One of Germany’s top rider and trainers, Bettina Hoy, is taking up a new role as coach of the Dutch eventing riders in 2017. Bettina, who has represented Germany at three Olympic Games, five World Championships and nine European championships had a strong return to competition form in 2016 with a win in the CCI3* at Blenheim Palace International but is also well known as an international coach
In 2017 she will combine her riding with coaching the Dutch eventing team that has previously been led by Martin Lips, father of top Dutch rider, Tim Lips. Under his guidance the young team of Elaine Pen and Vira, Tim Lips and Keyflow N.O.P., Merel Blom and Rumour Has It and Andrew Heffernan and Bolleybawn Ace won a surprise bronze medal at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy. In 2015, the Dutch team also took fourth place at the European Championships at Blair Castle and finished in sixth place at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
"Bettina Hoy is an absolute top rider and coach. We were looking for someone to follow on from Martin Lips and to help the Dutch eventing riders take the next step and we think we have found in Bettina Hoy someone with a very broad range of expertise who can do this” says Maarten van der Heijden, Sports Director of the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation “Bettina will meet with the riders as soon as possible to make a plan for this year and especially for the coming years. The goal is Tokyo 2020"
According to the KNHS press release Bettina will continue to compete in 2017 but will then step into her coaching role in a full-time capacity in 2018. She says she is looking forward to using all of her coaching and riding experience to build on the success of the Dutch eventing team
“I am grateful for the confidence KNHS and I’m looking forward to the new tasks and cooperation with the Dutch riders. In the long term, the aim is that the Dutch eventers have the same status and similar success as the Dutch jumping and dressage riders; I certainly have ideas about how we’ll do that, but I'm obviously going to discuss this with the riders first. For this year, the European Championships are a good indicator for us to take stock and see where we stand internationally"
“A crash course in Dutch is booked!” adds Bettina on her Facebook page
The young riders in orange win bronze in Normandy
