Dutch international dressage rider Tommie Visser has declared for Belgium. The change was noted in the FEI database on 18 April 2023 even though Visser still seemingly rode under the Dutch flag at last weekend's CDI Hagen.
Eight Years in Belgium
"I have been living in Belgium for eight years and as Rob is also riding for Belgium, it nicer to represent the same country together," the 39-year old Tommie Visser told Eurodressage.
The Dutch born couple is based at the breeding, sales and training yard "De Begijnhoeve" in Mol, Belgium, and with a second branch in Geel, Belgium. They married in September 2016?. The couple trains with Anky van Grunsven
For Belgium in Hagen
At the 2023 CDI Hagen, Visser competed the 8-year old KWPN bred Kristal Fan T (by Zack x Vivaldi) in the small tour. The dark bay mare is bred by A. Toonen Arts and owned by Tommie's husband, Rob van Puijenbroek.
The nationality change happened during Horses & Dreams in Hagen.
"I was already riding for Belgium in Hagen, but it was a bit confusing," he explained. "On the road to Hagen we got the email from the FEI that they were changing it straight away, so I drove there a Dutchman and I returned as a Belgian."
Visser recently sold his Grand Prix ride Genesis to Canadian Jill Irving. In 2022 he showed the Grand Prix horse Top's Gentle the last time in Hagen for owner Evelien Trouwborst, after which the horse got allocated to a new rider. At the moment Tommie and Rob are producing home bred horses to FEI level including the Belgian warmblood licensed stallions Quinten and Heros Begijnhoeve.
Photo © Astrid Appels
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