

Dressage

Spain

The Dutch Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Rien van der Schaft has signed a contract to become Spain's new team trainer. He succeeds Francis Verbeek.

Late Appointments and Show Plans

Due to elections within the Spanish Equestrian Federation (RFHE), the Spanish NF has been in disarray and all major decisions were put on hold for a long time. Riders have not yet received a clear sport plan for the 2025 show season with the summer European Championships in Le Mans, Kronberg and Crozet as highlight. With the outdoor season in full swing, the appointment of the team trainer got delayed until mid April.

Francis Verbeek chose not to be available anymore as team trainer because of a lack of structure and commitment from RFHE.

Van der Schaft has now taken on the challenge of organizing a long-term show plan as well as train the riders for success in the competition arena. The RFHE has not yet confirmed nor posted his appointment, but Spanish media broke the news last week and Van der Schaft confirmed signing the contract to Eurodressage.

Finnish Team Trainer

Rien Van der Schaft has trained and competed nine horses up to Grand Prix level. He was member of the Dutch team from 1979 till 1983 and competed at the 1980 Alternate Olympic Games in Goodwood, two European Championships and one World Championship.

In January 2019 he was appointed Finnish team trainer, succeeding Emile Faurie (GBR) with a contract to run through the 2024 Olympic year. During Van der Schaft's time as team trainer, Finland was 13th with the team at the 2019 European Championships, 6th at the 2021 Europeans, and 14th at the 2023 Europeans. They were 11th at the 2022 World Championships.

In 2023 the Finnish federation ended the contract prematurely because of financial issues. Rien continued to represent Finnish riders on a private basis through 2024.

From Finland to Spain

Van der Schaft is now ready to take up the task in Spain.

Van der Schaft at the 2018 CDIO Uggerhalne

"This is a challenge that I like and look forward to," Van der Schaft told Eurodressage. "It starts this month and we need to get everything set up and aligned."

Rien continued, "I hope for a good collaboration with the federation, Miki Jorda (dressage director) and the riders," Van der Schaft told Eurodressage. "The first meeting with the riders and trainers still needs to happen."

When asked what the action plan is towards Crozet with this rather late start in the season, Rien replied, "it is short notice. It is what it is. It's not reason not to get started. We're going to make a good structure and with good agreements with the riders and the federation to get so far that we have as good a team as possible for the European Championship despite the short time frame. And then we can build towards the next years."