Tonight, Rob Ehrens and Marc Houtzager joined Annelou de Man in the studio. They reflected on the Olympic year that’s behind us and looked forward to the sport of the future.

For Rob, Tokyo was a highlight, with a bronze medal for Maikel van der Vleuten and Beauville Z. His Dutch riders furthermore won the Nations Cup of Rotterdam and the final in Barcelona. “I can look back at a wonderful career as national coach”, he reflects. “We got to enjoy some great sport.” The Olympic Games were also a highlight for Marc: “We only just made it into the finals but obtained a fourth place in the end. We were close to a bronze medal, and we were satisfied as a team.”

Go and look

Marc has a sizeable number of talented KWPN horses in his stable, among them is approved stallion Kincsem. “Dutch horses have a good character, great attitude, a fighter’s mentality and they are careful. The sport becomes increasingly faster, so we need blood, but cannot forget about scope either.” Rob adds: “Everything has gotten more extreme. I would like to give the breeders the following advice: go and look what’s demanded of the horses in Aachen and Rotterdam, that’s very valuable for a breeder.”

Photo: Dirk Caremans