Patrick van der Meer Appointed Dutch Team Captain Alongside Van Silfhout

Dressage

The Netherlands

Patrick van der Meer has been hired by the Dutch Equestrian Federation (KNHS) as Dutch Dressage team captain working alongside team trainer Alex van Silfhout towards to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The KNHS announced that Van der Meer will take up his post as of 1 January 2023. Van Silfhout contracts ends after the Olympics.

Team Captain - Team Trainer

"We want to do everything possible to realise our top 3 ambition," said Iris Boelhouwer, the technical director of the Dutch Equestrian Federation. "The role of a team trainer has changed enormously in the last few years and we develop with it. Alex knows like no other what it needs to look like in the arena and will be able to focus more on the technical side of the sport. He's the best in that field and has proven at the competitions to be dotting the i's and crossing the t's and is a great added value next to the home coaches."

Boelhouwer continued, "the modern team trainer is nowadays much more a manager than a trainer. Patrick van der Meer has much experience in that field and has a clear vision."

Patrick van der Meer

Patrick on the Jazz-clone Hollywood at the
2021 CDI Grote Brogel

Patrick van der Meer is an international dressage rider and trainer. He made his career aboard Uzzo (by Lancet x Indoctro). They won the 5-year old finals at the 2006 World Young Horse Championships in Verden and represented The Netherlands at the 2012 Olympic Games as an individual combination (32nd in the Grand Prix Special). They were first reserves on the Dutch team for the 2013 European Championships. They won team gold at the 2015 European Championships in Aachen. In the kur to music finals they finished 11th with 74.375%.

After Uzzo he competed Zippo, Chagal D&R, Chinook, Sephora, and Hollywood at international Grand Prix level. He is also sportive director of the CHIO Rotterdam.

Contribute to the Positive Flow of Dutch Dressage Sport

Van der Meer and Van Silfhout will be jointly responsible together with Boelhouwer for the Dutch team selection for the 2024 Olympics.

KNHS director Iris Boelhouwer getting grilled by
Dutch journalist Jacob Melissen after disappointing results at
the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck

"I'm very motivated to contribute to Dutch dressage sport," said Van der Meer. "It's task which I have been aspiring for a long time and it fits my present situation. At home I have time consuming business so things will need to change there, but I have good people around me. I will continue to ride; but not with the ambition to be active in the arena at the highest level. I gladly take on the chance to contribute to the positive flow of Dutch dressage sport."

After years of being podium place-getters and medallists the Dutch team have dropped to a fifth team place at the 2022 World Championships and 2023 European Championships. The Netherlands is the second biggest country for the breeding of dressage horses in the world after Germany.

Sharing the Job

Van Silfhout states to be pleased with the new division of roles.

Alex van Silfhout at the last Dutch team selection
trial in Kronenberg before Riesenbeck

"The tasks that I had now were very diverse and time consuming," said Alex. "Patrick's arrival gives me the opportunity to concentrate on the technical side of the sport; a task which fits me best. Moreover, Patrick is a very pleasant person to work with and can truly motivate people. All positive qualities we can use to achieve out ambitions."