DSHS_Magazine_2022

started his own stable three years later and was able to take his
top mount Cumano -owned by Jean Verlinden- with him. Shortly
after, they already won the prestigious Grand Prix of Calgary.
Together they achieved many outstanding results, including
winning individual gold at the World Equestrian Games of 2006
in Aachen. Jos had an extremely successful sports career, with
participation at seven Olympic Games, six World Equestrian
Games and ten European Championships. Unfortunately the
legendary rider had to forfeit the 2016 Games in Rio due to health
problems which put a hold on his sporting career. “My illness
has brought a halt to my competition career. But most of all I am
happy that I was diagnosed when I was and that I followed my gut
to drop out of the Olympics for the surgery. If I hadn’t done that, I
might now not be around anymore.”
'Me and my family
left the Netherlands
for Belgium in 1996'
with Felix and fifth with the team. Since the end of the eighties,
Jos has been a recurring face at championships. Starting in
1990 he competed at six consecutive World Championships
where he won two bronze team medals. At his second Olympic
Games he contributed to the memorable golden team medal for
the Netherlands. Another memorable victory was achieved a
few years later in 1994, when he won the World Cup final in ‘s
Hertogenbosch aboard Horn’s legendary stallion Libero H.
Belgium
In 1996 Jos switched from the stables of Hans Horn to Leon
Melchior. At Studfarm Zangersheide he was able to continue his
successes with horses like Caridor Z and Carthago. To be able to
compete with Zangersheide horses in global championships, Leon
Melchior asked him to change nationality. “Me and my family
left the Netherlands for Belgium in 1996 and five years later, Mr.
Melchior asked me to do him this huge favour. Since things were
going well and we felt at home in Belgium, I agreed on this. And it
has never been a decision that I regret.” Due to circumstances, Jos
Perfectionist
In 2018, Jos rode his last international competition. He was and is
an absolute pro in his profession. “I have actually never officially
retired from the sport. It has grown this way due to several
circumstances. Over the years we have had several riders in
our stables and it is already quite a challenge to have the right
horses for them. And I really enjoy training young horses and
do the flatwork at home as well.” What has made Jos such an
outstanding rider and trainer? “I have learned a lot by endlessly
watching videos of my rides. It’s easy to say that you can always
improve, but I have always been my own biggest critic and I think
I owe my successes to that. Besides that, I have learned a lot
from riding all kinds of horses. In the fourteen years spent with
Hans Horn and later on at Zangersheide, I had to compete with
a variety of horses. I think I benefited from all those experiences
during the rider change at the WEG in Aachen, where I became
world champion. Then you only have a few minutes to get to know
your horse and to adapt. I have always worked hard to become a
better rider and details definitely make the difference. I still see
that every weekend. The only thing that changes by itself is the
weather. In this sport you really have to work for it, it doesn't come
for free. Sometimes you are in a good flow, but then you have to
be aware because there is always another chapter coming up. You
see that with individual riders but also with countries. Anyone
who thinks he knows how it works in our sport, will sooner or
later get fooled by it.”
Chef d’equipe
Nowadays Jos is active in the sport as a trainer and in the business
of horse trading. His days were busy but in the end of 2021 he got
an offer he couldn’t refuse. He went back to the Dutch colours as
'It’s easy to say that you can
always improve, but I have
always been my own biggest
critic and I think I owe my
successes to that.'
8 DSHS | The 2022 edition DUTCHSPORTHORSESALES.COM